The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-02-20
SENATOR McLAJRIN DECLINES
TO ENTER GOVERNORS RACE

hon. ). A. DALLAS,
Pres. State Warehouse Association.
Dear Sir:
| am satisfied that it will be best
for the cause in which we are 80
deeply interested, that | should not
become candidate for office either
now or hereafter. 1t was wise step
to get ticket in the field so as 10
give us a definite rallyfng point. Now
YOU can get man in My place and
permit me to canvass the State dur"
inc the summer for the ticket so as
to perfect an organization. THESE
questions must be presented and MADE
the paramount issue and If DO so
as a candidate for governor 1t VIII
greatly hamper me, because my mo-
tives will be questioned. l dedicated
myself years ago to this work and
need no reward to inspire my Efforts.
The people have been humbugged so
much since 1890 by those whose only
object has been to secure ONCE, that
they are Justly suspicious of cand1-
dates. There is good size crop now
of self seeking demagogues to exploit
both laborer and farmer to promote
their personal fortunes and political
ambitions. This discounts the EFFORTS
of the man who is sincerely adVocat-
ing cause.
This is why prohibition is a fall
ure; many of the loudest advocates
keep their private stock and want to
prohibit everybody's liquor but their
own. 1t is a disgusting spectacle to
see one known to be a drinking man
make a prohibition speech in the leg
islature, and law officers drinking
blind tiger whiskey. The government
of any State is rotten where such
sights or such men are tolerated.
The truth is that we are suffe !,
from the moral degradation fc J =
ing the dispensary, and it is time to
shut out whiskey and have house
cleaning in South Carolina. I wish
to assist in the work, but I am not
the man to run for governor. be-
lieve We need to get rid of all the
old political hacks and chronic office
seekers. The office seeking mania bids
fair to swamp the treasury. About
one primary voter out of twenty is
an Office holder of some kind and each
legislature adds to the number with
; the result that taxes have increased
about 25 per cent in the last FIVE
years. Every appropriation bill IS
larger while property values are sta
tionary or shrinking. A good busi-
ness man could run the State gov
ernment more efficiently with one
third less Office holders and one half
the expense if it were handled as he
would his nrivate business. While
We are making a fight for proper
system OF handling and marketing our
cotton crop, let us not forget reform
in taxation and an efficient but eco
nomical system of government The
Western States. notably the Dakotas
have just been through this fight, and
| am in touch with the leaders there.
They advise me that the man who
gets up the organization and does the
work, should not be candidate for
Office, l believe this is true. got as
far as l could with the warehouse
system and resigned to force its de-
velopment, l could not do it myself
but can for another man. This leg
islature has surrendered to the in
surance trust. The new laws wipe
out the Laney-Od0m act and give the
companies just what they demanded.
1t is a shame and disgrace to South
Carolina. This must be explained to
, the people and those responsible for
it shown up. This is the weakest
general assembly since 1876. They
were elected on a factional issue and
simply do as they are told. 1t is no
use to get mad they don't know any
better. Look at the champions Of law
and order, and advocates of prohi-
bition opposing the Bone Dry bill.
while the drinkers of whiskey and
champions of liquor are daddying pro-
hibition. Both sides are hypocrites,
fakes and humbugs playing for politi-
cal positions.
l think A. ]. A. Perritt Of Darling
ton would be good man to lead a
farmers ticket. Mauldin is all right
and would make Enc campaign. We
want to get in the middle of the
road" free from factional entangle-
ments and try to lift our politics to a
higher plane. 1t is better to get a
man who is not an office seeker or
been prominently identified with either
faction and this fits Perritt and Maui
din. In these great and terrible
. times it is pittiful to see this State
denominated by small men and di-
vided over small things. l cannot
| HaEf Yosv L,svsNg