The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-03-18
FAMILIES IN POLITICS.

s''tNsJ W nv 500 StaAJ 49, VA
fees is absurd" the Columbia State
agrees that the position that the men
should be elected to Office on their indi-
vidual merits is indisputably sound, and
then adds:
eff n family contains dozen mem
bers that offer for a dozen. Offices, and
each of those candidates is the best
man running for that particular Job,
the best man should be elected, regard
less of the qualifications or Offices pos
sessed by other members of the family.
There may be serious complications,
however. If that family aided in build
ing a platform in which rotation in
Office was a central plank, and that
plank was flanked by another entitled
down with the Oligarchy, and hanked
or the other side by a plank protesting
against an 'aristocracy,' the i%nconsist-
ency of that family of platform-build-
ers might become painful.
Again, if members of that family
were elevated to public office by the
vote OF the people when in a normal
state of mind it would be, indeed, a
marked compliment. But it is some
what noteworthy that not one of the
Gerry brothers has demonstrated that
he is a favorite with the people. Any
one so designated by Captain Tillman
would have been made lieutenant gov
ernor in 1890. In like manner in 1894,
when John Gary Evans was elected to
succeed Gov. Tillmann, Tillmann's wish
the potent factor in the choice.
When the storm of fractional bitterness
subsidized, and the coat-tails of Benjamin
were no longer available at the hur-
dies, there were repeated and signal
failures to favorably impress the men
with the votes. The House of Repre-
s%entatives is easier than the people.
Now, THE ADVERTISER is not an
evans organ" or any other kind of
organ. 1t is not in u power to say
whom it will support. The present edi-
tor has a cordial regard for Mr.. Evans,
and the same sort of regard for MI.
Hayward, and for several other candi-
dates as well.
Of course Mr.. Evans should no more
be elected on account of his kin than
defeated on that account. He must
prove a~ffirmatively that he is better
fitted to serve the State than is anyone
of his competitors, and the same task
is before Hayward, tombstone, Martin,
Smith and the rest. Sometimes, fire.
quently, talent and patriotism run in
families. The Hayward family has
produced certainly as many men of
ability as has the Evans or Gary
family though Gov. Hayward is the
first of them to appear before the po-
litical footlights in late years. In
earlier times the Heywards had con-
cnipiInilc rpcitinpo hn,,,,cnf ln Ctoto o.
colony, needed the Heywards. The
Johnstones, too, have been men of
mark for generations. The question
now is, does the State need most an
Evans, or a Hayward, or a tombstone,
or a Martin, or a Smith, or a Dargan,
~ a Henderson-even were his name
lick, Tom OF Harry Jones?
The prominence of particular families
in this republic has always impressed
us as remarkable, when we consider
that our constitution and laws were de-
liberately designed to destroy heredi-
tary political influences. The great
Harrison tribe, of Virginia, gave to the
country two presidents, grandfather
and grandson), and scores of members
of h family in many States have been
leaders in both parties, as well as in
business, social and scientific affairs.
The Presidents Adams were father and
son, and in New England the Hales,
Hoars and Lodges have held acores of
offices. In this State fifty Buffers,
Pickenses, Simkinses, Bacons, Lips
combs and Brookses-all connected by
blood or marriage-have been political
leaders. There is no counting the num-
Der of strong men descended from
Landgrave Thomas Smith, of Charles
ton. In the early history of South
Carolina at least two or three of the
Pinckneys were men of national infu-
ence and power, and the Manning
Richardson family has given the State
five governors.
At the present time two Kitchin
brothers are members of Congress
from North Carolina. One of the Lam
dis brothers, of Illinois, is a federal
judge, another a leading Republican
member of Congress, and a third was
lately defeated for Congress--the two
latter being Indianians. The Breckin-
ridges have held Office in kentucky for
many years. In war the Lee family. Of
Virginia, produced half a dozen general
officers, and in the Federal army there
were perhaps as many Ohio McCooks of
soldierly distinction.
In this Democratic country it is pre-
posterous to suppose that family inhu-
enc counts. When families are large
they nearly always divide into hostile
camps. Two Mayors Harrison, of Chi
cago, were Democrats; two Presidents
Harrison, Wing and Republican, but
they were all limbs from the same
stock. In the approaching race for the
United States Senate the advantage
of family help over any of the candi-
dates would be with Governor Hey
ward. His family connection, we would
guess, is more numerous and more
widely scattered in the State than that
of any other candidate.
1t is perfectly true that Senator Till
man raised a great ~hullaballoo about a
family ring in this State which
did exist. If Mr.. Evans joined in that
cry. he will have to answer il as hest