The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-05-15
SENIOR SENATOR SCORES CHAR
LESION AND TELL HOW HE
CORRECTED ABUSE.
In Paper Given out to Press Tiilman
Paints out Some cf the Evils that
Will Result IL People DO not Deal
Honestly ny Each Other I'm Politics
VIII not Pass Judgment on Splits
at Charleston and Georgetown as
He Does not Know Merits of Case.


lima state convention at Columbia
May rs. but today ne issued the fol-
lowing statement bearing on 1t. throw
Ing out various suggestions and COM
ments concerning what he thinks
should be done and paying his re-
spects to Charleston ring rules"
II read the South Carolina papers
this week with deep interest. and
some things have occurred which have
caused me much concern. IL were
a politician. ] would say nothing. for
every politician knows how dangerous
IL Is for me. at this particular time.
10 dip into State politics: but a sense
OF duty compeis me to make certain
suggestions and comments.
II noticed that I'm several counties
the old ring fashion Of appointing
a committee to name the delegates
10 the State convention was carried
out. That was the system ge broke
up in 1890. and I am surpr sed that
the Democrats OF the State should re-
turn TO II and permit any set Of men
to foist II off on them. 1t Is undemo-
cratic and intended to be unfair. and
IL should not be tolerated. Then.
again I'm two counties there were splits
In one. part OF the delegates withdrew
and organized an Independent conven-
ton: In the other. Charleston. two
conventions sat Jointly In the same
hall at the same time-something
which has not been witnessed since
the Wallace and Mackey houses
struggled for mastery In the capital
In Columbia. II this tendency Is not
stopped. and the people do not realize
the necessity OF being honest and fair
with zach other. 1t In not difficult to
forsee an Independent ticket I'm the
held In November. and all the evils
and heartburnings which would fol-
low such a division aud conflict.
The essence OF Democracy Is the
rule OF ne majority. fairly expressed
and white men will not tolerate or put
up with cheating and unfairness. The
only reason Mexico Is I'm anarchy Is
because these people have never
known what II Is to he free and know
absolutely nothing about the conduct
OF an orderly government.
There are some changes In our
Democratic state constitution which
are Imperative. and shall see that
they are presented to the convention
which meets on May is. 1t
should provide for all elections Of
delegates and officers to he by ballot.
IL should provide. also for the entry
into the primary OF other candidates
In the case Of death after the can
vass begins and there should be a
provision authorizing the Stats execu-
tive committee. by a two-thiri vote
To prevent any candidate from speak-
Ing at the campaign meetings whose
only purpose would seem 10 be to vent
personal spite and travel up and dowp
the state to abuse some candidate
who Is running. This has been done
more than once and Is liable to hap
pen again ana there ought to he some
way To prevent II.
"In thinking these matters over.
my memory has been busy " ith some
things which took place while I was
governor. The Flcken campaign for
mayor Of Charleston was n death
grapple between the old Ferguson
crowd and the reformers. This an
tagoniSm grew so hot and the purpose
20 control the election machinery was
so great that both sides sent messon-
gers and agents to the governor at
Columbia. had made up my nina
90 see fair play as between The con-
tending factions and an honest regis
tration being tho first essential. I ap-
pointed Mcssrs. Williams. witte ana
O'Neol. three leading bankers of the
city. representing three distinct ole
mcnts ~ its population. American.
German ana Irish. They were I'm no
sense politicians ana wore very much
surprised. but hciug all good citizens
they accepted and performed Tho wort;
to the satisfaction of everybody. I'm
order 90 enforce honesty ana fairness
In having the ballots deposited AM
counted. I said To- those who repre-
s"utcd the two sides. 4 will give tho
rcformcrs ono commissioner Of clc-
tion I will give tho ms one. and
lot those two chose = third and these
three to constitute tho board To
enforce compliance with this proposi 70