The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-06-21

under the Torrens system ought to
make real estate practically as avail
able as high class personally and
vastly increase the ability OF the land
owner to utilize his land as a ready
basis of credit on the easiest terms.
5. | favor the enactment of an en-
ployers' liability and women's COM
pensation statute, along the principles
of the New Jersey statute adopted
April 4, 1911, or the Massachusetts
statute adopted July %, 1911. The
legislation involves the abolition of
the common law defenses usually
made in suits for personal injuries,
viz: Cd that the injury was caused
by the negligence of fellow servant;
(2) that the injured party contributed
to the injury by his own negligence;
(3) that the injured party assumed
the risks of the employment. Either
of these defenses, if sustained, would
defeat recovery under the common
law. The above statutes abolished
these defenses, except where the con-
tributory negligence was wilful, and
provides a system of elective compen-
sation in accordance with a schedule
giving amount Of compensation for
each described injury, generally one
half of the average weekly wages for
specified time.
I do not think such legislation is
opposed to the State or federal con-
stitution. From my experience on
the bench in dealing with cases of
personal injuries to employees in dan
gerous employment, such as railroads,
factories, etc., a conviction has grown
that modern industrial conditions
make it wise and humane to abolish
the common law rules mentioned and
substitute a.. elective system of fixed
compensation for such injuries.
Such legislation would relieve the
injured employees, or his family, from
bearing all the loss which he sustained
in the course of his employment and
provide relief at time when most
needed. 1t would avoid the delay, ex-
pense and bitterness of a lawsuit. 1t
would tend to promote more harmon
ious relations between the employe
and the employer 1T would be very
helpful in causing a fairer and closer
study of the causes which produce the
injury and thereby tend to bring about
more effective safeguards, a thing
most desirable for all concerned. The
employer could calculate with some
certainty the extent of the loss under
a fixed schedule of compensation and
protect himself by insurance.
6. Liberal pensions should be
awarded the Confederate soldiers as
recognition of their patriotic and he
roic services to the State.
Z. The rights of our people must be
protected against unlawful combina-
ton of capital and our antitrust laws
enforced with vigor.
8. The right of every white Demo-
cratic citizen of South Carolina to
vote in the primary should be jealous
ly protected. am opposed to requir-
ing registration certificate as a
qualification for voting in the primary.
Foreigners should not be permitted to
participate in our primaries until
they become naturalized.
9. We live under Democratic gov
ernment and under our constitution
the functions of the legislative, jul
dicial and executive departments are
separate and distinct, and he who ex-
ercises the functions of one depart
ment should not invade or usurp the
powers of another.
10. The pardoning power should be
exercised with great care and only
then after careful investigation by the
board of pardons. The pardoning
power is sacred trust and its abuse
is a menace to the peace, order and
safety of the people.
II. The veto power of the governor
should not be exercised arbitrarily,
nor ITO obstruct legislation, but to
correct errors and prevent abuses and
thwart the enactment CT laws clearly
against the welfare of the people.
II. The great office of governor
shOdld be exercised for all the people