The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-06-19

the pardon of the Gaifney murderers,
the alleged grounds for which pardon
mad been the fact that the men who
were killed We're Yankees and the
slayers Southern men. ON the 9th.
er hand there was the pardon Of the
Springfield murderer, who was a
Yankee. ana he had been pardo0cd
because he was Northerner The
abuse of the pardonng power was
denounced, and it is evident that Gov.
Blease will have To do a lot of eX-
planning to clear this record before
the campaign ends. for Judge Jones
is taking strong ground against the
pardon mill.
Judge Jones platform follows:
To the Voters of South Carolina:
As a candidate for nomination as
Governor | wish to state briefly Ger
tain principles ana measures which |
advocate and shall more fully discuss
from time to time as the campaign
progresses and the occasion demands
l. While the liquor question is not
deemed an issue in this campaign
some wish me t. declare my position
| stand for county local option with
proper enforcement of the law in ac-
cordance with the result
,. ] favor just appropriations for
the effective maintenance Of our State
institutions of learning. but the i'm
provement and development of the
common schools. and especially the
rural schools of the State are mat
ters of gravest concern and shall
have my keen interest and hearty
support
). The systematic construction and
maintenance of good roads should be
encouraged. not only as an economic
and efficient means for the improve
ment Of market facilities and the
stimulation Of industrial development
but for the favorable effect
upon the county churches and schools
in promoting attendance. upon the
enlargement of free. rural delivery
and in rendering home life upon the
farm more desirable
4. | favor the appointment Of a
commission TO examine as to the de-
|sirability If adopting some system of
lard title registration like that known
as the Torrtns system. Some move
ment of this kind was begun some
time ago, but SO far nothing has come
of it. This system takes its name
from Robert Richardson Torrens and
was first enacted in Australia in 1853.
The main principles of this system
have been adopted in many countries
Australia. Canada, England, Ire
land, Germany, in number Of States,
such as Massachusetts. Illinois. Cali
fornia. Montana. Minnesota. Oregon
and Colorado, and has been introduce
ed in Hawaii and the PHILIPPINES by
the United States government. Tn
der this system the title is examined
officially and confirmed by court
and the certificate is a guarantee of
the title against the world.
While the plan necessarily involves
some initial expense. as reason
able charge for the registration and
for the guarantee fund. it saves more
in avoiding the successive expenses of
examining title every time the land is
sold or mortgaged. Under the pres
ent system many defects of title may
exist which an examination of the
record would not disclose. such for
verse possession. incapacity To convey.
etc. The plan avoids the uncertainty.
delay and expense of transferring
titles. In selling the land or borrow
ing money upon it the transaction
may be effected with almost the ease
and simplicity of n transfer of stocks
or bonds. because of the difficulty
and uncertainty with reference 10
land transactions under the old sys.
tenn. real estate is least available as
an asset upon which to raise money
The simplicity, cheapness, celebrity
and safety with which lands may be
sold or mortgaged under the Torrens
System ought t" make real estate
practically as available 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.
D. ! favor the enactment of an
employers liability and workmen's
compensation statute, along the prin
ciple of the New Jersey statute adopt