The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-07-15
The MAN FOR GOVERNOR.
CARE AND DISCRETION SHOULD
BE EXERCISED IN MAKING
CHOICE.
The Essential Qualifications The Chief
Executive of Il State Should Have
in Addition TO Common Honesty
and Average IntcIliscncc-VOtc for
the Man Who Fills the Bill.

Editor Sumter Item:
The people of so,/ Carolina have
a" opportunity -. approaching
primaries ~ as governor not
only 6, /dn, but one well quail
f" ~. the position res-
emark frequently heard about
>e present campaign is this: There
are a number Of good men running
forf governor Should any one of
them be elcr-ed, the State would be
in good hanus.''
/ Not only ought good man be
elected as The chief executive of this
state, but the people should choose
one who has the experience that will
enable him 10 properly administer the
affairs Of the department of govern
ment Of which he would be the head.
! Candidates get up on the stump
from day 20 day and tell voters of
; policies and planks in their platforms,
of measures that will be enacted into
law if this or that aspirant is placed
in office. But can they all do what
they promise?
In order for Il governor to bring
about the enactment of any law the
matter must go to TIE general assem-
bly, IN the form of recommendation
and then be pressed on the floor Of
the house ,nd senate by those favor
ing the bill presented. To get a bill
through the legislature a governor OF
a state, and especially is this true in
= outh Carolina, must have had eX-
perience IL legislative affairs. He
should understand fully the workings
of the general assembly. An inexper-
fenced chief executive would hardly
learn the ms and outs of the leg
islation before his term in Office were
over. 1t stands to reason that ono
who has served in the general assem-
bly, would DC better qualified in this
respect than one who had not
before casting their ballots for any.
candidate who can furnish only
theoretical plans as to what should
be done and what should not be done.
There are men running for governor
who would be able TO carry out the
policies they advocate because they
have had the necessary experience in
the Legislative halls.
. a broad business experience appears
iicatiCn for the governorship. The
executive department deals with tho
financial end of the State government
to a large extent. The governor
should be q man who understands
finances and their application to
handling the taxpayers money. The
state is nothing more in this regard
than a large business and it takes a.
business man to handle the affairs.
/ The governor of South Carolina pre-
ferably should be one who has been
in close touch with the people, espe-
ci l" the farmers, who compose the
largest single class of our population.
He should be a man who knows the
needs Of every class of people and
should be acquainted with the condi-
tions in every section of South Caro-
lima, otherwise. he would not be
governor of all the people"
The governor should be practical
man. There are q number of theories
being advanced now in the campaign
for the governorship. Some of the
things advocated would be all right if
they could be put into effect. AS a
practical proposition one of the main
issues of the campaign would have to
be handled in different manner from
that suggested by some of the candi-
dates. Compulsory education in
South Carolina at the moment could
not no enforced, because the school
equipment is not adequate. 1t would
, w 'tlttl tll'il t.Cl county Nolt vi Tic
subject. When a county should vote
for compulsory education, its people
would bc behind The enforcement of
the law. The legislature has twice
favored the local option idea in COM
pulSOry education. This States eX-
pCricncc with local option has taught
Il good lesson ANA the people would
DO we'll To follow the plan in the
M3attcr Of compulsory education.
Endorsement of the law-not theo-
rctirHllN hut practically-is the one
biz issue before the people of the State
to-day. let them elect governor who
Will not only say he is going TO enforce
The law. but one whose past life
Places him before the people as an
cNampler of law enforcement.
Think we'll, people of South Caro-
lima. and vote for the man who fills
the bill