The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-10-29
THE COUNTY-TO-COUNTY
MERRY-GO-ROUND.
Florence Tines.

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Florence Tines.
Few will be inclined to dispute
with Editor Rooster and Editor Par-
ker. of the Greenville Piedmont the
proposition that:
Democracy is not a failure, but 1t
can attain it's full measure of success
only when there is intelligence
amongst electors, when Appeals are
made to their reason and judgment
rather than to their passions ana
when there is full discussion OF pol
icies with the view of securing
thoughtful action by those to whom
appeals are addressed. what is
needed in the state is canvass OF
discussion rather than of abuse. III
this be made it will be found that
people will measure to the new condl-
tions."
Our esteemed friend, The Pied
mont. has so expressed itself in de-
fense Of the county-to-county plan
of the Democratic party campaign
which bi-annually swings itself wear
ily around the state, leaving behind
1t a malodorous refrain of person
alities that reminds one Of nothing so
much as the cankered exhaust OF
wheezy old automobile.
'When appeals are made to their
reasonsr says the Piedmont! Yes, but
when have appeals been made to the
reason of the electors who have gath
ell ed about the stand to hear the office
seekers in the State campaign?
When Judgment rather than pas
sion" is appealed to, and when there
is full discussion OF policies with the
view of securing thoughtful action
by those to whom appeals are ad-
dressed" declares The Piedmont, re-
lief from present conditionsmay come
To be sure, but when has judgment
rather than passion been appealed to
and when has there, or could there
have been full discussion Of policies
in the campaigns that have been
made throughout South Carolina
during the past twenty years?
Wnat Is neeueu III lulS cIdlo pio-
ceeds our contemporary" is can
yass Of discussion rather than abuse.
We heartily agree, but is a cam
paign of discussion Of policies and
not a campaign of filthy mud-sling-
ing possible in this state under the
present county-to-County campaign
system? If the present is TO be
Judged by the past ii is certainly not.
The electorate of the state, on the
contrary. has for years been invited
to como out to hear candidates in
dulgc in vapid laudations of their
own qualifications to fill the offices to
which they aspire or to sling mud
on the pretentions and characters OF
their opponents. The last campaign
for state Offices was somewhat eX-
ceptional That was because the real
issue was the policy of the man who
in the senate race met defeat. hut
who now wants to fOist himself again
upon the state as the champion op-
ponent of law and order. The issue
was Bleasism, which could never have
reared it's odious head in South Car
olina but for the opportunity that
the county-to- county system gave to
such a man as Blease to climb into
Office on platform of vituperation.
The proposition OF discussion given
to issues and constructive policies for
the upbulding of the state has with
very few exceptions been subordinat-
ed entirely in the past TO the discus
sion Of the personalities of the candi-
dates themselves. This is inevitable
under the system and this fact is
wholesome in no sense of the word.
1t is subversive of every principle OF
Democratic government where pin
ciples and not men should be the
criterion. When principle is made
the criterion demagogues and bad
men cannot stand the lime:ight. I'm
der the county-to- county plan there
can be no real discussion of policies
and in the future as in the past the
campaign can be pitched only on the
plain OF the lowest demagogue and
political trixter who cares to enter
the lists.
We believe in the primary. 1t is
the bulwalk OF our party dominance
and the defense of white supremacy
But the county-to-county campaign IL