The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-04-29

IAE M w BHRR Z
VIII in the primary after his record
is set before the people he can win
much easier as an independent if he
is denied admission. We do not
want to be unjust to him or to his
followers.
If the Democracy of South Caro-
lima wants to put none bnt Demo
Gratis on guard it must decide the
Democracy of each candidate by re-
quiring a pledge in writing that
will define clearly what the candi-
dates opinions are and a solemn
pledge to stand by those opinions.
Of course men may sign pledge and
then deceive the people afterwards,
but we owe it to our fellow Dem
ocrats of the country 10 at least safe
guard our Democratic primaries as
far as possible.
TWO CAMPAIGN PARTIES.
There is one other subject con-
nected with party policy that de-
mands serious consideration. The
large number of candidates who
seek the various Sta'e Offices and
congressional and senatorial honors
render it impossible in one day for
those candidates to have even re
spectful or decent hearing Any
man who is fit to be governor or SEN
ator cannot discuss public questions
in any intelligent way If his time is
limited. Some plan must be de
vised by which those candidates,
who fill the really important Offices
and who will shape and control
affairs, must be given sufficient op-
portunity to make the people under
stand whether or not they are com
petent. Many of the positions
which are sought are largely minis
terial and the duties are we'll defined
and these officers cannot change or
shape public policy in any material
degree. There is no good excuse or
reason why seven or eight candidates
for railroad commissioner and Is or
20 for the other State Offices shall be
given time at State campaign
meeting or so little time as to merely
get up and make their bow. In the
last State canvass it required about
five hours for the respective candl-
dates for governor and ten minutes
for the others, not counting the can
didates for United States senate who
usually came last. The limitation
on the time of the candidates for the
important offices if it be continued
will absolutely destroy all interest in
the State campain meetings, and
finally destoy the primary system it.
self; and I am strongly of the opin
ion that it would be we'll, indeed
necessary, to have two campaign
days in each county, say six weeks
or two months apart at which certain
candidates shall address the people.
The suggestion has been made that
there ought to be limitation on the
number of meetings to one in each
congressional district. This will
never do, because the people are en-
titled to see and hear the men who
seek their votes and if such q system
were adopted there would be few, if
any, citizens at such meeting other
than those who live in the country
where the meetings are held. The
newspaper reports would have to be
depended on entirely in order to get
any sort of Information. as to what
the candidates were saying and what
impression they made, and@ this
would mean the use of the press by
those who were able to obtain it's
support to control elections. Money
would be freely used, and this does
not imply that the press is venal.
But few people take daily papers,
and nearly all the waaklias have