The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-08-21
AN OPEN LETTER TO
UNION COUNTY VOTERS

Democrats and fellow citizens of
Union and Union county, permit me
under a crisis, that none can know
when it is to arrive, just a short mes
sage through the columns Of The
Times, l am called today to the he'd
side of the mother, (God bless her
for her gentleness, purity and unset
fish devotion, for to her | owe what
ever character and manhood, that
may have been of worth to my fell
low men, to my state and to my
home), whom under the dispensation
of providence, have been able to see
and be with but little of late years;
her critical condition makes it plain
that there can be no conflict of duty
in going to her bedside, even though
we are just arriving at the close of
our county campaign, and just on the
eve of election.
GAS you know | am candidate for
election to the legislature from Union
county. l have met you privately and
publicly on every stump, and at every
precinct, except my home precinct, or
the last meeting of the campaign to
be held in Union Friday and Satur-
day. want to say, fellow citizens,
that my confidence in you is implicit,
and while | shall be denied the privi-
lege of deliving my message in per-
son, my life, my work, and the many
times | have met you for service of
whatever kind you have needed
makes me sure that you will not for
get me, nor neglect the interests that
can not represent in person, the
last few days of the campaign.
want to say to the Democracy of Un>
ion county, that | am convinced that
today we stand as people on the
threshold of the greatest successes
and most conspicuous achievements,
that have ever opened before us as a
nation. and as people; Democracy
is coming into her own. The South is
coming into her own, South Carolln,.
and Union county today stand face
to face with opportunities and priv
ilegeS unprecedented, in III" glorious
history of a glorious people, and
can fors"" only one cloud upon the
horiZC one danger that shall rob
us OF the great heritage of progress
that lies out before. and that is the
danger of factionalism and partizan-
ship, the greatest danger of this age
and the SoreSt menace to our people
is that which comes to divided peo-
pie. It is contrary to the law of God
and common sense for the great is
sues and measures of the day to be
solved for the benefit of the great
masses of the people, when we are q.
vided, and split with factionalism and
part'Sa" politics. My plea to the
manhood of Union County is
that we coll halt. that wc "ealizc
wha- c-'"'-' thourhtful man niust
kno-" +N~t 'va are made and blessed
of God Almighty with the same pure
Anglo-S: vC~ forebears. Your IA
theirs and r'ino mingled their blood on
the fields cf South Carolina and Wv
ginia, we are brethren in the truest
sense of the word. and whenever one
side goes down. all will go down, wa
will stand or Fall together There can
be no real rrOgreSs-we can never
achieve that which is our most imper-
ative need, bc."~ school facilities, bet
ter road conditions, equitable taxa
tion and the safety of life and liberty
that is vouchsafed under the laws of
God and the principles of true De-
mocracy, until we get together, and
pull together for the common good.
"In coming before the people of
Union county asking for the suffrage
of its Democracy, for this office of
honor and responsibility, | want it
first of all all known that | come with
the highest and holiest ambition, that
L believe, can ever move the impul-
ses or sway the actions of mem
want 1T to be forever known that | am
not the candidate of any faction
clique or ring-that I am not owned
or dominated or under obligation to
any man or set of men, save the SOW
erelgn white Democrats of Union
county. | am no coat tail swinger,
and would not pay this price for any
Office In the gift of any people, and |
don't believe the manhood and democ-
racy of Union county will tolerate
such spirit. | have no axe to grind,
no revenge to take, no pets to put in
Office, and no enemies to put out. My
one desire is to serve my people, a |
majority of the white Democrats of
Union county. 1t is not my business
who your choice for a governor or /
senator may be, and it is not your
business who my choice may be; the |
right of suffrage is God given right, |
and whenever |, you or any other man
or set of men attempt to dictate for
whom or on what terms man shall |
vote for another man, we are robbing |
him of God given right, and the bit |
terness of partisanship is certain to
overcloud the better judgment T..
what may be for the better interests |
of our State, County or nation. Ev-
cry man owes it to God Almighty to |
vote for the man he believes to be |
best fitted for the office to which he
aspires-but no man or set of men
has the right to dictate who that man
may be, and in my candidacy for She
house of representatives, the ques-