The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-06-20

Eleven candidates divided interest
in the race for governor of South
Carolina. Most Of them are good men
and the voters have good field to
choose from. The names and plat
forms Of the various candidates fol-
low:
Richard /. Manning. g
AS q candidate for the COVER y
ship Of our beloved State, l ans.
ing for the support Of all who &C
sire q clean, progressive, business
administration-in which the watch
word will be efficiency with economy.
Under our democratic form Of
government we have the executive,
Legislative and judicial branches,
each separate and distinct from the
others, and each a check on the
othSr. The governor of the State
is at the head of the executive
branch. 1t is his first and highest
duty to enforce the laws as they
stand on the Statute books-this he
must do fearlessly and without fav-
or in order that law may be respect
cd and obeyed. 1t is not his preroga-
tive to decide whether a law is wise
or pnst suited to community, but
when n law has been enacted he is
to see to it that that law is enforced
and Obcyed. If elected governor l
consercratc the best that is in me
faithfully to perform this duty. l
do purpose not to deal in vague
generalities. 1 am determined that
! the people Of South Carolina whom
1 love, whom l honor, and whom /
wish to serve shall be in no doubt as
to my position on any question
which affects them or their interests.
The time has come for plain
speaking. 1t has been said in other
States and it has been said even in
our own legislative halls that we are
a lawless people. Even the idea that
this is true must be wiped out. If
the people do not wish a law it must
be repealed; but, if 1 am governor,
while it is on the statute book it
must be obeyed; and this whether
| it is against carrying concealed
weapons, the illicit sale of liquor,
race track gambling or what not
! Another duty which devolves upon
the governor is that Of considering
pardons. There are many cases in
which pardons should be granted,
but l shall endeovor to see that the
verdicts of juries and the judgment
Of our courts shall stand. l shall
always be willing to hear arguments
and to be appealed to by reason and
justice; yet, l serve notice now that
after fair trial those convicted of
applying the torch and risking the
lives of innocent people, and destroy
ing property by fire-yeggmen, safe
crackers, pick pockets. and above
all those who attempt outrage on
our women. need not apply for par
dons.
Appointments.
l stand for merit and fitness as
the tests for appointmonts-secki
always to secure effective service
for the state. | will promise to sec
that every department of the state
government coming undrr the inilu-
encc and control of the governor
shall be run on business principles
of efficiency and economy.
Education.
Education is the most important
public question before this state.
and upon the solution of the pro-
blcms involved depend the status Of
our States future citizenship. and
largely it's material prosperity.
South Carolina stands near the bot
tom Of the list of all the states in
Cducation: its percentage of litter
aCy IS enc Of the highest | shall
never be satisfied till this shame is
removed. We have made progress.
but | am satisfied that illitcracy can
be Cfaccd from among our white
people; and il must hc; we are MAX
.nE some progress towards it. yet we
move too slowly. AS money cannot
b" better spent by the parent than
in cduratng tho child. SO the state
cannot do better than spend its
money educating the citizen. be- =
licV" in education nj the public OK
p"nSc. It's qualification is in having
an educated citizenship "A citizen
ship that is made more efficient by