The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-08-26

| that 1t elected snail 90 everything III
my power to promote the happiness
and prosperity of our State.
John G. Richards.
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Fello"
Democrats:
The rules of the Democratic party
of this State are such, that when a
man becomes a candidate for any po-
sition within the gift of the people, ht
is required to go before the people and
discuss the questions at issue ano
demonstrate his fitness for the posi-
ton to which he aspires.
In obeyance to this righteous re,
ouirement of our party, stand be-
fore you today. I am here fellow cit
izens for the greatest office within your
gift, that of governor Of South Caro-
lima. I realize fully the great respon-
sibility which I assume, in becoming
a candidate for this exalted position
realize that the great dignity and
honor of the position has ben maln1.
fed even by the character and type OF
men that you have chosen to fill this
position in years gone by.
But I come before you, conscious
of a deep and sincere love for our
great State in all her varied interests.
come feeling that am familiar with
her needs, and knowing that there is
an all wise Providence who not only
shapes and controls the destinies OF
men, but the destinies OF States and
nations, I therefore, feel encouraged
to ask you for your suffrages and
! that you elect me chief magistrate OF
your State.
1t is well known to us all that there
are three coordinate branches OF our
State government, separate and dis
tinct the one from the other. There
are the legislative, judicial and admin
istrative departments. l have had
twelve years experience in the legisla-
tive department, and it is upon the
record made, and the experience OBJ
tanned while your servant in that ca
pacity that I am standing today. 1t
is upon my record both public and
private that I am asking you to judge
me, fellow citizens, and upon this
am willing to stand or fall. I come
to you from the proud, the great
county of Kershaw, and while I am
a stranger to many OF you, | come
asking your suffrages, strengthened
and encouraged by the fact that the
people of that county the county of
Kershaw, Chestnut and Kennedy have
given me their unanimous endorse
ment, and join with me in asking the
people of South Carolina to elect me
governor.
I come before you fellow citizens
with the proud distinction of never
having been defeated by the people
of my county for any position al
though / have been in public life for
twenty years. For eight years I fill
ed minor offices, but the past twelve
years has been spent in your legls-
lature and it is upon my record there
that I expect principally to be judged.
Public office is a public trust, and
public men are judged and should be
judged by the manner in which they
regard this trust. In every county
of South Carolina there are gentle
mon who have served with me in the
! legislature These men are repre-
sentative citizens, and are in a posi-
| ton to state to the people OF their
several counties whether or not l
have measured up to the standard OF
the true South Carolinian, whether
or not I have regarded public offices
as a public trust, and whether or not
! I have worked and voted for the pro-
motion of our States best interest.
I am willing to stand or fall upon the
answer made to these questions by
those who know me, and are familiar
with my record.
While I do not like to refer to my
own record I feel that the circum-
stances are such that I may do so
with propriety. I therefore desire to
call your attention to some OF the
legislation with which I have been
identified, and some of the bills which
I have fostered. I was one of the
Joint authors of the State wide pro-
hibition bills of 1909 and 1910. am
the author of the law providing funds
for the erection of new and commo-
dious school buildings in the rura
districts; I am the author OF the law
providing a new dormitory and model
school building at Winthrop, and pro
viding free scholarships for poor girls
at that institution. I am the author
of the amendment to the free scholar
ship law at Clemson, giving prefer
ence to boys who will make agrlcul.
ture their life work. I worked anc
voted for the creation of the two tree
scholarships for boys from the cot
ton mills of the State aud for free
tuition for all of them. I am one O.
a committee who drafted and passe(
the new labor contract law. IN
troduced and assisted in passing tn
= bill for the reorganization of tn
National Guard of the State. an
the author of the bill repeating tn
T agricultural lien law, and ! am tn
f author Of the law erecting a monu
: rent to the women Of the COnEea
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