The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-11

either reform the primary system by
law or see II die." warns Senator Ben
jsmin Ryan Tiilman. in an open let
ter to the south Carolina General
Assembiy. soon to meet. In which 1t Is
urged that legislation be enacted to
safeguard the primary system of cleo
ton In this state. IF we do not safe
guard the primary system" writes
Senator TiIiman. "and make II above
suspicion. good government In the
state In doomed" The senior Sena-
tor again warns the people against the
negro being used I'm politics under
white leadership; IL the black popu-
lation be thus mobilized. he thinks.
ofaces OF trust ard power will become
mere 'pawns In the game OF politics"
TO be bought by the highest bidders"
Following Is the statement:
II dislike TO have the appearance
even of assuming the right to die
tate to the General Assembly, and
such IL not my purpose now. But for
reasons unnecessary to enumerate 1
feel that have g duty to perform in
the present instance.
The angry passions aroused last
summer In the state campaign for
Governor have In n measure subsidized,
and the people have cooled of. To
my mind there was great danger to
white supremacy and Democratic
unity which IN now happily passed
But unless every possible safeguard is
thrown around the primary system.
oy law. rules and regulations made 80
plain and OF such a just and reason
able nature as to compel honesty
and fair play In the primary-the
11em.ls dqomsd and the people of
the state will settle their political
differences at the polls In November
just as they now do In all border and
Northern states
There are many people in South
Carolina who would Re glad to see
two white parties I'm the state. Were
like 20 have two white parties. but
as things are now II would mean the
mobilization OF the negro and his
active and aggressive return to State
politics under white leadership.
'T know OF no calamity greater than
this that could ovcrtake our people.
I speak advlsedly. for went through
the reconstruction period and know
the degradation to which our people
sank. the rottennezs and corruption
that were I'm our politics, and made
our Government a by-word and
kissing. and I know how hard II was
TO get the white men to lineup
shoulder To- shoulder and throw off
the yoke. From 1868 To 1876 we had
the vilest and most corrupt Govern
ment In south Carolina that has ever
existed In any State OF the Union, ex-
cept Louisiana.
THE negroes outnumber us in
hundred and nfty thousand. and a
large number OF them are either reg
istered or eligible for registration. IL
they should ever he modified and
led TO the polls by white men. in the
struggle for mastery and control. then
we can never save the state from a
repetition OF even greater corruption
than we have already endured. The
state corporations and Standard oil,
10 say nothing OF the railroads, would
use money lavishly. and the Cover
norship and the United States Sena-
torships. TO say nothing OF the Con-
gressional delegation. would become
pawns In the game OF politics TO be
bought by the highest bidder.
The Democratic party Of South
Carolina. when II meets again in Con-
vention. viii no doubt deal with this
question. Tut the Legislature ought to
deal with u now. at this coming ses-
sIon. while the memory Is fresh and
knowledge OF Intensity Of feeling has
not faded away.
'T cannot and will not indicate just
what sort OF law the Legislature
ought TO pass. The details must be
worked out In committee. but 1 can
and will outline the general policy
which should govern us I'm this
crisis:
First: The primary ought to be
honest and fair and above all suspic-
ion.
SECOND: No man ought to object
20 whatever expense and trouble are
necessary to secure such registration
and nreparation OF the Democratic