The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-02-26
Entered at the p~ostofice at Laurens,
s. G. as second class mail matter.
LAURENS, S. c., FEBRUARY z6. 1908.
THE SENATORIAL CONTEST.

q bOBioihIuiS SlCiS 10 a RdiIlC VI par
ceiling out the Offices going on. The
organization of a capital city "ring" is
not only natural but inevitable. This
is inherent in our institutions, by one
Of which the election Of certain high
Offices is placed in the hands of the
Legislature. Sometimes the rings Last
only a few weeks or months; sometimes
they last years; and sometimes in the
capital half a dozen little rings form
themselves and do business for a time.
A most remarkable situation has de-
veloped n Columbia since a vacancy has
occurred in this States representation
in the United States Senate.
Six candidates were in the field for
the Senate before the death Of Mr..
Latimer, besides himself. The Legis-
lature must elect his successor. At this
time Saturday all of the six and one
other-ex-Gov. Hayward, who has en-
tered the lists since Mr.. Latimer's
death appear unwilling to seek cleo
ton at the hands of the Legislature for
the %unexpired term. Perhaps they are
all afraid of being defeated in the Leg
islature, and each thinks that if all
should run the successful man would
have a great advantage in the primary
contest for the full term. In other
words, they are all scared Of defeat.
They are playing politics. A man who
has confidence in himself, and believes
that he can serve the people, would run
in the Legislature and, if defeated,
would appeal to the people. That is
what Ben Tillman would do. He
wouldn't be afraid of anything the
South Carolina Legislature could do to
him SO long as he could go to the peo-
pie. Much as we dislike the Hon. B.
r. Tillman, we confess that we find
keen pleasure in seeing him play the
game. He lays his cards on the table
face upwards and says: "Now, beat
me, you little fellows, if you can" and
everybody passes and lets Tillman take
the pot. Other politicians are winking
and blinking, guessing and discussing,
buttonholing and lobbying and holding
caucuses under the stairsteps, having
cold chills lest they make somebody
angry. Perhaps we do somebody in
justice; perhaps some of the candidates
who were candidates against the late
Mr.. Latimer will go before the Legisla-
ture and offer for Mr.. Larimer's place.
opinion, go before the people strong,
whether he gets 20 votes of the Legis-
lators or not. Defeat by the Legisla-
ture is nothing; they are only about
ITS persons. In the primary this
amounts to n precinct. OF course
they want to elect one Of themselves.
They regard the Senatorship as their
cake-which ii isn't, or ought not to
be. But if the candidates for the long
term stay out Of the race for the short
term they will play into the hands of
the Icgislators-not one Of whom ought
to succeed Mr.. Latimcr in the Senate.
We make this last assertion because it
is the record. Not a member of the
ought to be sent to the Senate. If he
had thought so, he would have been a
candidate before the vacancy occurred
"a candidate before the people. To
run before the Legislature, and not be-
fore the people, is the same thing as
saying: 81 couldn't get this job if the
people had the choice, but maybe | can
work the wires among the ITS Legisla-
tors and 50 I'll grab the unexpired term
with the salary for one year, 81, 500,
being smart enough and good enough
for an unexpired term, but too small a
potato to go before Democratic voters
of South Carolina and ask them for the
position" A member of the Legisla-
ture who seeks election for the short
time and boldly declares that he will
ask to be elected to the long term next
summer will deserve and command pub
lie respect. No man should be elected
to the short term who is not worthy of
a long term. Why should the short
term be degraded in this way, in order
that timorous politicians may have their
little game?
The refusal of the avowed candidates
for the long term to run before the
Legislature forces on the Legislature
the necessity of e~lecting a man whom
the people do not want. The people do
not want any man for Senator whose
blood is so thin that he will not ask
them FOR the Office.
Meantime, they say that the Legisla-
tors are going to elect one of them
selves for the short time. Why? Be-
cause they can. Not because j. r.
Johnson, Stanyarn Wilson, ID. E. Fin
Icy, Jasper Talbert, John C. Sheppard,
M. C.. Butler, j. l.. Coker, j. w.
Barnwell, George b. Cromer, John B..
Cleveland, S. j. Simpson and others do
not outclass the average Legislator.
but because they are not members of
the Legislature and are not acquainted
with the IT'S statesmen composing that
body. One member of the Legislature
whom we have heard mentioned, and
who is worthy Of consideration for
United States Senator. is William l..
Mauldin, Of GreenvilIe. In 1876 he was
a red shirt rider. Before 1876 he was
a Confederate soldier. He is a man of
real ability. He has as much brains in
one corner of his head as some of the
little candidates have in their whole CO.
%coanuts, and he is still a vigorous and