The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-01
JOHN [. M'lIuR|MS PLATFORM,
CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR
NAMES FIVE ISSUES.
i'cnnetts,ille Man Declares lie Has
Given Careful Thought to Questions
of the Campaign and In His Ewes
Bieascism Is Greatest ana Best.

To the People: After the adjourn
ment of the general assembly. 1 an
nounced myself as q candidate for
governor.
take 1t, that the leading issues
In the coming campaign will be. viz.
1. Qualifying suffrage in the pri-
mary.
z. Compulsory school laws.
3. The Fortner bill.
y. The olchouse bill.
3. Bleaselsm (socalled).
On most OF these issues I made up
my mind after careful thought when
IL seemed quite likely that / would
be a candidate for public office. /
ann NJ trimmer and am ready to take
an unequivocal stand on he issues.
I have no illusions as to public life
and the burden OF a campaign in the
torrid summer heat would deter me,
III did not feel that / could render
South Carolina valuable service in the
governors office. Ii the people think
So. they will put me there. and IL they
do not. have discharged what / feel
To be a duty 1 owe myself and the
friends who have so persistently urged
mo forward.
My record In the legislature is
against the compulsory education
measure known as the Lawson Me-
Gravy bill. i am not opposed to 1t on
principle. and the time may come in
South Carolina when q policy of com
pulsory education is proper, but IL is
not now. The funds available for
common school purposes are not suh-
cient to properly equip and maintain
schools I'm existence. AS a rule they
now have more scholars than can be
accommodated. II seems to me that
We had first best take care OF these
schools and the pupils who appear
voluntarily. before beating the high
ways and hedges to bring in moro.
The right TO take one mans money to
educate another mans child Is based
on the necessity Of having an intel
ligent electorate TO maintain civilized
government. IL this be true the
common schools ara for the many, the
colleges FOR the few. think we
have fostcred higher EDUCATION at thc'
expense OF the common schools. am
In favor of maintaining the colleges
but building more school houses be-
foro eniarging our preseat State col
leges
In 1890. our common school system
was very poor as compared with what
we now have. III were to venture q
criticism, IL would be that we need
more teachers who really teach.
School is I'm session from O'Clock
until $50 o'clock hearing rec!tations;
then tho children go home to be
taught. IL the parents are ignorant,
those children have no teacher. a
teachers compulsory education law
would greatly advance the cause.
1 am not i'm favor OF restricting the
right to vote In the primary by APP
plying the qualifications laid down IN
the constitution for the general cleo
tion. With few amendments the
present rules. IL fairly and honestly
administered. are sufficient.
am satisfied that the last primary
was without fraud To any consider
able extent. Mere irregularities do
not constitute fraud. The greatest evil
In the conduct OF the primary arises
from the use OF money in buying votes.
III man with money Is without moral
scruple. no statutory enactment can
prevent its use where there Is a pur-
chasable vote. The intelligent man
with money who tcmpts weakness and
cupidity is the greater criminal OF the
two. and have not heard OF any one
being punished yet for the meanest of
all election frauds.
The Fortner bill passed the house
and came To the senate / favor the
passage Of this bill as amended by
Senator Clifton. and IL elected gov
ernor will recommend its enactment
into law.
My views on the state warehouse
proposition are well known and can
not he elaborated upon in short
statement. The bill passed the SEN
ate with an amendment referring the
to vote In the house Since the ad-
Journment OF tho general assembly II
syndicate Of capitalists. headed by Mr..
Duke. the founder Of the American
Tobacco trust. his announced plans
to put this warehouse system into op-
Grafton In every cotton state. This