The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-05-04

zealously bestowed upon the faithful
as plumS. The smaller positions,
without salaries, even as the salarieu
positions, have been taken away from
those who fought winning fight, bull
whose victory, in the final count,
amounted to naught.
To Restore Rights to People.
The Reform party, however, is par
suing the even tenor OF its way, get
ting ready to return the government
to the people. In this crisis in the
nations history, its members are do
ing their part quietly and earnestly,
and there is no murmur nor complaint
from them at the partisan attitude
of the powers that temporarily be.
Confident in the Righteousness Of the
principles for which they stand, they
know that the people are watching,
and that the great masses OF the
State-the real producers-are IN
sympathy with those principles be-
cause they e founded in democra-
cy, which means equal rights to all
and special privileges to none.
In several Of the counties during
the past week meetings have been
held and organizations perfected.
These organizations will work in con-
cert of action with other county or
CARNATIONS in process OF formation.
There will be no political activity
which might be out of harmony vita
the great work of preparedness III
which every patriotic citizen has his
part, but there is determination
that the voice Of the majority of the
people of South Carolina. as repre-
sented by the Reform party. shall oe
heard again in the councils of this
State. The county organizations are
in close touch With the central COM
mittee in Columbia, which was ap-
pointed at the convention held in CO.
lumbia last October.
A Patriotic Duty.
The members of the party regard
these organizations as part Of tie
patriotic duty which now rests upon
them for the reason that it is a WORK
in the interest Of the true democracy
for which the nation is now engaged
in battle They will stimulate any
service which their members may be
called upon by the country to render
if any stimulation were needed. The
records of this State during the pasr
several years, however, and today
will show that the faction in South
Carolina known as the Reform party
is largely composed Of workers-and
workers compose the class from
which come first those who are ever
ready to respond to call from their
country in the fighting ranks, or
where they may be most needed. They
do not believe that our own democ-
racy should be endangered, even ID
a fight for the characterization OF
Europe"
Blease Against Liberty.
They do not accept the doctrine
promulgated by the morning newspa-
per OF Columbia, the recognized
spokesman of the anti-Reform fac
ton, that $50 far as the organization
and direction of the army is concern
ed in time of war, to abolish COLI
gress and transfer to the heads OF
the departments the powers confer
red upon congress by the consti1u-
ton may seem a fearsome thing
to do, but would be expedient.' When
Governor Blease, at the conference
of governors in Richmond in Decem-
Der, 1914, used the expression ITO
Ii with the constitution" he did
not consign the fundamental law 10
such a depth in the bottomless pit.
He was asserting that he would not
permit the constitution of his State
to force him to order out troops TO
shoot down white men in order to
protect a brute guilty of the nameless
crime. Whether he was right OF
wrong has nothing to do with the
subject at hand.
Expedient Now.
ITO h with the constitution" now
is preached as an "expedient'' doc
trine by this anti-Reform newspaper
leader. even to the extent Of abolish
ing congress and transferring its con-
stitutional powers to heads OF depart
ments in certain situations. The Re-
folm party in South Carolina does not
want to see democracy perish from
the earth. 1t does not want an au-
tocracy, nor does it want bureauc-
racy It opposes a dictorship. 1t
stands for the principles upon which
the government was founded, as enl-
bodied in the fundamental law franz
ed by it's founders. 1t would not SUBJ
stitute Prussianism at home in Or
der to abolish Prussianism abroad.
1t would carry the war, now that 1t
has been entered upon, to the speedl-
est possible success, with every re-
source at the command of the gov
ernment, but it would at the same
time take care that excitement should
not obscure a patriotic vision and
that when the war is over the people
should rule.
This is the loyal activity in which
the Reform party in South Carolina
is engaged in accordance with the
principles upon which it and the Ma
ton were founded.