The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-01-20
WAS OUR REPORT UNWARRANTED?

Out ISdllCIS 11el = VAIlS wv u
from our representatives, their
reasons why they did not attend
the farmers convention held on
the Sth inst, and were it not for
one or two statements made in
these letters, we would publish
them without any comment what
ever, as all three of the dlstln-
guished gentlemen appear little
thin-skinned to criticism, and do
not seem to understand the diff
ference between the acts and DO
ings of a private citizen, and a
man in public life reaping the
honor and glory Of Office. AS
long as we are able push a pen
Gil in the newspaper business we
shall comment on the acts and
doings of a public official, re-
eardless of what he or they may
think of it, and we can do this
without any personal friendship
or enmity either.
Senator Davis is mistaken in
saying the article he refers to
was in our editorial columns; it
was on our local page, IN the
news columns; the difference is,
oureditorials are the sole express
sion Of the views Of the editor,
an item Of news although
written by the editor is a state
ment Of facts, relating to that
which has occurred, and a sum-
mary of the views, sentiments,
and expressions Of those con-
nected with the event. We make
this explanation to teach the
senator the difference between
an editorial and a news item,
that in the future when he goes
into print he may do so with a
degree of Intelligence. The SEN
ator .disclaims having received
an invitation to attend the Goa
vention. but admits seeing IN
the press the call, and invitation
of ':Mr. J. NJ. Galloway, presi-
dent of the local Manning club
in which he requested our dele
cation to be present" Did the
senator respond to that invitation
either in person or by letter:
No. Had Senator Davis written
a letter recognizing the farmers
they would not have felt any dis
courteous treatment. The entire
convention, including the visit
ors were under the impression
that the representatives had been
especially invited to be present
at the convention, we know they
were expected and looked for.
It is all very nice to say. I'VE
had fully intended to be present, !"
but it does seem, that when one
finds. he cannot ':fully" Carry out
his intentions, it is as little as he
can do to write a courteous letter
OF regret.
The Senator says Our "criti-
cisms, which are uncalled for,
unwarranted and unjust, "he does
not "beiieve are the sentiments
Of the farmers association" We
humbly make confession that
we did not fully expires the SEN
timents of a large majority Of
that convention, had we done SO,
it is exceedingly doubtful if our
paper could have passed through
the mails. We dared not print
the opinions expressed, after the
convention adjourned.
Oh, but says our distinguished
friend, we ::are prompted by a de-
gree of soreness, "this is measly
and lame defense, and we almost
feel that if we could do so with a
degree of truth, we would confess
soreness at having been displac-
ed by a man, who so far, has not
exhibited any better qualitca-
tons for the position than we
had, but he is mistaken, we are
not sore, nor would any decent
man be, who had received 500
votes in a primary where the
vote had never exceeded 1856,
the machinery in the hands OF
his opponents, and the greatest
power in the State brought to
bear against him. Any man
would. after such a manifes-
tation of confidence on the part
of the people, feel proud of the
distinction-more so, than in a
declaration Of a doubtful election
to any Office.
Senator Davis knows full
we'll we did not do s:as much CO.
vorting," we stayed at home,
until the meetings, while he
kept the roads hot with a per-
sonal house to house canvass;
his statement that we ''claimed
Indirectly to be pretty religious"
is not only a mistatement Of
fact, but a very far-fetched at
tempt to twist an incident which
occurred in the Manning Metho-
dist church, into political slgnih-
canse for our selfish purposes
it simply exposes the mans lit
tleness, The "speech in a GER
tain church" referred to, was an
occasion when a number Of cltl-
zens Of Manning who We're not
members Of the Methodist church,
and the greater number like our
self, members Of no church. but
who appreciate high-toned,
broad-minded, pious gentleman,