The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-11-01

To the Democrats of South Carolina:
My attention has been called to the
fact that tickets for the general cleo
ton are being distributed to voters in
the counties with the name of Cole L.
Blease printed thereon in place Of r.
I. Manning, the regular nominee for
governor Of the Democratic party Of
this State. In a speech before a con-
v%ention Of his friends in Columbia on
October "a, the defeated candidate in
the primary stated that neither he nor
his friends were bound by the result
Of the late primary election in
which he was a candidate. This man
filed a pledge to support nominees,
state and national, of the Democratic
party and when he voted tOk an oath
to abide the result Of the primary
election and to support the nominees
thereof. When the State committee
met to tabulate returns and declare
the result not a protest or contest
written or verbal was made on behalf
OF any candidate.
This fimsy pretense Of fraud with
out offering evidence thereof to the
committee or to the courts of the
State Is simply an excuse to make a
lcowardly and covert attack on the reg
MAR nominees of the party. These
ballots that are being distributed will
be voted by some or they would not
be handled In the various counties Of
the State. There are between $4,000
and $4,000 negroes registered. Tn
less the believers in a white mans
government go to the polls and vote
the regular ticket on election day
there IL danger Of its defeat or at
least humiliation. i deem 1t nay duty
az State chairman Of the Democratic
psrty e sound this note q. alarms and
vtlIsNb0kl 81
Der the dark d&54l5fD[br ule
not to be caught sleeping ON gdAcd
while these enemies of our civiliza-
ton are assassinating the nominees of
the party.
Our people have trusted white men
to be true SO long that they are hard
to make believe that one could vio-
late his sacred pledge or cath. but it
is frankly admitted by some that they
intend doing it and we must meet it
like men. If candidates before the
primary and voters thereat bound by
q solemn oath to support the nominees
can violate their oaths because they
believe that improper means have
been employed without resorting 20
the party machinery or the State
courts to correct the supposed wrongs
then every man is his own judge and
jury and his only restraint is his own
conscience. Can We afford to u
tenance such conduct as this? If so
primary laws are not worth pa
per they are written upon and the
safeguards of white supremacy are
mere shadows. Not only is our State
ticket menaced but there are three
sets Of presidential electors in the
field and the defeated candidate
openly states that he will not assist in
electing Woodrow Wilson, the Demo-
cratic nominee for president. Could a
more open boiler be wanted than
this? Our nominees for State offices
are all good and true white men with
honorable records. Our nominee for
president has done more for the coun-
try at large and the South in particu-
lar than any president since the War
Between the States. Their characters
are unimpeached. Rally then to their
support. Don't go to sleep while the
perjurer votes. Be vigilant and see
that every vote is cast and counted,
this is your only safeguard.
JOHN GARY EVANS,
South Carolina Chairman, Democratic
Party.
Ono ,<n~1n.r