The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-03-15
Very truly yours,
WALTER 8. WILBUR.

The writer OF the above COM
munication in the second para
graph Of his letter. would twist
the meaning Of our editorial
comment relating to his postal
card campaign to secure express
sions from the members Of the
general assembly against the
governors veto of the Commis.
sion Government Act. We are
not opposed to member Of the
general assembly committing
himself in advance upon public
questions ordinarily, but in a
case like the one al issue, We
think it bad form indeed for a
member Of the general assembly
to commit himself for Or against
a proposition before he has
heard the argument. It might
as we'll be argued that a juror
should commit himself in ad-
vance Of the evidence. In this
case, the general assembly by
practically unanimous vote,
enacted the Commission Govern
ment Bill, bat this measure did
not have the consideration Bills
usually have, for the reason, its
provisions embraced only certain
cities, and those representing
the cities not offering objections
it was assumed they approved it,
and the Bill went through as it
were, by default. Now comes
the veto Of the governor, who is
supposed to have carefully gone
over the provisions of the Act;
it is slso to be presumed he has
discovered something in it
which was not called to the at
tention of the general assembly,
when the measure was pending,
therefore We thinkit righS and
proper to wait until His Excel
lency has presented the resons
for his veto officially: if these
reasons are not founded we'll,
the general assembly will not
sustain him but, should he point
out good and sufficient reasons
for his veto to be sustained,
those who gave to Mr.. Wilbur
their promise to vote for tie Act
over the governors veto would
either have to violate their
promise to him, or their oaths
Of Office.
The voters have a right to as
certain from candidates for pub
lie Office their position upon pub
lie questions, and they also have
a right to ask their representa-.
tives to vote for or against
measures which are pending: Or
are to be pending in the legisla.
ture, but they have no right to
exact from any representative a
promise for or against a PROPOSE
ton, which his own Judgment
and conscience must decide. We
would take this same position
were the governor to ask in ad-
vance Of MS official reasons. that
his veto be sustained, we should
resent it as an interference with
the discharge Of a duty. We do
not think Mr.. Wilbur is in
position to know how many will
disagree with US sin feeling that
the legislature is under any duty
to suspend judgment upon q
question they have already de-
cided unanimously in the aftir
native, and which their verdict
has been sweepinsly set aside
on the sole ground that the
Governor is opposed" There
are scme who would stand ready
to condemn the governor right
or wrong; and from the tone of
Mr.. Wllbur's letter we judge
him 10 be one Of them. but the
vast majority are disposed to be
fair, no matter how much they
may disagree with the positions
the governor has taken. they
are willing to give him respect
full hearing, and if he is convinc-
ing they will yield to his judg-
ment.