The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-11-02

TO the Voters Of South Carolina:
AS South Cardinals representative
on the national Democratic committee
feel it my duty to issue warning
to the people of the State. The Dem
ocratic party redeemed the State from
Radical and negro rule and it has been
In full possession Of all branches of
the State Government since 1876. 1t
has had two Senators and the full del
egation in the House Of Representa-
tives since the new Constitution went
into effect We have had honest gov
ernment, and in the main good gov
ernment, and no good citizen has any
right to complain.
The new Constitution adopted in
1895 insures white supremacy, which
every sensible man recognizes as
necessary for continuance of good
government. For just so sure as the
sun rises and sets every day, the mix
ing Of the negro in our politics again
will bring decentralization and inaugu-
rate an era of extravaganza and
waste and dishonesty in governmental
affairs AS long as the white men
stand shoulder to shoulder with un-
broken ranks there is no opening or
opportunity for the negro voter to
get finger in the public pie. But all
experience teaches that where the me-
gros are active in politics corruption,
venality and rottenness abound. Is it
possible to have a decent white Re-
publican party in South Carolina?
Are there enough honest and honor
able white Republicans to be trusted
with any political power at all? My
experience and observation teaches
me to say emphatically. NO" Why
then should the white people Of the
State divide into hostile ranks un-
less those who are responsible for the
division desire corrupt politics and
rottenness in office?
i am led to speak thus because the
papers are more or less full Of the
sophistries and falsehoods of social
ed Democrats who are trying to bam-
boozle and deceive the people into
voting for Roosevelt, Of the Bull
Nose party. with the plea that their
participation in the last Democratic
primary does not bind them to sup
port the Democratic Presidential elec-
tors. Are we to witness the spectacle
OF white men claiming to be Demo-
Gratis and voting in the Democratic
primaries deserting their brothers in
the Presidential fight? Can any hon
orable citizen persuade himself that
he can do this and remain in good
standing in the party or be allowed to
participate in the next primaries? l
serve notice now, that so far as any in
huence l possess goes. the primary
shall be made SO stringent that any
such treachery as this will forever bar
such white men from participation in
our governmental affairs. l ask all
good citizens to be watchful at the
polls on November and take down
the names Of all so-called Democrats
who desert and vote for Roosevelt
electors. 1t ought to be an easy mat
ter to watch and see who vote the
straight Democratic ticket or who vote
he Bull Moose ticket. This threaten
ed treachery leads me to warn nv
Democratic fellow citizens against
apathy and Indifference. Our pri-
maries have so long been the real
election and the November election
the ratification or legalizing Of the
primary that our people have grown
careless. This Is one time that the
old adage, Eternal viligance is the
price Of liberty" should be recalled
and lived up to. We must take no
chances and / hope every good white
cltlAen VIII go 10 the polls on NOVem-
ber and vote the full Democratic
ticket. Whether he voted for 10 nes
or Blease in the primary, it is his duty
to elect Woodrow Wilson and those
men who stand for good national gov
ernment, AS between Taft and
Roosevelt | know that Taft is the
better man OF the two.
AZ between Roosevelt and Wilson
for the Presidential office, the differ
encc Is so great and the contrast SO
much To Wilson's advantage | cannot
understand why any good citizen of
South Carolina should hesitate. Roose-
Welt gave us Crum; he is only trying
To deceive the people now because OF