Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-22

islature today at noon for the purpose
of electing a successor to Chief Justice
Pope, resigned. Although there had
been talk enough to pressage quite a
spirited contest, Associate Justice Ira
B. Jones and Eugene B. Gary were
the only nominees, and the matter was
settled In short order, the vote being
90 to 65, in favor of Jones.
Judges Watts and Hydrick are look
ed upon as the strongest candidates for
the position to be made vacant by the
elevation of one of the associate JUS
tices TO the chief justiceship. l have
heard strong claims in behalf of both
of these gentlemen; but have not been
able to arrive at a conclusion as to
which Is the stronger. Partisans of
Judge Watts cite his fine record as to
the percentage of opinions in which he
has been upheld by the supreme court
and urge also that by reason of his
most creditable record and advancing
years, he is entitled to the promotion
row, claiming that Judge Hydrick not
yet having reached middle life, can
better afford to wait. On the other
hand, the friends of Judge Hydrick
urge his splendid ability as a lawyer,
offer to compare the percentage Of his
decisions upheld by the supreme court
with that of Judge Watts, point out
that his residence In the Piedmont Is
to be considered because Of it's easy
accessibility to such large portion OF
the state, and make various other
claims. all of which appear to be
quite sound Those urging the claims
of Hon. John c. Sheppard, Hon. ]. P.
Carey and various other candidates
from the bar, cite their respective at
tainments and claim that the circuit
h. lal hN-
either Judge Watts or Judge Hydrick.
Wonderfully interesting are the argu-
ments that some Of those who are to
decide the matter are advancing, and
no less interesting either is the nom
committal attitude of others.
Judging from the talk only, the
state wide prohibition bill will GER
tainly go through the house without
difficulty, and some of the senators
who are opposed to 1t, say it will pass
the senate also. Others, however, say
that they do not believe the bill will
pass. They are hopeful that the state
wide crowd will be outgeneraled.
While there are a great many people
who are moving for statewide pro-
hibition from honest conviction, there
is no reasonable doubt that there Is
lots Of politics in the whole thing, and
the politics is being played principally
by the local optionists and former
state dispensaryites. Former state
dispensaryites are posing as Prohibi-
tioniStS and II they win over the local
optionists they calculate upon seizing
the prestige that comes with success.
Among the local optionists are some
who are believers in the legalized sale
of liquor and others who claim tnat
while they are as earnestly in favor of
prohibition as it is possible for any
body to be, no good can come OF any
attempt to force prohibition on a coun-
ty, where the majority sentiment is in
favor of liquor They claim that such
an attempt can only result in farce.
The outlook is that the lien law will
be repealed; but this movement Is
also looked upon as matter OF poll
tics. The opponents to repeal claim
that the principal result will be slight
disturbance of the present system of
supply credit; that the chattel mort
gage will take place of the agricultural
lien contract. Advocates Of repeal say
they will also do away with the chattel
mortgage on growing crops; but the
opponents to repeal insist that this
will be impossible under the constitu-
ton of the United States; that the
right of the individual to make con-
tracts is inalienable, and that any ef-
fort to interfere with that right will
come to naught.
Mr.. John j. McMahan of Richland,
one of the strongest men In the house,
introduced a bill yesterday to make
the possession of registration certi-
ficate a prerequisite to voting In the
primary. The bill was referred to the
judiciary committee, and the informa-
ton last night was that a majority of
this committee was against the prop
cSition; but 1t became evident that II
the majority should make an unfavor-
able report there would be minority
report and there is reason to believe
that the merits of the question will be
threshed out on the floors of the house
and senate. The supporters Of the bill
include some strong members, but
there is also good deal of opposition
to it.
For several days past there has been
going on a buzz Of ugly talk about al
legged scandalous conditions at the
state hospital for the insane. There
has been mention of the matter in
;ome of the papers-first ugly intima-
tions and then contradictions. 1t
seems quite certain that there Is nee
eSsity for an investigation and that an
investigation will be made.
The Farmers Union convention has
put in two good days Of hard, earnest
work, and there Is a general feeling
that much profit will result. While
there has been a lot Of discussion of
various plans and schemes intended to
improve the economic conditions OF
agriculture in this state, there is no
doubt of the fact that the prevailing
sentiment upholds hog and hominy-
home SupplieS-cotton as Surplus-as
the one line Of policy that is sure to
win. Messrs. Williams and Campbell
of the government cooperative dem
orstration work, both members Of the
Union, led off in mastery addresses on
this subject and a surprisingly large
number Of delegates offered striking
and sensible suggestions along the
same line. There has been some dis
cussion that may properly be classed
as POLITICAL; but l do not think the
Union is responsible for 1t. Various
resolutions came in from the outside,
mostly from members Of the general
assembly, seeking to get the endorse
ment of the farmers for pet measures.
There was but little evidence Of per-
Sonal politics. l do not feel warrant
ed in stating as a fact that there was
any. But some of the resolutions pass
ed will be used for political thunder.
1ncIe was all tllOIl, lOl "
get the convention to endorse the
state wide prohibition bill and ask
the legislature to pass 1t. Everybody
on the outside knows this bill is load
ed with politics; but there were many
delegates who could see in 1t nothing
but a purely moral question. How
ever, the convention was not caught.
1t contented itself with the passage of
a resolution putting itself on record
as in favor of prohibition, declining to
memorialiZe the general assembly.
Senator-elect Z. d. Smith made ap-
plicatiOn for membership in the Union
this morning, and was accepted, Off
cials from his own county giving him
the necessary initiation. He had made
application to his local Union, some
time ago, but for one reason or other
lad not been initiated.
There was public session OF the
convention in the hall Of the house of
representatives tonight and by special
invitation addresses were made by
Messrs. F. II. Weston, F. H. Hyatt and
w. W. Ray. After the public meeting
there was an executive session at
which committee composed of
Messrs. Young Duncan, T. T. Wake
field, T. II. Foster A. d. Hudson, w.
S. Barton, Jr., and DR.. II. Clayton was
appointed to go to Clemson college and