Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-01-14
THE SELECTION OF OFFICIALS.

This Is campaign year, a year IN
which the voters are called upon to t1ll
all political offices, from United States
senator down to county coroner, and
while all the politicians including most
Of the office holders and all the office
seekers, are keenly alive to the situa-
ton, that part of the country's citizen
ship which is most deeply interested,
the people who, by their labor and toll
produce the means which hold things
together and keep them moving is, as
usual, giving the matter but little
thought.
As the situation now appears, there
will be very little local concern in state
or national politics. This state does not
figure in national politics except as to
the matter of nominating Democratic
and Republican presidential candi-
dates. After the candidates have been
nominated, South Carolina voters are
mere lockers on. The people here have
vote for United States senator and
also for congressman from the Fifth
Congressional district. The under
standing is that there will be number
Of candidates to choose between in the
filing of both Of these positions; but
it would hardly be fair to say that
there are involved any issues other
than the mere question of personal
choice.
In addition to the offices Of United
States senator and congressman from
the Fifth district, and the various state
offices, the people of York county are
to make selections Of representatives in
the state legislature including the house
and senate, and are also to fill the Of
fees of clerk Of the court, sheriff, su-
perintendent Of education, county su-
pervisor, county commissioners and
coroner. The offices Of auditor and
treasurer are filled by appointment but,
by custom, on the recommendation OF
the voters, who consequently have as
much responsibility here as elsewhere.
1t is quite a common claim that eV-
cry voter has as much say-so in the
matter of choosing officers as every
other voter. But this is fallacy. or
course there are hundreds Of people
who believe that under the existing
conditions each and every man who de-
sires to run for a public office simply
announces that desire or has his friends
to do ii for him and goes before the
people on his merits, leaving the result
to the unhampered choice Of the peo-
pie There have been numerous in
stances where inexperienced men nave
launched themselves into politics on
this very theory; but to lncn who have
had years Of experience in these mat
ters such innocence is simply amusing.
They know that getting there is gen.
orally a case of wire pulling from the
jump and that the idea Of the free and
unhampered choice of the people Is a
thing so rare that but few of them
would claim to have ever known case.
In n like manner the individual who
thinks he has done his full duty when
he has cast his vote is as innocent as
the candidate who thinks he has moth
ing to do but be voted for.
With the politicians, the game Of pol
itics is going on all the while. Trades
and alliances are in process of forma-
ton. There are efforts to get certain
men out from certain neighbOrhoodS for
certain offices. Often one man uses
another for his own benefit while the
man who is being used is being fiatter-
ed into believing that he is a principal
instead of a mere agent. There Is lots
intrigue and chicanery among the poll
ticans. They know how to use vari-
Gus influences one way or the other
If a man is not available as a positive
factor then it is not uncommon toI
make use of him as a negative factor.
Ipon the whole the game Is one that
most people would gladly avoid: but
from the nature of the case 1t is clearly
the duty of every man to participate
If he will think to steer clear OF the
whole diStaSteful business. he Will find
whenever he realizes what has been
done. that he has been AN unwilling
rarty TO the cOnsummation Of things
that are directly against his principles
The local political game has already
commenced There are several aspir-
ants to the seat of Senator Brice in the
state senate. and there are number
Of people who have their eyes upon va
rious of the county offices. AS yet
things have not shaped up much. Two
years ago there was an attempted al
Iignment for and against the state dis
pensary There was really very little
to it, As Il matter Of fact 1t was dif-
ficult to say just where the line was.
Summed up and boiled down, more
than anything else. it was a fight be-
tween ins and outs with but little claim
on the part of the outs except desire
to get in and not a great deal of claim |
on the part of the ins except that there
was no reason why they should be put
out. There was really no well-det1ned
issue. and except for SCheming and
wire pulling there would have hardly
been q campaign.
From the present outlook, the frSt
in the present campaign Is
to be over organization OF the next
county convention and the election of
the chairman of the Democratic eXecu- |
five committee Ordinarily 1t would be |
q matter of but small Importance as TO
who is chairman of the county execu-
tive committee; but as things stand