The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-10-28

| ''Ay "h" ohe hunoreo Thousand have
been transported to New Jersey, New
York. Indiana, Illinois and other States
In the east and middle west during
the spring, summer and early fall. It
may be erue that these negroes were
needed to flll the places of foreigners
VINO have returned to their native
countries to enter the armies, but we
suspect that this extensive colonization
of negroes In States that are consider
ed doubtful In the approaching Presi-
Dental election has its political side as
well as Industrial. A few thousand
votes may change the result in either
on four or five States and decide the
presidential election. If close watch
Is not kept In the States to which
these thousands Of negroes have been
carried within the past few months
every one of them will appear on elec-
ton day with Hughes ballot In his
hand. II our suspicion Is we'll found
ed. these negroes will be found un-
satisfactory as laborers In the North
after the election is over and they will
promptly find themselves without sobs
and will begin drifting, back South be-
fore Christmas.
Judge Hughes seems to have turn
ed our to be a sort Of Ira B. Jones
kind OF candidate and campaigner.
Four years ago when Judge Jones quit
the State Supreme Court bench to
enter the race for governor Of South
Carolina great things were expected
OF him. He had a reputation as a
pract1sal politician and as an effective
camDof~nsr before ne was elevated to
the haoch an long service as
Chief Justice was believed to have
strengthened his hold with the people.
But on the stump he was failure and
as a practical politician he was no
match for hts opponent. Even those
who supported him most loyalty were
disappointed In him as a campaigner
and early In the contest 1t was really
ed that he lacked the needed punch.
Judge. Hughes has likewise been q
srsviobs ana Appointment 10 the Repub-
lleens ana early IA TN campaign the
Leading Rspubllc4lIu ,ean to
admit indieSctly that he had failed to
meaeurs up to his opportunity or to
their great expectations. The Supreme
Bench does not seem to be good
training school for candidates for Of
fee Of major importance. either State
or national.
The Bleaseites. instead of boiling
and appealing to the general election,
have decided to organize party with
In the party and prepare to fight for
the control of the party organization
and Of the State in the next campaign,
two years hence. This means a return
to the conditions that existed from
1890 until 1895, when there were two
separate and distinct factional organ
izations In practically every county in
the State. with factional candidates
for everA Office In the county from
masistrath to senator. these tickets be-
Ing nominated by factional conven-
tions ard referred to the party pri-
mary for the regular nomination. This
system worked very well and was not
without Its advantages. since it forced
each faction to name It's best and
strongest men, wherever the two fac
tons were Of approximately the same
strength In county. 1t was objec-
tionablo. however. because 1t resulted
In partisan bitterness and where one
faction had a large majority OF the
voters In county some very unde-
sirable types of professional politi-
clans were developed. But since the
Bleaseites wish to make the fight
along these lines within the regular
party. the balance Of us who do not
believe In Blease methods and prac-
tices. and wholesale pardoning and ca
tering to the criminal element, can
meet them with a similar organization
and fight 1t out In the party primary
| There Is one certain fact about the
Hughes campaign--the managers have
had more money than they knew how
to spend on ordinary expenses. They
have conducted the most extensive and
expensive advertising campaign I'm the
newspapers and magazines Of nation
al circulation and In the newspapers
Tn the States classed as doubtful ever
known In a presidential election. But
II n al Inn