The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-04-22
States PLATFORM
John G. RICHARDS TELLSVOTERS
What he Will FAVOR
RUNNING FOR governor

Education-Stands by Local Op
ton, Fayors Flat Two-Cent Rate
and Good Roads-Makes Othel
| Declarations Of His Position.
/ John G. Richards, railroad com
missioner, who is running for gov
ernor, recently gave out the follow
ing platform: To the Democracy o.
South Carolina:
| In becoming a candidate for gov
ernor I do so with the full realization
of the responsibility which I assume
and in submitting my platform fol
YOUR consideration I also cheerful!
offer my past record, both public anc
iprivate.
It is impossible, of course, at thi:
stage, to give my platform in its en-
tirety, but I desire to state in un
eQuiyocal terms who my position is
upon some of the more important
questions that are Of vital interest tc
the people of the State.
Ny position upon the educationa
question is known wherever I an
known, and I shall continue to advo
cate equitable support for our higher
educational institutions.
Our public school system is the
vitalizing force that supplies our col
ileses and the main foundation Of oui
republican institutions. I shall ad'
vocate the fullest and most unstinteo
support for our common school sys'
tenn, with particular attention to the
development of our rural schools and
education. We are now making great
Improvements along educatlona!
lines, but this question is of tran
scendent importance and demands
our very best effort. I am in favor
of enlarging our free school system
SO that it will offer to every white
child in South Carolina 5ooi com
mon school education.
am in favor of erecting conven,
lent and comfortable school buildings
and furnishing all necessary text
books free of cost.
I am in favor Of paying our teach
ers, both men and women, salaries
commensurate with the dignity and
Importance of their positions.
have always opposed compulsory
school attendance and shall continue
to do so. We should provide every
necessary facility and enlarge upon
our impelling system, rather than re-
sort to compulsion. Such legislation
l. is fundamentally wrong; besides it is
inexpedient and unnecessary and,
therefore, unwise.
The building Of good and perma-
nent highways will add more to the
value of our property and the wealth
of our State than any other public
utility.
The effect of good roads through
out the State would be felt in every
walk of life, but such improvement
would be an especial blessing and
great economy to those Of our people
who live in the country districts.
shall stand for the permanent i'm
provement of our highways, such I'M
provement being made under locaI
self-sovernment to the various coun.
ties.
Farming is the chief and greatest
of all industries; in fact, it is the
bedrock foundation OF our economic
life. I shall stand for a legislative
administrative policy that will give
vigorous support to all agencies
which make for the full development
of our agricultural interests, and fol
a policy that shall foster all other
business interest, and that shall teno
to induce capital to come into the
State for the purpose of developing
to the fullest extent our splendid nat
ural resources.
In the campaign which made fol
governor in 1910 I advocated State
wide prohibition. I am still prohl
bitionist by practice and from princi
pie. In my opening speech at Sum
ter, and in many places throughout
the State, while discussing the whis
key question and submitting my opln
ion as to it's solution, I used this Ian
suage: This question is an issue
before our people; ther voices should
be supreme. I believe in the rule o1
the people, and when they have
spoken upon a given question, it Is
treachery not to heed their will a:
expressed at the ballot box"
The people of South Carolina have
EXPRESSED their will at the ballot DO,
and have declared for local option.
I believe in trusting the people
Their will when expressed is supreme
Therefore shall not oppose local op
ton, but will favor the principle o:
allowing the various counties to de-
termine this question as seems prop
er to them, with, Of course, strict
observance of constitutional limita
tions.
l am in favor Of honest election:
and a strict enforcement Of our law:
against violators of the same, but
shall oppose any legislation, either b!
the Democratic party or by the legis
lature. that will deprive the humbles
white Democrat Of his right to vote
| During the twelve years that wa:
a member Of our legislature I con
tend and voted for biennial sessions
I held then, and hold now, that an
nual sessions are not only unneces
sary, but they are {. positive injury tt
the best interests of the State, there
fore I stand for biennial sessions o.
our legislature.
| am in favor of a two-cent fla
rate for passenger travel over The