The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-03-27
WILL THERE BE MORE THAN TWO
CANDIDATES?

iACiS - elll SlSLuCiC i'OO SeAtN
gether satisfied to confne the
choice for governor to the two
gentlemen already announced.
and this element would be glad
to have one or more in the race
in order that they may not be
forced to accept either OF the
two, who, from all indications
are going to make & campaign
Of personal bitterness, both Of
the candidates now before the
voters, for a number Of years
have had a personal antlpathy
for one another, and nothing the
one would do, or say, would meet
with the approval Of the other,
therefore, the campaign which
they will make cannot be Of an
educational value to the masses.
The time of these two gentlemen
will be taken up II criticislng
each other, and thus, the mater
ial things which are of vital in
terest to the masses who have
the taxation for the support Of
the government to bear, will be
obscured. Because Of this condl-
ton there is a growing demand
for more material to select from,
and it would not surprise Us in
the least did others "throw their
hats in the ring" before the time
expires for the fling of pledges.
We have been asked the Ques-
ton Shy what authority, do those
who insist there should be only
two candidates for governor::o
The Office belongs to the masses,
and not to a coterie Of newspaper
editors aided and abetted by a
few politicians, this being true,
and the fundamental principle OF
the primary system being to give
to the voters material to select
from, it is contended that to close
the door of opportunity against
others who aspire TO this high
position, is not in accordance
with the principles Of democracy,
but on the contrary, it is worse
than the caucus system Of the
convention plan the people re-
pudiate6 il 1890. A precedent
set this year to permit a few per
sons to dictate the number Of
candidates there shall be for an
Office, and too, who those candi
dates shall be. in our judgment,
will be the beginning Of the end
of the primary system, and IN
the course of a short time place
the selection Of those who are to
serve the State, in the control OF
a few. The tendency on the part
of some is to obtain control
through the elimination of the
masses by requiring restrictions
in the primary which will insure
this control, and, once the masses
'sgo to sleep at the SWITCH" F." their
political rights will be wrecked
forevermore.
The point we make is that no
man or set of men have a patent
right on the privilege of being a
candidate for the Office Of COVER
nor or any other office, therefore,
when gentlemen contemplate
asking the people Of the State to
consider claims for their suffrage,
it is the height of arrogance for
those interested in the candidacy
of one who got into the running
before the customary time for
announcements, to attempt to
create a feeling Of resentment
against such, and it is our hon
est opinion, the conditions the
voters will confront this summer
warrant the entrance Of men who
are prompted from motives of
patriotism. The question is, will
other aspirants for governor per-
NIT themselves to be held off to
crafty a sentiment that is not
high, nor is it for the good Of the
State? What does it behoove the
masses !if the present COVER
nor did offend the former
chief justice, and cause him to
give way to passion, and resign
an Office which he may have lost
anyway if the governor was re
elected with a legislature Of his
way Of thinking2 We ask why
should this give Judge Jones the
sole privilege of opposing Gov
ernor Blease? especially, when
there are thousands who have no
admiration for either one. We
have information, the source Of
which we are not at liberty to
disclose, that a gentleman who
is we'll versed in legislation,
thoroughly Identified with the
commercial and farming inter
ests of the State, always an ac-
tive worker in, and for those
things which tend to build up
and make the masses more pros
porous, is nov being correspond
ed with, and that he is seriously
considering whether or not he
should make the sacrifice by of
ering himself as a candidate for
t1is high Office; we will say should
he decide to make the race it will
be at a great sacrifice Of large
business interests, therefore, the
only motive which could possib-
ly actuate HIM would be that Of
patriotism. He would not be a
candidate seeking revenge nor