The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-02-25
Letter From Mr.. Boyd.

eAease alioW mo to trespasS upon
your space once moro that 1 may pre-
sent few facts for the consideration
of the people Of the county.
q notice In your paper of the past
week an article by Hon. August Kohn
entitled "Too Much Politics." I de-
sire to make few statements on that
article and draw few conclusions.
This Is a statement by man who
is in position to know whereof he
speaks and l suppose his statements
would be verified by most Of his col
leagues.
One OF the statements that l wish
to call attention to Is this: HAS there
been politics in this session? Of course
there has boen, and very muck Of 1t.
1t has been the dead weight Of legis-
latiOn." He goes on from here to ex-
plain why it Is that politics in the leg
islature has been a dead weight up
on legislation. He says the legisla-
ture is the kindergarten, or starting
point for career in politics. Since
~ ~ viz pSShhihso ptoSC " ihhh iluoI
be careful here to not offend the peo-
pie by doing anything that would be
unpopular with them, for if he did
they would not give him his job again,
or the promotion he desired. He goes
on to state that the greater portion Of
the houses are composed of those who
either want their positions again, or
they want higher one; therefore,
they will not do anything that Is, In
the least, likely to make them an enc
my. They can not be criticized for
anything they have done for they have
not done anything, therefore they
ought to be rewarded for their great
worthy by being returned to their pres
sent position, or be given a higher
one.
Now. Mr.. Editor If I have misirte:-
preted what is implied in this article
offer sincere apologies to all whom
they are due but as interpret what
is to be read between the lines l have
clearly stated above. Now let us dis
cuss briefly these deductions.
In the first place. do the people of
South Carolina want man who is
afraid to do anything for fear public
sentiment will turn against him for a
representative? Do the people want
a legislature to sit forty days and draw
a salary to do nothing? What is their
ideal Of what legislature ought to
be? Let me ask this one question for
careful consideration: What service
docs man, who Is afraid to move be-
cause he does not know which way
public sentiment is going, render to
his county or his state? What good
has it done the people to pay his sal
ary as q representative? If even ma
iority Of the legislature are in that
condition, would 1t not be matter Of
economy to abolish the whole bust
ness?
MIR. Kohn says some Of the members
are candidates for governor. Now
am not attacking either Of the candi-
dates for governor nor do / say that
either Of them are among those who
are afraid to advocate anything for
fear Of public opinion; but this Is the
point: suppose they were Of that kind,
would they be fit for the gubernatorial
chair? Do we want man in that
position who Is always lying waiting
Tor the sound Of the feet OF public
opinion to see which way it Is going
so that he may turn in the same d.
rection? My ideal Of the kind of a
man for that position is one who has
good judgement Of his own; keen
sense Of Justice; determination to
know the right as far as possible, and
then to do 1t at all cost. If the pub
lie applauds, let them applaud. If
they condemn, let them condemn. Give
me the man with judgment and con-
science OF his own and who makes 1t
his guide, and not public opinion. Our
Offices are not for the purpose Of CIV
ing man Job If understand Alright,
but for the purpose Of adjusting things
to the best interest OF the greatest
aumber of the citizens. If man Is
going to get into the place and sit idly
there and draw his salary he certain
ly Is not going to improve the condi-
tions for the benefit OF the people. On
the other hand, II We get man there
who advocates measures that are In
harmony with the best interests OF