The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-05-09
ISIT NOT TIME TO THINK.

Senator Tillman is what is max
ing US lose political prestige in
Clarendon. We are satisfied this
lis correct, at the sametime it
does not move US a peg from the
positions we have taken. We
Still believe the people can man
age the dispensary locally and
retain it's entire profits without
having as much scandal as the
State management has created;
believing this, we shall stick to
it until convinced to the contrary.
South Carolina, for the past
thirteen years, has been manag-
ing a dispensary, and it has been
from the very beginning source
of shameful scandie. North Car
olina and Georgia, each, have
been experimenting with dispen-
saries under county control, and
so far, we have not yet heard OF
any scandals cropping out. If
North Carolina and Georgia have
demonstrated that dispensa1ies
can be controlled locally without
scandal, and South Carolina aas
proven that the institution as a
State organization is a breeder
of the rottenest kind Of scandal,
where in the name Of reason is
the harm to give the local option
scheme a trial: Wherever you
find a man not willing to listen
to the proposition of local op,
ton. you can bank on lit, he has not
considered the matter at all, but
has reached his conclusions from
assertions of an interested poll
tician, who regards the State dis.
pensary a good stalking horse to
ride into office upon, because it
has the endorsement of Senator
Tillman. It is not a question OF
right or wrong, but he makes it
one of Tlllman's politics simply.
This sort of thing will react
some day, the people cannot be
fooled always, they will not
always let prejudice triumph
over reason. and when the reac-
ton does set in, the political de-
ceiyerS of TODAY will meet their
just reward.
We realize if we have any
political ambitions, they can
never be gratifed as long as the
people who are to be effected
take no interest in the organiza.
ton of the party. This lack OF
interest is exactly what the poll
ticians want and which they are
quick to take advantage Of.
Here, we have a condition which
should make every man in the
county wonder why it IS permit
ted. In the town of Manning
there are three clubs, and they
sent to the county convention
thirty delegates which is a rep
resentation on 750 names. The
boxes at this place cannot vote
over half of that number: then is
it fair to have representation
| of one-third Of the convention:
The Farmers Platform club
alone had eighteen delegates,
which it was entitled to from the
number Of names on its roll, but
are those names rightfully
there? To show how indifferent
people are, at the meeting Of the
Farmers Platform club which
has an enrolment of AL names,
only 35 persons were present,
and a number Of them were new
men to be enrolled, yet these 35
persons sent to the convention
three times as many delegates
as any other club in the county.
We have no doubt the meetings
at the other clubs were also
poorly attended, and two clubs
Silver and White, were lost in
the shuttle, and Notwithstanding
that these two clubs did not show
up and had no delegates, the mem
barshin of this convention was
larger than two years ago. Is
this condition to continue? Are
the people going to remain in
different and permit themselves
tied hand and foot by crafty
set of men who are working for
self-interest? We should like to
see the people wake up and
show signs of life and spirit: let
them come together and put the
stamp of disapproval on this
self-assuming leadership. Let
them say they will no longer
be led to the polls like dumb
cattle, but they propose to take
a hand in the thinking: and in the
selection of their officials, wheth-
er it be representatives or coun-
ty officers.
When the people take this
course an honest man. who has
rendered the people honest
service, and whose nature re-
volts at hypocrisy, can hope to
have his merits appreciated and
recognized, until that time: how
ever. so far as we are concerned,
we shall be found with our face
to the front, doing our duty,
regardless of who it pleases or
displeases, or it's probable effect
upon any future political pros
poets we may have. We prefer