The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-11-19
Col. Dargan a
Candidate
Announcement of Candidacy
For the Senate and State
ment of His Platform
Editor of The Daily Item:

Editor of The Daily Item:
| have decided to offer for ser
vice to fill out the unexpired term
in the state senate of the late, much
lamented John H. Clifton. AS your
readers are aware. ! have recently
renew my long ago advocacy
of election by the people OF
defendants attorney in every
criminal court that has prosecut-
ing attorney thus elected and to
have such defendants attorney
paid by the state the same salary
as that paid the prosecuting OF
ficer of the court. Such an enact
ment by the legislature would eN
vi termini. as the lawyers say. dis
place the defendants attorney. as
we have had them employed by the
persons accused Of crime and paid
by such persons from private
sources. But it would be better to
pass a law at the same time tor
bidding under severe penalties any
one to offer for service in such prl-
vate capacity. or for any officer
of the court to receive pay for any
official service in the court from
private sources. All officers of the
court must be public officers paid
solely out the public treasury.
This change in our judicial sys-
tenn would. believe, be one OF
vast benefit in good many ways and
| believe it is my duty, as citizen
who has had some experience in the
working of the criminal courts un-
der the present system. to make
known my views at every op-
portunity that they may become
considered and if found to be rea>
sonable and promising of better
ment in the bringing Of justice to
those who ask it as accused people
and those who demand it IN their
enjoyment of full citizens rights
to protection. that we should lose
no time in putting into operation.
Of course as lawyers know more
about the working Of our court
machinery than any other class OF
our citizens. they should be leaders
in every effort at Improvement IN
that machinery for evoking JUS
tice to all classes Of our citizen
ship. Every high toned citizen
works primarily for his fellow
citizens in public undertakings. else
he is a traitor to citizenship and
unworthy to enjoy its privileges
and benefits. SO / shall expect all
good men in the profession Of law
and laboring in our c r i m n a |
courts to assist in having the
change herein suggested taken into
consideration at once and eXamln-
ed from every standpoint and view
ed from every aspect. that the state
legislature may act from enlight-
ened agencies and wise directors.
Being a lawyer myself and advo-
eating this change for many years.
always calling upon my profession
for assistance and always expert
encing disappointment along this
line. | now in my old age. III my
74th year and in such health. ana
with such strength as man that age
might reasonably expect. yet am
unable to die easy Of conscience
with this work uncompleted. The
opening Of the door TO the senate at
the high hour Of my oft renewed
effort to bring about this change.
causes me to leap forward to gain a
better opportunity for commanding
attention to my plea and to gain
power for practical results in the
long struggle Now help. fellow
members OF the bar. who wish to
do your work to best possible au-
vantage of all classes q. your fei-
low citizens to see that no mistake
is made in accepting or rejecting
the proposed change iii our court
machinery. wish to go to the s. n
ate to make my call tor acton
heard by the whole state and by
the nation and by the civilized
world. that is now wrestling with
the problem of handling crime
more successfully in our courts;
that barharotls methods OF slay-
ing personal attack and lynchlnG
by enraged crowds may be arrested
and finally driven ont of human *
pericnc" entirely a!a asking for
election TO fiji out Senator Clifton $
unexpircd term. Put me thcr" and
any time YOU may call FOR ne
you'll receive prompt reply. shall
be al my post striving to lind So1ne
good work to do for my p"opl" ali
the time.
JOHN J. DARGAN.
StatcburS. S. c., Nov. l6.
Chattanooga. Nov. 16.-Su .ance