The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-09-30
Too Much Politics. Then Nhy
Not Lighten sile Load
.I(NeWs and Co,Irierl

erally. Why should 1t take from
May to November to settle Our
politics every two years. asks the
Press and Banner. which would
like to do away with the present
system altogether It says: e
We believe the people of Ab-
beVilie codnfy by a system Of tosgn-
ship meetings could eleet in one
afternoon delegates to county
convention, which in turn could
select officers for the county IN an
an equally short time, and at The
same time name delegares to astafe.
convention to nominate state Off
GERS, and that neither The counfy
nor the state would suffer Ess So do
ing. We might be spared a good
deal of unnecessary excitementaby
50 doing as well as get rid OF most
OF the demagogues and an the
Etime-serring politicians who have
done so little for the state IN the
past Several years. We Highf M
deed, hope that men would be
named for Office who have real
convictions on public questions, and
who are notaH things teau men,
There may be a good deal ssof
sense and truth in what the Press
and Banner says, but it is useless
ito talk about doing away with the
primary election plaTl in Soaeh Car
DINA IF the. primary election sys-
| TEN should be smashed it ssoslfd-
be only a matter Of a short time
until the negro would be back in
politics, and that something
which is not desired either bySthe:
white people OF the state Or by the
mass OF the negroes.
Yet it IS pndeniabfe that politics
has become "a burden and a NUS
sance to the. Average South Caro-
inian. The people are ANXIOUS fer
SOME relief from ain1ost fncsssant
/ political conflict and the question
, is how such relief can be secured
! Pc us the answer seems clear
and simple It can be summed mp
lin three sentences: s:s3
/ Elect all state officers every
| four years instead Of every two.
2: Have the. legislature meet er-
/ cry other year instead of annnaliy.
] iaS g. Let no one. vote in any seIec-
tion except upon preseutation OF a
county registration cartlfcate
The arguments in favor OF each
iof these reforms are overwhelsn7
ing. ~
! If elections were held every four
years. the people would not only
be given a welcome rest between
/ roliticaf campaigns. hat i world be
possible to get better men. to run
for Office because the expense at
taehed 70 wSnninS SSand holding OF
fHee would be reduced.
|. If the. legislature met bienniaiiy
! the people would have a better
! chance to digest the laws that were
passed. the cost OF laMmakng
Would be reduced, business WoMid
not be kept on tenter- hooks every
! winter while hills OF all deserlp-
/ tions we're up. and more good men
would offer for the legislature
since the burden Of service IN that
body would become less Of sac-
rifre.
| If the privilege OF votins IN any
election were. dependent upon pos
session of county registration cer-
tiiicate the voters might be re-
iieved of the Inconvenience OF hav-
ing to re-enrolI for each, and every
election in a Denocra.ic club and
; the danger OF fraudulent votes be-
ing cast by s..fioaters' would be
greatly reduced.
There is plenty Of sentiment IN
favor of these reforms. But this
sentiment is not effective because
it has not been crystal allized. Il wfli
do no good to talk about the bur
den OF politics unless we do sene-
thing to reduce this burden; and
the burden will not be reduced un-
less the ball can, be started rolling
in the legislature by the enactnen.
OF legislation directed to- hffngfag
about the three reforms we haye
here outlined.
Along with this legislation there
should be enacted also a law naak-
ing it possible for persons away
from their polling places on eie,-
ton day to cast their ballots under
such conditions and restrictions as
other states have found useful and
pra cticable.
II the press of the state. which
surely should be even more weary
OF rhe present condition of AFFAIRS
than is the public at large. will
get behind these reforms yigor-
ously. and if the average citizen
will make it point to talk to his
legislators along the lines we have
suggested. South Carolina can be
freed. OF good par, ef it's present
political incubus. If you feel. as we
do, and as do so many others,
that we have too much politics,
why not exert yourself to tighten
the load?
Riekenbacker. famous aviator, is
married. While he works his wife
will look upEto him.
8 ~