The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-05-07

, m lrV as Il CIQulud Ie. dllu w eACIuuG oil
candidates for office who entertain my
views and thus prevent the people
from hearing me and from hearing
them in justification of my course and
in advocacy OF the absorbing public
measures now confronting the Ameri-
can people. I am absolutely convinced
and forewarned of this purpose to ex-
clude me and my friends because |
have read the speech Of Sentor Till
man, the acknowledged dictator Of the
Democratic machine Of South Caro-
lima. delivered at Manning in which he
directs a revision Of the rules and form
and oath of the party for the purpose Of
excluding myself and friends from par
ticipating in the primary, resent the
suggested exception Of myself, for Of
course could not make my race for
the senate or proclaim my views under
conditions which were not equally ap-
plicable to those who entertain and ad-
vocate my views. I have an abiding
faith that it will yet be shown that
the dictator of the machine is not the
exponent of the views of the majority
of our people.
The primary system adopted in our
State through the Farmers move
ment* has been prostituted and per-
verted into political machine for the
purpose of excluding all candidates
who are not in full accord with the
views and wishes Of the dictator. The
vital question, therefore, is will the
people of the State submit to this dis
franchising the intelligent people and
excluding them from our elections?
With such a system l have no SYM
patty and feel impelled by a strict
sense of duty to warn the people
against tyranny as it encourages and
establishes. With these facts before
me and MY convictions as to the orlgl-
nal purpose of the primary system, l
am driven to the conclusion that it
has subserved it's purposes and has out
lived it's usefulness. It is, therefore,
matter of no concern to me what
may be the action of the May conyen-
tion as to the rules Of the primary and
a revision of it's pledges. The sup
preston Of free speech and independ-
ence of action by voting such means
renders it impossible for any self-re-
specting citizen holding my views to
become a candidate in the Democratic
primary in South Carolina. 1t is ap-
parent that the system has been
warped and twisted so as to serve the
one purpose Of throttling free speech,
free thought and liberty Of action.
The primary system in South Carolina
has been sacrificed upon the altar Of
partisanship and personal malignity,
and has therefore become unpatriotlc
and useless, and should be ignored and
finally repudiated by our people, with
a purpose similar to my own, to look
hopefully to the results Of the fair,
just and general election under our
State and nationl laws.
a party yoke has been placed upon
our people and 1t has become too gall
ing for further endurance, and yet to
realize that many of my loyal friends
would even once more hold in check
their resolution not to again enter our
system Of primary elections in order to
again vote for me, but I have reached
the point where / will not subject
them to subscribing to an oath to sup
port men and measures which do not
represent their views upon the issues
facing the American people today.
John Lowndes McLaurln.