The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1904-08-25

have closed. The candidates. Messrs
Leon j. Williams. J. o. Patterson and
:. @. Mayfeld are maTshalinS their
forces for the vote on Aug 80. when
the people viii say who will represent
us in the national house of representa-
tivcs after March next.
The daily papcrs have given brief
ports OF the speeches OF the men named
at the various meetings but those re-
ports have not given those who have
read them some OF the most important
features OF the campaign; nor have they
fully presented to the people the men
l# they are. 1t is extremely important
for the voter to know for whom he is
going to cast his vote; that is. what
manner OF man he Is.
There has been the usual parade OF
oratory on national issues, trusts. rail-
roads and the like. which sound well.
hut that does not portray the man We
must have TO represent us i'm our ma
tional legislature. men upon whom we
can rely and men whom we know to be
stcadfIst and who are not always dodg-
ing ana sliding about and who are for
tn" people.
As stated. the general issues on ma
tional matters have been handled suf-
nci,nuy. II is now Proposed to give
dents OF the campaign meeting which
will aid the people in forming a correct
idea II certain matters and the men
who have addressed them. / will quote
from tho records OF the speeches and
use what l heard myself 1t would he
impossible 10 give in this brief account
ali OF importanc" that l have in my
minds eye I'd viii select those which
mark tho men most definitely.
For instance, take tho handling OF
the political record OF Mr. Mayncld by
Mr. Williams. During the campaign
there was very warm contest between
those men. Mr.. Williams having had
MIR. M"yhcld on tho defensive all the
time
There Were no very especial points
OF interest a. regards Mr. Patterson ex-
cept that Mr.. MayGeld in trying to
bolster up his own ease claimed that
he patterson had voted as hc did on
the legislation named below ana which
so far as l know. MIR Patterson never
denied; and viii therefore not have
anything TO say about him.
During the campaiga there was at
times very heated controversies between
Me"srs. Williams and AIayneld. the
principal issues between them being the
record OF Mr. Mayh Id as public ser
want. especially relating to the acts
passed by the South Carolina general
assembly known as tho Merger Act"
thu TEST Case Act" Introduced 10y MIR
Maytield. and tn. Jim Crow Car Act"
together with a few side lines.
IN order to mike myself tntcllisihlc
will have To relate something of the
history OF the LEGISLATION named The
new constitution Of tn. state adopted
In 1888. prOhihitc! my railroad com
paLy from purchas.u- leasing or opcr-
ating con1cting lnn In 1897 To carry
oat that provision t. legis ature paSs..d
what + known the p nalty Act for
any violation OF tn constitution Not
needing tn constitution and the penalty
law. the Southern Railway company
purchased. consolidated or leased several
lines OF railway in The state that were
considered cnmpvtin= lines. among them
line running from Charleston. S C..
To Augusta. Ga. A. soon as that was
done. large number Il cases were fled
against the Southern to recover the
statutory nultics amounting to a NIL
lion or more dollars The railroads. II
sc ms. be anne uneasy. auI sought a
way out OF the trouble. In 1902 the leg
lsiature passed what Is known as the
Merge Act al OWN the consolidation
~ the III lroads and validating the
purchases. consultations and leases that
had BEEN made. Tn t did not stop the
filing OF suits for The violation Of the
constitution.
In 1904 Mr. Mayhcd introduced in the
nate o. which he was "a member. the
Test Case Act which wa to settle
tn" con titutionlity of that act
Luru- ;he canr i'm Mr.. Maytleld
was charged with Introducing the bin in
the inter SITS OF the ilroads When
pressed. ho stated that hc did not draw
the bill but that It was drawn by the
attorney gen raj of The state The at
toIM- Ee.-rLl h.ins nnpnaLcd To- do