The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-09-29
Thursday, Sept. 20, 1904

Dl8 SLaLe, Oh mOIc tuau ouS oSSe'S1o"' 'A''
it's support was fatal to any candidate.
It has company now in the great mora
institution, the dispensary. Candidates
had best fight shy of dispensary friends
in future.
We do hope that our voters will take
an interest in the coming general elec-
: ton for it is very important that each
voter 60 to the polls and cast his ballot
for the Democratic nominees. There may
be Republican candidate for congress,
and it is essential that full Democratic
vote be polled.
Some of our brother editors failed to
understand our references to dirty politics
in the recent primaries. Our remarks
were not meant to apply to Bamberg coun-
ty, but to the State generally. Elections
in this county are as clean as anywhere
in the State, and We never hear OF any
charges of fraud or corruption in county
politics. But from many counties in the
State came reports of fraud, corruption,
bribery of voters, the use of whiskey and
money, and at several places contests
were carried before the executive COM
mittees. This led to the paragraph, and
we here reiterate every word oft. There
is no doubt but that the primary in South
Carolina is corrupt, and there should be
q change. 1t fails of its purpose in one
respect at least, for it is a fact, which
no one can successfully dispute, that the
best men are not being elected to Office.
Will anybody say that, as a rule, from the
highest to the most humble position, as
capable men fill the Offices of South Caro-
lima as those who held them prior to 1890?
We do not think so, for every one con-
yersaht with affairs must admit that the
standard for public servants has been
lowered. From United State Senators,
congressman, State officers, members of
the general assembly, and on down to
the county Offices, men generally are
rather CONSPICUOUS because of their lack
OF ability. Of course we do not mean to
include all officials. We have many
hrainy and honest men in Office, but they
are the exception, not the rule. The
reason for this is very plain. Many men
will not subject themselves to the ordeal
Of dirty political campaign in order to
serve their State. No mans character is
safe if he enters politics, and they will
not wade through.the mud and filth of q
primary. Our idea is that We had better
.return to the convention plan Of nomi-
mating, for while at least. Attempts are
being made ali the time to purify the
system, laws are passed each year to this
end, and yet conditions grow worse.
-
The dispensary influence has heretofore
been a powerful factor in South Carolina
politics. There is little doubt but that it
has completely dominated the general as
sembly, and in State and county contests
the fellow who had the dispensary iniu.
ence behind him generally won out. If
we are to Judge by results this year, the
day for the dispensary to control State
politics is past. This inference can be
drawn from the overwhelming defeat of
IL. Williams for congress and John G.
Nobley for railroad commissioner. Mr.
Williams ran on his record as liquor
commissioner, and there is no question
but that the dispensary was behind John
G. Mobley. And that's what defeated
them both. We would not for moment
detract from Mr.. Earle. We supported
him in the second primary, but we firmly
believe that had not the dispensary forces
been enlisted in Mobley's behalf, he would
have beat Earle hands down. If we are
correct in this and the day has really come
IN South Carolina when it is fatal to have
the support of the dispensary, then a
clad time has come and there is reason
for rejoicing. Certain it is when man
is labeled dispensary candidate, the great
mass of the voters will oppose him. There
is feeling of unrest and dissatisfaction
among them, they feel that things are not
going right, and they look with suspicion
upon those who hope to get office from
dispensary influence. Whether this feel
ING will extend to the legislature, we can.
not saw. But in many counties men were
elected who pledged themselves to favor
the Brice bill. 1t remains to seem whether
we will have any anti-dispensary legisla-
tion at the comm session. Heretofore 1t
was impossible to do anything in the
general assembly-the dispensary forces
were too strongly entrenched. Free whis-
kew, cigars, opera tickets and presents OF
various kinds it is said were freely dis
tributed at each session, and too many
members could not resist these favors.
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