The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-24

Answer: II am for the sanctity OF
human life and the majesty of law"
Query: Is he for Jones or fol
Blease?
Do you. or do you not believe, that
the preachers of the State stand fol
that which Is highest and best? II
you are In doubt about any moral is
sue. will not these doubts be removed
by ascertaining how the preachers
stand on this question? II you are
conscientious In your desire to vote on
the 27th of August in the fear of
God and for the good OF your State.
IL you believe that the ballot this year
presents itself as a moral problem.
IL you have been unable to solve this
problem with any degree Of satisfac-
tion to yourself. will II not prove help
ful to ascertain how your own pastor
10 going to vote. how the majority of
the pastors In your community will
vote. and how the majority OF the
preachers OF the State will vote? Af-
ter you have ascertained this fact
do you not think II will be safe to
vote with them?
In thinking OF the equestrian statue
Of the Grand Old man of South Car
oiina. the lines of Capt. Hancocks
poem have come to our mind and
the author will. we are sure, pardon
a slight paraphrase:
Would Ham pton. slated in his
massive strength
On charger that paws the air.
Could he see his sons In their deer
disgrace.
Would he ride so proudly there ?"
He would como right down from
his big brass horse
And hide his face with shame.
For the State he loved Is In the
dust
A bsots upon her name.'
-
The Law In respect to the granting
Of pardons and paroles by the Cover
nor should be amended In one par
ticular. Under the present law IL is
possible for the friends or attorneys of
q convict to prepare a petition. pre-
sent II to the Governor and frequent
ly secure the pardon before the gen.
eral public has notice that such a
movement is on foot. Pardons more
often than otherwise are granted on
an ex parte showing. the petition be-
ing prepared by interested parties.
frequently an attorney who receives q
a fat fee for his services The sig
natures TO the petition are easy to OBJ
tain. the average man signing any Pc
tition that is presented TO him. Those
who would oppose the granting Of q
pardon are not asked to sign the Pc
tition and more often than otherwise
know nothing about II. For this rea-
son many pardons have been granted
that were not Justified and would
never have been granted. provided the
Governor has any respect for his oath
Of ONCE and does not traffic In the
pardoning power for the polite III
benefit OF himself and the financial
profit OF his friends. For this>reason
We advocate the amendment OF the
Law so as to require those who present
a petition for pardon OF convict to
give thirty days notice. by publication, n,
Of their intention to apply for a par
don. This Is the law In North Caro-
lima and some other States and II
could be adopted with advantage IN
South Carolina. This would put the
public on notice and IL anyone had
anything to say In opposition to the
granting OF a pardon he could appear
before the pardon board and state his
reasons for opposing the pardon.
In the first primary two years az,
Blease received $50 votes In Sumter
County. Ducan 9. Featherstone 333
Hyatt is. Mcleod i.t51. Richards
So. In the second primary Blcds'
received 7O7. Featherstone $40. Does