Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-07-05
1.-THE REEKiNG DEMAGoGUE."
An Old Man Hears Him at Chester
and Comments on the Speech


TO the Editor of the State:
1 listened a few days ago to a
speech by a candidate for governor
of South Carolina. This gentleman
claims to have had years of expert
ence, not only on the forum, but in
our legislative halls. In all my life,
and I am now an old man, 1 have
never listened to as much rotten ar
gument in the same length of time.
He is opposed to the education Of ne
groes with money paid by the white
people of the state, and said while the
negroes were paying only $4,000 of
our school fund, they were receiving
over 100000 for their schools
don't know where he gets his figures,
but doubt their accuracy. | am of the
opinion that the negroes pay more
than that amount in poll tax all of
which goes to the school fund. Be
that as it may, the spirit that prompts
such a measure as he proposes is be-
meath the consideration of the Chris
tian civilization of the twentieth CEN
tury. 1t will be a sad day for South
Carolina, if it ever comes, when race
prejudice and race hatred is famed
into flame by the governor Of the
state. He is opposed to compulsory
education and told us that the father
and mother should be allowed to con-
troll their children, and it would be
violation of personal liberty to allow
the state to control in this matter. He
seems exceedingly jealous for the per-
SOnal rights of the parents, but don't
care a farthing for the rights of the
children. He told us that there had
come to light at the late Democratic
state convention a deep laid scheme
of the politicians to disfranchse 90
600 of the poor white men of South
Carolina by requiring them to be
qualified electors before they would
be allowed to vote in the primary
election, but he, together with many
other patriots, showed the proposition
under.
1t seems to answer his purpose to
put the boot on the wrong leg. He
should have told US, that had it not
been for the Small-bOre politicians.
we could and would have had this
provision long ago. The demand for
this provision does not come from the
politicians. but is demanded by the
good citizens of this state, not for the
purpose of diSfranchiSng but to en-
franchise our people. These 10000
men he holds up to our view have dis
franchiSed themselves. and can not
vote in a general election, or sit on a
jury. These men come To our primary
elections and before casting their
votes swear to support the nominee Of
the party. knowing at the same time
that they are not qualified to do so.
Ten years ago the Democratic con-
ventiOn of Chester county passed a
resolution asking for this provision
and sent it to the state convention. IT.
went before the committee on plat
form and resolutions of which Sena-
tor Tillman was chairman. 1t was
not so much as reported to the con-
ventiOn: but, ] suppose. went into the
waStebaSket. We are encouraged by
the fact that. while we could not get Il
vote in the state convention ten years
ago for the measure, we got 70 at the
last convention. Interest in this mat
ter is rapidly on the increase. and the
people will soon demand that the dem
agOgues must stand aside.
w. II. Edwards.
Chester, 5. c.