The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-06-20
McMAHAN FOR GOVERNOR.
NEW CANDIDATE FOR COVER
NOR.

NOR.
Columbia, June 16.-Mr. John j.
McMahan, of Columbia, has filed his
pledCa as candidate 4or Governor
and expects to make a vigorous cam
paign for the place.
Mr.. McMahan has served the State
as Superintendent Of Education, and
he was member Of the ConstltI-
tional Convention from this county
and has been more or less prominent
in political life.
HIS platform is as follows.
To the People Of South Carolina:
hereby announce myself a candidate
in the Democratic primary for Cover
nor of South Carolina.
Our system of primary campaign
and election is an invitation to any
citizen to offer to lead the people to
see the truth as he sees it, and so to
contribute towards popular educa-
ton in civic rights and duties. p
With full recognition Of the merits
of the men now announced for Gov
ernor, nevertheless 1eel that my own
views as to the situation and the du-
ties before US are sufficiently distinct
i've to make it of some public interest
that T should attempt to present them
to the people. This will require num-
Der of separate speeches and will
not now undertake to go into details
Intending to devote myself largely
to making the people think on mat
ters not now before them as issues,
hooe to conduct, so far as my ability
permits, a genuine campaign Of educa-
ton. With view Of the practical
result Of actually accomplishing some
thing for the State, I hope that some
good men in every county will have
views similar to mine and will under
take to advocate them as candidates
for the Legislature. In that event
the people will have the opportunity
to put into effect some Of the meas
ures so presented.
! I regret the necessity Of referring
here to any one issue; but the liquor
question is now so prominently IN
the public mind that even temporary
silence might be misconstrued-
nf
and the now overshadowing shame Of
dispensary corruption as alike symp-
toms of deeper disorder. The only
possible remedy must come through
attention to the more fundamental
principles. To these I shall give
large consideration in the campaign.
Though personally see no need
for whiskey in the world, there is such
a large and influential proportion of
our citizens with the contrary tastes
and views that the use Of alcoholic
drinks seems certain to continue for
some generations to come. believe
that prohibition lis not yet practicable
for the entire State, though it may be
advisable in certain counties.
I am unalterably opposed to the
sale of liquor by any private citizen
on any condition whatsoever.
am in favor of the conduct Of the
business by the State for the present,
with the hope that it will be gradually
curtailed by county experiments with
prohibition.
But I stand for the dispensary re-
formed. True, the problem OF purify
ing it SENS superhuman, but if it is
problem before us it should be both
possible and practicable.
We need everywhere to mculcate
respect for law and the determination
to enforce law. We need to put in the
Penitentiary some people with money
and social position. Some Judges as
well as jurors are too lenient to-
wards criminals Of family influence.
The punishment of the rogue as
rogue, whatever be his previous re-
spectability or present wealth, would
have a wholesome tendency to restore
old fashioned honesty in positions OF
trust. No less is there needed an i'm
partial melting out of justice to the
murderers and bullies, against whom
the average citizen has little protec-
ton but his own courage.
These and other questions l pro-
pose to discuss before the people.
John J. McMahan.
Columbia, S. c., June Is. 1906.
So that he might have absolutely |
no entangling alliances or connection |
that might in any wise be e:nbarras- /
sing and let him pe foot-loose for the
campo ign, Mr.. M,1Iahan has resigned
from the law firm of Lyles & Nc
Mahan, Of which he is a member, and
has rendered his resignation as