Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1910-08-17

teV Voter Reviews Record of Con
gresham J. o. Patterson,
and Urges His Reelection
Editor Edgefeld Advertiser:
Not since the days Of Grover
Cleveland have the Democrats had
such an opportunity for success as
Fin the approaching election. The
Republican oppression of the peo-
pie through corporate interests, ths
high cost of living caused by the
Republican tariff, and the fight that
the present Republican administers
ton is making against labor and in
favor of capital, has aroused every
thinking man to a sense ofhis rights
and his duty, and it looks as though
the Democrats>will have a sweeping
victory in the approaching general
election.
IF our people are now wise enough
to keep our able and experienced
members in Congress, they will reap
advantages that they can in no 9th
er way secure. But if we send q
Democratic house new members,
who have never had any experience
in legislative halls or any other
public Office, and who are without
prestige in the Congressional com
mittees, we must certainly expect to
gain nothing by Democratic vic
tory; for it is a well known fact
that it is impossible for q new mem
Der to accomplish anything. 1t
takes at least two or three terms for
him to learn the ropes in such a
manner as to do successful work for
his constituents.
Every man of affairs, who has the
interest of his community at heart,
will see disadvantage, and should,
iffor 70 other reason than that the
next House will be Democratic,
keep our present member, j.. O.
Patterson, in Congress. He has
not yet enjoyed three full terms in
the ,office, but during that time
he has climbed on the committees
that he now has some prestige
and standing such as will lend him
influence in gaining benefits for his
constituents. The Republicans are
very quick to see this advantage,
hence the reason that a majority of
them hold their seats from fifteen
to thirty years, and on account of
these long terms alone, the Republi-
cans can secure all the chairman
ships of important committees
which thereby gives them SO great
an advantage over younger mem
bers.
But beside the advantage to be
gained by returning experienced
men to Congress, the voters of this
District should reward the> good
work of Mr.. Patterson. 1t is a well
known fact that Hon. George Till
man and Hon. w. J. Talbert held
the position from fourteen to six
teen years respectively, yet, during
that time, we do not remember that
either of them succeeded under a
Republican administration in secur-
ing any permanent Improvements
for the District. Though Mr.. Pat
terson has not served butIabout one
third the length of time in Congress
that these gentlemen did, he has &C.
complished a great deal more in
fact. 1T was under a Republican
administration that he secured the
.postofice building for Aiken Coun-
ty, which is the only public build
ing in the District. He has looked
after the fish interest in the different
streams of water in the District, be-
sides be, has taken care of our voters
by sending them such benefits as he
could procure, and we feel certain
that no voter has ever had a repre-
sentative to pay more courteous at
tention or diligent work to their
many requests. Nor should we be
influenced to overlook the important
work that he has done on account of
the exaggerated campaign reports as
to his health. 1t was while study
ing the drainage and other condi-
lions of the, lower counties in the
District and gsing to the relief of
the food sufferers of the Savannah
river swamps that he contracted
malaria, but from which he has now
about entirely recovered. This
sickness was occasioned and con-
tracted while working for our own
people and it seems unjust to use it
or agitate it against a faithful ser
want; but, on the other hand, when
our public servants contract sickness
through the labors performed for
the people, it should be rewarded
instead of held against them.
In advocating the. reelection of
Mr.. Patterson for the many good
reasons set out above, we do not
moan to cav that his two onnonants