The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-01-20

Mr. President. Mr.. Speaker and Gen.
tlsmsn Of the General Assembly:
In assuming the duties OF governor
i am mindful Of the responsibilities Of
the position. invoke Divine guid-
ance. and earnestly pray that wisdom,
courage. and strength may be given
me to see clearly and to do justly In
oil that may come to me a. duty.
Under our form Of government we
have the executive. legislative and ju-
dicial branches. each separate and
distinct from the other. and each q
check on the other.
The governor Of the State IL at the
head Of the executive branch. It Is
his duty to enforce the laws as they
stand on the statute books. 1t II not
his prsrogative to decide whether a
law is wise. or best suited to q COM
msnity. but he ID to see to II that the
law 10 obeyed.
! have faith In our people; I believe
that they want the laws enforced. and
their conscience 10 awakened on this
subject The watchword of my cam
paign last summer was the enforce
msnt OF the law. I now declare afresh
my purposs to carry out In good faith,
this pledge. I bslievc In home rule
local sslf-government. and expect
every one who Is charged with en-
fcrcsment Of law TO do his duty. My
desire 10 that In each community the
laws shall be enforced by the local
authorities. I take this. the very first
occasion. to say to these authorities
that I stand ready and eager to CO.
operate with them In this work, and
thst they may be assured OF my aid
with every available lawful means to
attain this object Lot me add anoth-
Or word. not as q threat. but as a
warning; II In any community the
lawful authorities fail to enforce the
hws. u Will then be my duty to see
that the laws are obeyed. This I. Ia,
tend TO do. ...
The constitution provides that the
governor may make such recon.
meudations to the general assembly
a.. In his tudgmsn'. are good and
proper.
The time has come whom we have
to meet new conditions: we are living
In time Of change and progress. This
condition gives ,us new problems TO
solvs--nsw difhculties to meet. We
are to be congratulated In having at
the head Of the nation a man OF great
discernment. courage. and ability.
who is dealing with national questions
In statssmanslike way. May
hope that we will seek Inspiration
from that example to deal with
State questions with wisdom and cour.
ass.
We are progressive Democrats and
We must have the courage to do Justly
TO each and every class of our citi-
sens. even IL II requires legislat ation
hitherto untried by ua.
Primary Election Law.
In my judgment. the people of this
state. regardless OF party. owe a debt
OF gratitude TO the last State conven.
uon OF the Democratic party for
adopting rules and regulations govern
ing the primary elections. Il In due
to the members OF that convention 70
say that the apprehensions of those
who opposed personal enrolment
were not justified. and that persona,
enrolment together with the publicity
siven to the rolls OF tho clubs. saved
us from Irregularities and charge.
OF fraud. go far az I know. the last
primary election was one In which the
VIII cf the people was honestly az.
pressed by thcir ballots, and these
were fairly counted. I recommens
therefore. that your honor able body
shall enact into law for primary elec.
lions. snch provisions as controlled
the last Democratic primary election.
In order that. In all primary elections.
each and every man entitled by ,as
TO vote. shall have tho right and op-
portunity to vote once and that no
man shall be allowed To vote moro
than once.
Education.
IL is gratifying to know the progress
We are making In education; IL is
even more gratifying To realize TINT
our people are aroused to Its para.
mount importance: that they are Dc.
termined that the children OF our State
shnll be educated. This is mani.
tested In the spirit of sclf-hcip. and
each year secs n substantial incrcasc