The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-01

oone still more effectively under the
management OF Mr.. Duke. He con-
trolled the price OF tobacco TO such an
extent that after years Of litigation
the company was dissolved by the
courts. 1t would be far easier to die
tate the price of cotton, because il
Is a natural monopoly, while tobacco
is worldwide product.
There is no way for the producers
OF cotton to get the value of their
product. except to carry the surplus
themselves and hold it off the marke et
when the price is too low. The credit
of the State and the prosperity of the
people depends almost entirely on the
cotton crop.
MI share i'm the prosperity of the
farmers and not business in the
state or professional man but feels
the pinch when we have such q year
as 1911. Nothing will get the State
on her feet quicker than an admin
istration which will develop and en-
courage agriculture.
If l am elected with q legislature
In sympathy with me, / shall cndeavor
to make Of South Carolina model
Tor all States to copy in progressive
agricultural methods.
come now to the last, and what
l regret to say will in all probability
be one. If not the paramount, issue
In the campaign. i had hoped that
our people would get together and
that there would DO no personal or
factional issues in the contest, but
that time has not come and whether
1t will in the future or not depends
upon the self-cOntrOl and spirit of
tolerance both sides exercise in this
campaign.
There has never been q time in
the history of our State when good
policy, charity and tolerance were
more needed than now. Since 1890,
we have had two political factions,
more bitterly hostile than exists be-
tween parties in other States.
The movement In 1890 was aimed
at the social and political systems, but
the Alliance element which was it's
backbone was largely inspired by the
hope of bettering industrial condi-
tions. The purely political got in
the ascendency and gradually the
industrial element. headed by Norris,
stackhOuse and others became quies-
cent.
The inauguration Of the State dis
pensary strengthened the political
forces. but after a few years the State
dispensary. with its era of graft and
greed. passed away. Then Cole l..
Hieasc took mp the fight OF the people
for wider voice in their own affairs
just where 1t had been lying dormant
ever since Gov. Tillman detected it
from It's true course by putting the
state into the liquor business The
present movement headed by Gov.
Blease is nothing but continuation
OF the political movement begun by
Tillman in 1890. The divisions are just
as they were then with the exception
that Bleasc has not the strong follow
ing of an industrial organization like
the Farmers Alliance.
The cry for restrictions Of suffrage
i'm the primary is from those who do
not believe in the rule Of a majority
but in the rule of privilege and
power.
No thoughtful man can for one mo-
ment believe that there are not
forces a, work outside Of mere person
ality. The abuse and misrepresenta-
tion heaped upon Tillman was just as
Let any man go to the newspaper files
from 1890 To 1895 and sec for him.
self. Social and business pressure was
as great I'm 1890 as now against a
young lawyer who dared take Till
mans side. The idea seemed to be
then that if Tillman could be defeat
ed that the movement would be dead.
What u mistake! Some unseen force
deep down has kept the fires alive, and
will keep them alive until the purpose
for which they were kindled has been
accomplished. AS long as there is an
oligarchy which seeks to subject the
majority to the will Of q minority,
even If restrictions designed to dis
franchise negroes i'm general cleo
ton must be invoked to prevent white
men voting in party primary, there
will he q leader on hand to fight the
peoples battle. With the political
battle won, then the movement begun