Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-11-26
County to County Campaign.

From the newspaper campaign NOW
in progress. it is pretty we'll estab-
lished that there is going to be de-
termined effort in the next state con-
vention to abolish the county to
county canvass that has been in vogue
virtually since 1890.
Among the arguments that are be-
ing used in support Of the idea are
quite a number that seem reasonable.
For one thing, we are told that 1t is
impossible for any man to intelli-
gently discuss in 10 or Is minutes or
even in an hour, his proposed policy in
the conduct of his office. For another
thing, we are told that these cam
paign meetings offer too much temp
tation to demagogy of various kinds.
Then again we are told that because
Of these meetings the passions Of the
people are often aroused to a point
that blinds their intelligence. Also we
are told a good many other things that
are more or less reasonable.
1t is quite true that the time al
lowed to each individual to address a
crowd where twenty or thirty people
are to address the same crowd on the
same day is quite short. 1t Is true
that no candidate can develop his plat
form and policies in this short time
to the satisfaction Of himself or any
body else 1t is quite true also that
these campaign meetings are charac-
terized by a great deal Of what is call
ed demagogy, and by what really is
demagogy. And it is quite true that
there are still other objections.
But let it be remembered that dema-
gogy is not confined to from county
to county campaign meetings, and 1t
does not take any great, long speech
from a candidate to enable them to
tell what he stands for and why. There
is plenty Of demagogy going on in all
quarters all the while, and the people
of South Carolina have showed more
than once that they know pretty we'll
how to size it up if they have fair
chance. There is nothing better can
culated to give them their chance than
this forty-four day primary campaign
that has been established in this state
for so many years.
If a state campaign meeting in
Barnwell county, for instance, had no
significance except in that county. and
the same was true with regard to the
meetings held in each and every other
county, then there would be very con-
siderable doubt as to the value Of such
a state campaign. But it is not that
way. York county people get informa-
ton of what develops in BarnWell.
They may not get their information
with absolute accuracy; but they get
information as to the points that APP
peal to them most, and they have
time in which to investigate the ac-
curacy Of their information and to
weigh and analyze it's significance.
During the progress Of the campaign
and especially with the help of the
meeting held in their own county, they
get all the information they need to
enable them to cast their votes in ac-
cordance with their own sentiments.
OF course there are many things to
be said for and against this county to
county campaign practice, and we con-
fcss that more than once we have been
brought to a stage Of grave doubt as
TO whether it was the best thing. In
deed. we have been almost persuaded
that one or two meetings in each con-
gressonal district would probably be
all that the people would require to get
an intelligent idea of who is who and
what it what But in view Of the
campaigns of the past few years we
are now more than ever persuaded
that these county to county speakings
should be continued. We do not think
that there is any other method by
which the people can be enabled to
select that which seems to be nearest
to that which they think they want.