The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-07-13
Tie Two Term Sunerstitinn.

When South Carolina's constttu ion
makers fixed the terms of the various
public officers, they did not Intend to
promulg4te the notion that any man Is
entitled to two terms. If they had in
tended to suggest that a governor
should hold Office four years, they would
have made the term four Yeas and
when a cand date goss on the stump to
argue that because he has been elected
once he should b, elected again, hat
alone should be- taken as a good reason
to justify his defeat. "A candidate who
can present no better reason for re-
election than that he is the incumbent,
confesses himselfto be poverty stricken
in IDEAS and barren Of all that should
promise increased efficiency.
We do not mean to intimate that no
candidate should have q second, third
or fourth election. When q candidate
has filed an Office with marked ability,
with such special ability hat there is
unlikelihood of finding another to equal
his services,it is only common sense to
r~e-elect him so long as his services can
be obtained. Governor ID G. Hayward
has demonstrated his capacity for wise
aud efficient conduct of public affairs
and the people would have perpetrated
a blunder il they had this year chosen
any other to succeed him,
From what we have heard, we be-
lieve that Comptroller General Jones is
another who has proven himself to be
admirably qualified for his position
and 1t Is fortunate for the State that he
is continued. The same may be said
Of others these two we have men
toned as examples. One of them be-
longed to the former conservative"
faction and the other was a dyed-in-the-
wool "refolmer." AS we voted for nei-
ther of them two years ago, we shall
not be charged with partnership in
thus referring to them.
The only contest this year is for a
vacancy on the railroad commission
Mr.. @. w Garr;s is a candidate fer re-
election. He has been in office six
years. 1t is a we'll paid office. When a
governor is given two terms he
serves four years. When a railroad
commissioner is given two terms he
serves II years. If Mr.. G. w. Garris
has made an able officer, if he has
shown experiences, conspicuous and spe-
cial ability, If the pc ople know that he
has rendered to them such service that
another may not be likely to render,
then by all means he should BIS re-
alonta1 Tho nonp1a NAM n'o.l -
make a change in this office if a high
grade man has been found to fill it, for
1T demands expert, peculiar and un-
common ability. On the other hand If
Mr.. Garris has done no better than
many another man, chosen merely on
account of popularity, might have done
or many another man may do, then he
is not entitled to o second term-he has
had enough. The test should be. Ia it
reasonable to expect that Mr.. Garris
will give the state far better, decidedly |
better service than others, is Mr.. Gar
ris a specialist and will the state suffer
by the loss of his personality from the
commission? Is this so certain and SO
we'll demonstrated that it will not be
seriously questioned? II the reply be
Affirmative, Mr.. Garris should be re-
elected overwhelmingly-all men of
sound political discretion will vote for
him. If the reply be negative, it is
just as we'll to permit some other good
fellow to draw the salary and enjoy
the passes for six years.
The ADVERTISER does not answer
the question. The intelligence of the
voters may be relied upon todetermine
1t without any advice. We merely lay
down the proposition that no man has
a divine right to terms to any office.
For q law Eyer +ry Nhom bo,loinj