The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-10-09

NO COlnUC0lcaEOn OF D pcESooaA SI1oA OWL
viii be published except ~ "a adTertlSement
entered .. the PoStoclce y. Mannins as Sec
ond Glass matter.
TIE STATES THREAT.
In order to lay before our read
ers the views of The State, a
newspaper founded upon the op
position to the movement iuaugu-
rated By the people, commonly
known as ''she Reform move
ment," we reproduce here It's
leading editorial of Mondays
issue, and follow it with such
comments as we think is fitting:
During the first days after the primary
OF August q, citizens OF South Carolina,
singly and in groups, smartlng. unoer
the evidence OF gross irregularities ana
frauds in the election that 60 to prevent
q fair expression OF the majority, were
ripe for 3 bolt. These were confident,
az all informed persons know, that the
supporters of Judge Jones in the pri-
mary constitute large majority Of the
citizens qualified to vote in the general
election, and they felt that the manner
in which the primary was conducted
was full warrant for their refusing to
abide its result.
The State advised against precipitate
action that would divide the people
permanently. Give those in control of
the machinery an opportunity to so
safeguard the primary that the white
men of South Carolina would contest
with white men in confidence of a
square deal at the ballot boS-that was
the substance of The States suggestion.
ssBus," responded one group of men,
'sthe delay will mean two more years OF
Blease as the fruit of frauds, and may
We expect any legislative reform over
his Yeto?'
Justice and reforms should not be ex-
pected Immediately; they seldom come
that way. And the evils during the de-
lay ara the penaltres for neglect, or
coWardice, or laxity in former years by
those who would have honest elections,
but wouldn't exert themselves to get
them until severely pipched by inet1-
! ciency of laws. So The State did not
countenance to bolt; we were disgusteo
BY what we knew Of the conduct OF the
primaries, and as much opposed TO the
continuation OF the Biease regime as
any lover Of South Carolina and her
noble traditions, and of fair. clean and
peaceful government; but our desire for
reform il the Democratic party is vast
sly greater than wish to eliminate an
Individual as Governor, however unde-
Sirable and unworthy.
But it can not be understood too soon
that the demand for effective reforms
In the primary laws is serious and is
supported by tens Of thousands OF Dem
ocrats il this State, and that is such re-
forms are not instituted before the next
election, and instituted in such manner
thas they will meet the situatior and
give guarantee against repeaters and
non-residents and other unqualified men
voting, these Democrats will refuse to
further participate in the Democratic
primary and will hold themselves free
TO vote for whom they please in the
general election. !
The name Democrat" has been used
10 conjure with. But when in its name
evil Is practiced, when the purity OF the
party which has constituted its claim
to dominate against Corrupt majority
In the South, is violated. and when those
who would have it remain above sus-
picion are unheeded, then the name of
the local party must lose its significance
with honest men.
viii the legislature save the primary
and insure honesty in the elections OF
that party that Wade Hampton led to
victory against the ignorant negro. the
native scalawag and the debauched and
dsbauching alien?"
The State has no proof that
the supporters of Judge Jones
constitute a large majority of
the citizens qualified to vote in
the general election" in fact, we
claim that this is not the case,
because. the average countryman
makes it q rule to keep certi6
Gates or other valuable papers,
and so where you will to almost
any farm house and ask the farm
er if he has his registration GER
tifcate, in ninety nine cases out
OF a hundred he will produce the
qualification to exercise his|
rights at the polls, especially,
since the Haskell and Pope move
ments of years ago, remembering
those days he has ever been on
the lookout, not knowing when
ssthe best people" will break lose
to make an appeal to the negro
as was done in the recollection
of many. No, the supporters of
Judge Jones are not in the ma
iority of the registered vote.
We shall not dispute T e
States assertion that it 'sadvls-
ed against precipitate action that
would divide the people perma-
nently," if it did so advise, may
We not believe that it was more
solicitous for the welfare of the
National ticket than it was for
the outcome of our State affairs?
Was there man in South Caro-
lima so wanting in information
that he did not know if Judge
Jones friends had not abided by
the primary, or if the Executive
committee had declared against
the nomination of Governor
Blease after it became notorious
that he had received majority
in the primary, Notwithstanding
the fact that his opponents had
the election machinery, the re
suit would have been the over
whelning Reputation OF those
who refused to stand by that phi
mary? It is the sheerest non
sense for The State to undertake
$o ofo,n, tho+ IL u,os tho savior of