Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-04-13
THE LIiGLSLATClSII.
SWhy II is Important to Elect Good
Men as Lawmakers.
(LaurenS AdyertiSer.)

twenty-five years ago when the
hue and cry was raised in this State
that ring rule" was in the ascend
ency, one of the little side yelps was
that Charleston county had too much
power in the Legislature, and was
ruling the Common wealth. That
Charleston county had more power
than other counties was true, but the
explanation in the main part of 1t
was plain. Beginning with 1878 or
1880, when the Democrats regained
control in Charleston, the county
sent TO the Legislature such men as
the late Charles Fl. Simonton, Ed
ward McCrady, Rudolph Seigling,
George Lamb Buist, Augustine ST.
mons, John f.. Fickcn and Simeon
Hyde, and kept them there year after
year and term after term. There
were few weak men in the Charleston
delegation in those days, and any Of
the men named would have been
prominent and influential in the Con-
gress Of the United States, Just as
they were in the Legislature. or
course they eXcrted immense power.
Trained brains can't be kept down
anywhere. Other counties sent able
men, but it was seldom that one of
their representatives remained in Of
flee more than two or four years.
After 1890 Charleston ceased to send
powerful delegations, though a few
good men were scattered in them,
consequently the county's influence
decreased. Spartanburg county
which has twice the Democratic vote
that Charleston has, commands lit
tie more influence in the Legislature
that does the average county for the
reason that no Spartanburg man
k}serves more than two terms, and the
really big men of the county, barring
rare exceptions, refuse to 60 into
politics.
A strong delegation in the Legis-
1ature Is Of great value to a county,
and weak delegation Is a handicap
to 1t. This applies not only TO poll
tical affairs, but also to business.
Were the State about to establish
new college or other institution, the
county without strong men in the
Legislature would have little chance
to secure it. Some of these days,
9asz3e years or twenty-five years hence,
SSsSuth Carolina may adopt a policy
State; 1t Is the starting and creating
county with influential legislators
will have the better chance to obtain
a part of the assistance first
The Legislature Is the most i'm
portant body in the State. We laugh
at 1t and make jokes at rs expense,
but 1t Is the real government OF the
State. IL is the starting and creating
point in the State, county and city
government, and nowhere else can a
good man do so much for his people
AS there. No man Is really worthy
citizen If business selfishness pre-
vents him from running for the Leg
islature, and the truth Is that the
man who Is too big to go into poll
ties Is actually too small.
What the people ought to learn Is
that when men Of character and
brains offer for the Legislature, they
confer favor upon the people and
the voters ought to encourage such
men to enter the primaries. Such
men do not like TO run for Office. be-
cause they resent being placed in the
position Of beggars when they know
1t to be false position. At the same
time, the best men are those who will
serve their county and their State,
however they are made to appear
that they are seeking preferment,
though they knoY that they are do
ing nothing of the kind.