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

mOtner was Il great reader, and she
inspired her children to do all i'm their
power to obtain as far as possible ar
education to equip them for life's
work. Moved by this inspiration, and
with desire to try and make some.
thing Of myself. determined to spare
no effort. to undergo any necessary
sacrifice in order to obtain some de.
gree of an education. When l was
eighteen years of age, / determined
that l would attend the graded
schools in Sumter. I then lived five
miles in the country. Our means
were still limited. What stock we
had, we were compelled to use on
the farm from January, and there
fore it became necessary for me tn
walk ten miles each day to attend the
graded schools at Sumter, and did
so for three years, and being bless.
ed with an iron constitution, and per-
feet health, I was able to make tho
time during the three years, and new
er missed but two days, and it was
then to attend the funeral Of an
uncle. / held out to the end and
graduated from the graded schools at
Sumter. A part of the time l had
one OF the best teachers that ever
taught human mind. He is not only
known throughout the length and
breadth Of South Carolina, but prac-
tically throughout the United States,
to wit: Professor S. H. Edmunds.
1 have said more, perhaps, about
myself, than most Of you think l
should have said. l have done so,
not with spirit of egotism, but in
order to let the people of South Car
olina know that I know. by personal
experience. the hardships, tolls and
struggles of the "poor mans son."
If any one does not believe the
just made. and thinks that
have overdrawn the picture, all
ask Of such person is, that he write
to any acquaintance that he may
have within the borders of Sumter
County. who has known me from
and ask him whether such
are true.
The Poor Mans Vote.
IL
from various sources that it was the
purpose Of the last State Convention
to so fix the rules that it would de-
prive the poor man Of his vote in the
primary. am proud to say that /
was a member Of that convention and
took part in the adoption Of the rules
as they now are. 1 defy any man. at
any time, and anywhere to point out
from the rules, any clause or SEN
tence. anywhere, that will deprive a
single man whether or not he can
read or write, Of any privilege that
Is accredited to any man, even though
he be rich, or even though he might
be highly educated. All that is re.
quired Of any man is that he be a res
ldent Of this State for two years, and
or the county six months, and that he
appear in person and sign the roll,
II he can write his name, and if not.
have the secretary write his name,
and he make his mark, and he has
the right to vote. Oh, someone has
said 1t Is a hardship " require farm
er or a workingman to go to the trOu-
bic to go to the secretary in person
and sign his name. If such one votes
In the primary, he will have to ap-
pear In person and most likely will
have to travel just as far as he would
have to go to enroll his name. What
farmer has objected to go and enroll
his name in person? What working
man has objected to do the same
thing? If man, whether he be
farmer, whether, he be merchant.
whether he be lawyer, doctor, preach
err, or whether he be loafer, or any
thing else, does not take sufficient in
terest in the government of his cOun-
ty, State and nation, to take the
trouble to appear in person and sign
the roll, such a one should not be al
lowed to vote on election day, because
any one who would take such little
interest in the affairs Of State, would
not take interest to get out on election
day unless he was sent and brought
to the polls by some ward heeler for
some candidate, then such one
should lose the right to vote on cleo
tiOn day. All this rot about depriv
ing a poor man Of his vote, is Only to
prejudice the people. l am satisfied
there Is not man within the borders
of South Carolina who is so ignorant
as to be misled by any such demagog-
ism. l am satisfied that there is not
a farmer within 10 hnr1oc, 90 S,nrt u