The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-05-14
TILLMAN SHOCKED.
THE SENATE CALLS FOR REFORM
OF PRIMARY
HE points OUT. WRONGS

He POINTS OUT. WRONGS
Specifically Refers to the First Dis
trics In Exhortation that the Name
of the State be Kept Clean, and
Saws it is Time to Take Steps to
End Corruption.
At Washington on Thursday Sen
ator Tillman gave out the following
statement about patronage and poll
tics in the first South Carolina Con-
gressional district:
''Some people in Charleston and
Colieton counties will not understand
Just how or why Mr.. Murray has be-
come postmaster at Walterboro,
while Mr.. Storen has lost out in his
fight for the position as collector OF
customs at Charleston. The situa-
ton was just this:
George Legare, while living, en-
dorsed both of these men for the re-
spective Offices and promised him
would do what I could for both Of
them.
while the second primary was
still pending in the Congressional dis
trict both names were sent to the
President for appointment, but no ac-
ton was taken. Senator Smith and
! endorsed both men and had the ap-
pointment been made when the
names first went to the President
both would have been in Office now.
For some reason, which ! have never
been able to understand Mr.. Muir
rays name came to the Senate for
postmaster at WaIterboro while Stor-
ems name hung fire.
"When Mr.. Whaley came to Wash
ington and urged his rights to make
the appointments in his district as we
all had agreed that Congressman
should do, the situation, was, as I
have above indicated. We endorsed
Mr.. Murray, and to our surprise, the
name came to the Senate the day af-
ter Mr.. Whaley appeared here and
after the second primary had been
held. Although he was a Congress
man, he was to all intents and pur-
poses elected, and we so recognized
him.
Realizing that it would be unfair
to Mr. Whaley to press Storen's ap-
pointment, under the circumstances
we held it up and waited for news
from Charleston I wrote to George
Legare's bosom friends there and ask
ed their opinion and advice. The re-
plies were that if George Legare were
living they believed he would be
against Storen rather than for him.
"Mr. Whaley had indicated pre-
ference for Mr.. Harvey first, and for
Mr.. Peters second. Finally it was
agreed that Mr.. Peters should be rec
commended for appointment and his
name was sent to the President and
is now before the Senate.
''Murray's appointment had been
made and was out Of reach before
Mr., Whaley arrived in Washington.
The Senators would have stultified
themselves had they tried to recall
it. With Storen, the case was differ
ent, and we did recall his name and
substituted Peters. Mr.. Storen's ac-
tivity against Mr.. Whaley is the
cause Of his failure to get the office.
t'I think it worth while, and, in
deed, my duty, to warn the people
OF the first Congressional district,
that If half we hear in Washington
is true somebody ought to be put in
the Penitentiary pretty soon. An
examination of the Penal Code shows
that Sections $50, 361, 362, 1853 and
365 have all been violated by more
people than are aware of it, perhaps.
Promises to give Offices, actual pay
nent of money for votes, and other
serious crimes are mentioned. Many
men, not in one county, but in sew
e-al, are liable to go to the Peniten-
~tiary or pay fines. The papers Of
the State would do well and render
the public service if they would
print these sections OF the Code as a
warning to Office seekers and their
friends.
-ttI sincerely trust that the next ses-
sion Of the Legislature will throw
such safeguards around the primary
as to make the corruption which is
charged impossible to occur. We
have laws enough fraud and
bribery, if they are only enforced,
but laws are mere waste paper If
there are no officials ready to carry
them out. Public opinion must COM
pei the officers to do their duty OF
else the State will be corrupted
throughout it's borders. 1t will be
remembered that these statues were
enacted after a Congressional race in
the second district where much mon
ey was used. It is every clear to my
mind that the Democratic party must
take active, aggressive steps to stoE
such transactions. We cannot hope
for good government otherwise, or te
maintain the States fair name. 1t i:
enough to make any South Carolin
ian ashamed of his State to hear o.
80 much rottenness and corruption IL
the First Congressional district"