The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-05-09
THE REASON WHY.

A good deal is being said and
written these days concerning the
decision of the Supreme Court OF the
United States in the Newberry case.
Newberry was nominated for Senator
in the State of Michigan in the re-
publican primaries and later defeated
Henry Ford in the general election.
He and his campaign managers were
then indicted for violation of the
corrupt practices act of Congress,
it being alleged that. large sums Of
money were expended in violation Of
law in order to. secure the nomina-
ton of Newberry. s
We do not know how much money
was spent,nor how it was spent. The
court. was unanimous in reversing
the Judgment against Newberry and
his eo-defendants, and we take it
that the Judgment reversed was err
roneous. That does not say that New
berry did not make a wrongful use
of the money from the standpoint of
right and good morals, and he, will
continue to be criticised for gaining
the nomination by the use of money.
sOf course it is wrong to use money
to secure either nomination for of
fee or election to that office. But
there is no need to go to Michigan to
find examples of their wrong doing.
People spend money in South Caro-
lima to secure nominations for office
just as they do in Michigan. AS much
money may not be used, but in many
cases the money is used for corrupt
purposes. And most of those who are
condemning Newberry are the spon-
sors for the system which makes
these corrupt practices possible
the primary. When we get rid of the
practice of nominating men for po-
ltical office by popular vote we will
have gone a long way towards get
ting rid of the. unlawful or corrupt
use of money in elections.
We believe that it should be a mis-
demeanor to run for office. The run
ming of the government should be a,
business matter. If we organized a
new bank in Abbeville today, the
Stockholders would meet and elect a
board of directors from amongst the
best men of the stockholders. These
directors as representatives of the
stockholders would in turn elect men
for president and cashier and for the
other Offices Of the bank because of
their fitness. Favoritism would cut
little figure in the matter, and the
man who went around button-holing
the directors for an Office would not
get it, and the man who tried to use
money to get an Office would be kick
ed out.
Why cannot we use the same bust
ness. methods in matters of govern.
ment? The state and county and
every other political division is or
ganized for business purposes. We
could come together in the Court
House on any day in the year and
elect eleven men Or some other num-
Der to serve as a Board of Directors
for Abbeville County who by virtue
of their office and without pay or
favoritism would elect all the needed
help for running the business affairs
of the county. We would obtain good
men, and men who would be kept in
office as long as they performed the
duties of the offices efficiently.
There would be no great upheaval
and excitement every two years over
elections and the people would think
of better things than of elections.
But it will be said that we have
good officers in Abbeville County.
We are willing to admit it. But we
have not always had such officers,
and certainly the primary system of
selecting officers, however it may
have resulted in the selection of To-