The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-08-24

that personally be was opposed to
biennial sessions, but would carry
out the wishes Of the people if they
the young men to register and showed
why it was important that they do so,
in view OF the opportunity that the
Democratic party has to win this year.
The Brice bill he declared to be
truly democratic measure, as it was
originally drawn, and he believed a
community should have the right
to get rid Of dispensary without be.
ing burdened with an extra tax as
penalty for doing so. He thanked
the people of Shiloh for their hand
some support in the last primary and
assurd them that if they did as much
for him this time he would be glad to
meet them again two years hence and
return thanks and gave an account Of
his stewardship.
Mr.. Henry G. McKagen said that
he was before the people for the first
time as candidate and he felt sure
he would receive q welcome and a
hearty support. He would stand up
for the laboring man and the farmer
for he was one himself. He would
always work for the protection Of the
laboring man. He would protect the
dear old soldiers and see that the pen
sion money was properly divided, as it
was not now. The people need a
game fellow in the Legislature to
make the other fellows stand around,
and if they wanted hero to represent
them they would vote for him. He
would stand up for the school children
and protect them by giving them more
schools. He would tell the people
every thing he did and not deceive
them, nor try to keep secret how the
delegation voted on appointments.
Mr.. John NJ. Knight discussed the
educational needs of the county and
remarked on the steady improvement
that has been made. He favored
education and would always be found
on the side of every measure looking to
| the real improvement Of the schools.
On the biennial session matter he
said that there were strong arguments
on both sides, which be briefly out
| lined, the chief one in favor Of the
proposition being the saving of money.
| He asserted that there is not apt to
arise a necessity for special sessions.
He was inclined to favor biennial
sessions, that there are only six states
plan is found to be entirely satisfac-
tory. Only one state that had had
biennial sessions had returned to an.
nual sessions. He discussed good
roads from a practical standpoint and
| favored the continuance of the good
work. He believedNthe Bgice bill to
be pure democracy and thought the
counties that did not want dispen-
saries should have the right to get rid
of them.
Hon. T. 3. Fraser, who is candi-
date for rejection, said that he appre-
| ciated the honor the pelople of Sum-
ter county have done him so highly
| that he had endeavored to show his
appreciation by giving the best
that was in him to their service. In
the four years that he bad been in the
Legislature he had been absent but
one day and one hour from his seat
| and both times he was detained at
home by sickness in his family. He
| had missed but one committee meet
| ing and it is in committee that the
real hard work of the Legislature is
done. He has been and is opposed to
biennial sessions and pro-
ceeded to give his reasons for his
| position. The constitution Of
the State is built on a specific plan,
| and it requires annual sessions. To
| adopt biennial sessions will mean the
necessary remodelling Of the constitu-
tion. The change will not save the
money that is claimed. The agitation
for bi-ennail sessions did not originate
with the people, but with the corpora
tions who are united solidly for the
change. They maintain a powerful
lobby in Columbia and biennial ses-
sion will suit their purposes better than
an annual session. Another strong
reason why the people should not vote
| for biennial. sessions is that they
should never lose control Of their rep
resentatives and it is important that
they should come before the people
every two years. The people should
not surrender this right. He had
never shirked responsibility or tried
to hide anything he had done. but
when he was elected he found it a
rale to hold secret ballots on appoint
ments and he did feel called upon to
go out and publish the fact that
the man he favored had not been recon-
mended. He made a strong argument
in favor Of law and order. President
Roosevelt has sat an example of disre-
gard for law by carrying pistol and
in many other ways. Others in high
position were no better. Members OF
the Legislature had knowingly voted
for unconstitutional measures. The
example was deplorable in effect upon
the people. Officers should obey the
law, not because it was convenient to
do so but because it vas law. The
observance Of law and the preservation
of an orderly government is necessary
to our civilization. He favored the
Brice Dill because it is a democratic
measure. The people should have the
right to vote out a dispensary, but
when they have done so should not re-
ceive, nor should they want, share OF
the profits from dispensaries in other
| counties