The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-05-01
FACTIONALISM.
Lee county? ?

autl-BleaSe forces Will dominate a
great majority of the county Demo-
cratic conventions and send anti
Blease delegates to the State conven-
ton. We would attach much more
importance to this announcement if
the anti-Blease forces controlled the
1912 State convention. The COM
pleXion OF the State convention in
May does not determine the election
in August. A majority Of votes in
the primary determines who shall fill
the various Offices and the cony ention
majority is not an index of The pri-
mary majority. In many clubs fac
tional lines were not drawn, both
sides frowning upon an attempt to
bring factional issues at reorganiza-
ton meetings. We know Of not few
delegates to county conventions who
could not have been elected had fac
tional lines been drawn. The Pied
mont deprecates the attempt being
made to draw factional lines in the
coming State convention. No good
can come of an attempt to keep fac
tional fires fercely burning The
State convention should represent all
Democrats, not a faction of them, and
should provide machinery for fairly
ascer5aining the will of the majority.
If our party affairs are run honestly,
| fairly and squarely, it does not mat
ter whether a friend Of Smith or
supporter of Blease is State chair
man for no advantage is to be obtain
ed from that place if its occupant be
an honest Democrat. The men who
wan Blease defeated III the senatorial
race are not helping their cause by
trying to stir up factional questions
and are sure by sucn course to in
jure the chances Of good men who are
candidates for other Offices. The su-
preme question in South Carolina this
year is not who shall join Tillman in
he senate to represent South Caro-
lima. Keep that in mind and the out
come of our primary this year will be
far better than if ali our politics are
to be decided by the outcome Of the
Smith-Blease contest. = Greenville
Piedmont
This is very sane and sensible talk.
We can see no good to come from an
attempt to arouse factionalism among
the white people of this State.
Control OF the State convention or OF
county convention, will not amount
10 anything. TIE vote in the primary
is what counts. There will not be suf-
fcieAt pressure brought to make any
material changes in the rules govern
ing the primary. 1t would not be fair
to any candidate to make any great
| changes for this campaign. In fact,
we still believe that the great mass of
our people are honest and believe in
fair play, and there is no demand or
necessity for any great changes in
the primary rules. No need for so
many restrictions.
What we need is to let the people
rule. If we happen to be in the minor
ity, as we frequently are, we don't
raise any howl about unfairness or
need for restrictions. We just go on
and conclude that by and by some
time, somewhere the majority will see
where it is wrong and will then come
around to ur way of thinking.
In our form of government the ma
jorisy has the right to rule. But why
have any factional lines and vote
against your friends and your best
judgment simply because you are
lined up with a faction We like to
vote for men and then you can get
your measures, but measures without
men do not amount to much. At any
rate Jne point is bow to the will Of
the majority and let the people rule