The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-05-29

Work of the Convention.

were arranged for, to be held not less
than two weeks apart, lone OF when
meetings shall be addressed only by can
didates for State offices, and the other
only by candidates for United States
Senators, Congressmen, and Circuit
Solicitors" We have no objection to
this plan, and possibly it was the best
method of relieving the present condition.
The platform adopted is the same as
that of 1900, only laying special stress on
imperialism and trusts. The policy of
the National Administration in regard to
the Philippines and what was termed
imperialism were condemned. The ship
subsidy bill and the Crumpacker resolu-
{ ton were also denounced. We have no
Z doubt but that many members of the body
could not explain some of these questions.
The resolution as to Cuba and on the
: death of Wade Hampton, as well as on
the illness of Chief Justice McIver, were
timely and the convention did we'll to
adopt them.
Sensible action prevailed on the matter
of an additional pledge for voters in the
primary, but really we did not expect to
see drastic action taken, for if the foolish
pledge advocated by some had been
required of voters, many of the best white
men in South Carolina would have been
disfranchised.
However, the convention made one
serious mistake. Resolutions as to child
Z labor in the cotton mills were offered by
: Geo. W. Croft, of Aiken, and j. W. Thur
mond, of Edgefeld, both candidates for
congress These were in effect that no
child under twelve years ofag should be
employed in cotton mill. However,
Col. Croft's resolution was adopted,
although there was some opposition.
Thus has the Democratic party of the
= State laid down the principle that it is
opposed to any child under twelve years
of age attempting to make living in an
honest, legitimate way. Why confine the
matter to the cotton mills alone? Why
not also say that any child under twelve
years of age should not work on farm,
in store, or an Office, or be employed in
doing chores around home or domestic
work in the house? There is just as
much sense and reason in one as the other.
We know of cases where bright children
aid materially by honest labor in the sup
port of aged or invalid relatives. Shall
these people become public charges on
the community simply to crafty the
political ambitions of few politicians?
1t has come to pretty pass in South
& Carolina when any man or set of men can
say to any class of its citizens: "You
shall not engage in honest labor for your
support, even if you become paupers or
thieves because of this" But We expect
to have more to say on this question at
some later day. In the first place, this
was none of the conventions business;
Is this matter is to be decided by the leggis='
IStnre, and at the proper time We expect
8 to again take it up We 3elieve in the
protection of the weak against the strong;
of the poor against the rich; but we can
not but denounce this action of the con-
yention. But the worst is to come yet.
The following resolution was offered by
Cole L. Blease, of Newberry, who will be
candidate again this summer. A num-
Der of the delegates were opposed to it,
but it was finally adopted:
Whereas, this convention has heard
with profound regret that the operatives
of the cotton mills of Horse Creek Valley,
in Aiken county, are in distress, caused
by the action of the cotton mill presidents
in ordering lockout in said mills, be-
cause of a strike in a cotton mill in the
State of Georgia. Be it
Resolved, That this convention hereby
extends to the operatives Of Horse Creek
Valley, on account of their loyalty to the
Democratic party in the past, every as
sistance possible to relieve them from the
screws of oppression.
Resolved, second, That we condemn the
acts of the said mill presidents, as heart
less, unwarranted, and unjust, causing un-
told suffering and distress among, the
people who constitute one-third OF the
entire voting population of Aiken county.
Resolved, third, That we call upon all
law-loving citizens who feel that the poor
laboring white men of our State are un-
Justly prohibited from earning an honest
livelihood, to extend to the people of
Horse Greek Valley moral and financial
aid
Resolved, fourth, That we demand of
our lawmakers the enactment of such
l., forever
the laboring people of the great State of
South Carolina, who are the bone and
sinew of our land, from such unlawful
treatment in the future, and such other
laws we demand as will prevent the
crippling of values Of real estate and
other property by combination of capital.
The adoption of this resolution was one
3 of the greatest acts of demagogism to
catch votes that we have ever known of
. in this State, and we must confess to
much surprise at its passage. The reso-
lutions speak of financial aid for the
operatives, and Mr.. Henderson, of Aiken,
offered to receive contributions, but we
find no record of even one cent beng
contributed by members of the conven-
ton. Their sympathy for the operatives
was not of the substantial kind. 1t con-
sisted merely of high-sounding resolu-
tions, only intended to catch the votes of
the mill people. \ plague upon such
patriotism and sympathy! Those men
would have commended themselves to US
had they gone down in their pockets and
raised good amount for the relief fthe
operatives. Notice there was not one
word of condemnation for the strikers.
But, as matter of right, without intend
ing to go deeply.into the merits of the
question, if labor has right to organize
for its protection, in the name of COM
mon sense and iuStice bacn't capita1 the