Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-04-17
FRIDAY, APRIL II, 1874.
SIZING UP THE CANDIDATES
Editorial Opinion Of Richards, Man
nina and Mclaurin.

Sb@ttNS 1T f''-
Editorial Opinion of Richards, Man
ming and Mclaurin.
The candidates for governor are
making known their respective plat
forms at this time which, to our mind
is q good idea, even though some OF
them reach the conclusion later they
have misjudged the intelligence Of the
masses. Our good friend Maj. John
G. Richards, without anybody asking
him, has injected the liquor question
into his platform; in this we think
him rather unfortunate. We recall
how great he was in the championing
mented state dispensary, how he
fought and struggled to retain that
demoralizing institution, like ''the boy
that stood on the burning deck whence
all but him had fed" Richards with
deathlike grip clung to 1t until it
went down, then, and not until then,
did he about face, and become a Pro-
hibitionist. 1t was q beautiful sight
to behold, John G. Richards rushing
out of the camp of the state -dispen-
sarites, into the prohibition camp,
pushing the stalwart Prohibitionists
out Of the way to make room for him.
He, without any rehearsing, became a
Prohibitionist of Prohibitionists, more
orthodox than the superintendent Of
the anti-saloon league, II that Is pos
sible. He became a soaked-in-the-
wool Prohibitionist, and now what do
we find? This same John G. Richards
in his platform advocating Local OPP
tion-Whewi
We should not complain at having
converts to our cause, but what gets
our goat is convert so eel-like that
you cannot know how long he has
come to stay-the length Of his enlist
ment, because Of this, we do not re-
joice, or go into ecstacies over the
convert. Richards Local Optionist,
Is enough to jar those who have kept
up with his career. His two cent rate
proposition Is perhaps the most con-
sistent utterance he has made. Major
Richards Is not alone in this fallacy.
Hon. Charles A. Smith too, as well as
Governor Blease, seems to see the JUS
tice Of agitating two cent passenger
rate on railroad trains, but 1t so hap
pens that we believed when this mat
ter was pending in the general assem-
bly, 1t was not for the public good, and
having seen nothing since to change
our belief, we cannot agree with them.
The readers Of current news cannot
but be convinced Of the wisdom Of the
South Carolina senate in not permit
ting the two cent rate bill to become
a law; look at the conditions on one
of the greatest railroad systems In the
United States, brought about by the
requirements Of the Interstate Com
merce commission, let alone the sever
al state legislatures, the Pennsylvania
system has taken off nearly two hun
dred trains, and thrown out Of en-
ployment over $4,000 men. The Bal
timore and OHIO has also thrown out
Of employment thousands Of men. so
has the Hudson river and other rail-
roads Why? Because, the tendency
of politicians at this time is to play
the railroads for political effect, but
they have carried 1t too far. When
men of families go home with empty
| dinner pals because they have not
| been able to secure the employment to
I'LL those pals, they cannot look to
the political agitator for relief, nor can
they feel kindly towards those who
bring on the condition which caused
suffering and want in their homes.
When the two cent rate was pend
ing before our legislature this same
Mr.. Richards was an interested spec
tator throughout the discussion, we
thought then, and we think now. he
would have been greatly disappointed
| had he, the governor, and his other
co-agitators succeeded in getting the
| bill adopted-it would have robbed
them Of one Of their planks to discuss
before the masses, but they may as
well let this subject alone, because
the people are not urging q two cent
rate on the railroads, but they are
urging and pleading with their repre-
sentatives to cut down taxation.
Then our good friend Hon. Richard
l. Manning, of Sumter has sounded an
idea which will make some sit up and
take notice. He proposes to exempt
the poor property holder, both town,
and country, from taxation. A fine
idea sure. We would not object IL Mr..
Manning could abolish taxation alto
gether, because, II there Is any one
thing We do mortally hate to pay, It is
taxes, and the man who can abolish
the pernicious thing. we feel like ask
ing for his photograph. Since Mr..
Manning's Sumter speech we have
made 1t our business to listen to COM
ments, and in nearly every instance
those who commented, expressed sur
prise at such a proposition coming
from a man Of Mr.. Manning's good
business sense, and political expert
ence
Senator John L. McLaurin, the man
We expect to support for governor, has
also given out statement, some Of
which we join him in, and some Of
which we do not. We do not Join him
in the Fortner Bill, but then he favors
the Fortner Bill with the amendment
Of Senator Clifton, with that amend
ment 1t Is harmless, but i'm our opinion
unnecessary, however. we cannot ex-
pect these distinguished gentlemen to
make all their views that we can ac-
cept as we must the inspired writings,
| men are so constituted that they have
differences Of opinion, and look at
questions from different angles; we
can support a man for a high office,
and yet not agree with him in all Of
his views-we do not become q hero
worshiper nor do we propose to be
sycophant.
We can disagree with our friends in
some minor matters, and yet give to
them our support on the real issues.
We shall support John L. McLaurin
for governor because we believe at
this time he can be Of great service to
the masses. He is in better position
to allay strife and bitterness than any
other man in the state. and 1t Is our
sincere belief that II elected, he will
demonstrate his craftsmanship to the
extent that he will soon become a ma
tional figure just. as President Wilson
did in New Jersey when he was made
governor.-Manning Times.
- Columbia special Of April IA, to
Greenville News: Claiming that Mr.
r. l. Manning had drawn the faction
al lines in the race for governor, Sen
ator John L. McLaurin, who is also
candidate for that position, came