The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-09-29
PRIMARIES AND THE EXPENSES.

Uc.lS =. n. NhOlSoly "AiN "N' - SAAS
second race for Congress in the
Fourth district this summer, he spent
between three and four thousand dol
lars during the campaign. We pre-
sumo that the other candidate spent
something like the same amount. And
the other less successful candidates
spent other considerable amounts in
making the ace Altogether the
amount of money spent by all the
candidates was several times the
amount of salary which will be re-
ceived by the successful candidate
during the one year he is to serve.
And it was an off year for politics
too.
All of which causes us to remark
that the present way of nominating
officers in this state has lost its efici-
ency, if it ever had any such quality.
Considering the vast sums Of money
spent in some of the counties and
districts by candidates for congress
and for the senate, and the sums
spent by candidates for state officers,
we are of the opinion that the stakes
do not justify the expense; and the
result of it all is most disappointing.
Surely no plan which has been tried
in the past has been conducive to the
election of so many Unqualified men
to Office.
The primary is a failure, as is a
democratic government. The foun-
ders of this republic tried to insure
US against a democracy. This was
designed for, and should be, a repre-
sentative government. We Rad bet
ter men in Office with a representa-
tive government than we have dream
ed of since the primary came into ex-
~istence, and better men than we will
have again until the primary is a
thing of the past. The ~agitators of
this country who have tried to refer
everything to a primary election from
the number of children a man should
have to whether one man or another
should be appointed postmaster at
Yemasee, in Charleston county,
should know by this time that a few
representatives, with backbone
enough to assume the duties and re-
sponsibilities of office, are worth more
than all the primaries and referen-
dums that this country has ever had.
But we are told that we will have
ring rule. W. may have ard so far
az we are concerned we prefer it to
the disturbances that the politicians
have been kicking up in this country
Tor the past twenty years. No ring
that we have ever heard Of went
around the country exciting the peo-
PIE of a community to fever heat in
a fight between factions of that com
Eunity over whether Bill Smith or
Paul Jones should hold a pour office.
The people meet in a representative
government, send delegates to a con-
Vention, and these delegates nominate
men for office. The last two demo-
cratic conventions which met in COL
Umbla, and every other convention
which we know anything about, was
composed of representative men from
Ell the counties; men with no axes
Of their own grind, except in a few
eases, and we dare say that if either
CT the two last named conventions
had been allowed to name q man for
governor, or senator from this state,
that a man thoroughly representa-
tive of the people of the state would
nave been named, the equal in every
way OF any man who has ever been
elected in a primary, and one whom
the people would have respected and
honored. And then the turmoil of
politics would have been saved; the
fractional differences of our people
would have been unheard of; and all
tlls strife and political discussion
would have been saved our people.
The people have too little interest,
real interest, in who is governor of
THIS state, and who is congressman,
and who is senator, for them to take
e summer off every two years to fight
ard hollow, cuss and discuss, who
snail hold any of these offices. For
cur part we are willing that any hon
est man, with ability, and enough
energy to look after his duties.
held any of the Offices. And we are
Perfectly willing for representatives
rom the several counties name all
the officers of the state and congress
slonal districts, if only the lawyer can
Dc kept at the law, the cotton-buyer
at keeping up the price of the staple,