The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-03-08
J The Governorsi,ir.
eFrom the Greenwood Index-Jour-
naI1

The GOrernOrSflE.
+ GFrom the Greenwood Index-Jour-
nal).
Probably never before in its his.
tory certainly not in the: past
three-quarters of a century. has
South Carolina needed more a
man, a. real outstanding, two-fsted
and sincere man, standing for GER
tain definite and constructive is
sues, to offer for: the position Of
chief executive OF the state
We are unmindful of the man
Wade Hampton and the vital is!
sues which were personified in
him in estimating the need Of the
time.
The people of South Carolina,
business men both large and. small,
are in such state Of mind that
real leadership can make Or mar
the states material. prosperity for
years to come. A demagosue may
/ be a born leader of men. in one
sense, but his leadership IS dam.
gerous and destructive, not dplift-
| ing and constructive The state of
public morals needs, as it has not
/ in. a long time, man who can
and will uphold the best traditions
of the past; who viii not be- afraid
Ito tell iaw-breakers where they
get off; who Will not be afraid to
tell certain overzealous reformeIs
when they have reached the point
to dig in rather than keep on
| charging: who Will not be afraid
/, to put his fingers on weakgspets
Of ineficiency and demand inn
provement; who will not be afraid
TO invite and encourage outside
capital to help develop our natu-
raj resources; who Will not be
afraid at some time to say in all
friendliness TO business that;it must
bear its part in supporting the
State; who will not be afraid to
be curt to weaklings who have on
ly ambition enough 20 be found IN
public office but no ability to rem
der the service such honors de-
mand:. who Will not be afraid to be
just though the heavens .fall-in a
word, a real he-man with both
experience and ability mel
lowed and ripened by sympathy
and an understanding Of human
nature as it is found in South Car
olina.
Any reader OF this probably can
name such a man and more than
one but such men do not hunger
for the political heshpots of Colunn-
| bia.
Any reader ef this probably can
probably formulate platform
which would include what we have
outlined above and probably other
things which are Of greater i'm
portance
But such selections Of individu-
al preferences for leadership and
such individual views on issues Will
not solve the problem.
The State needs man big
enough to command support and
big enough 10 recognize and form
| ulate the big issues of the day.
The public mind is haZy on what
the State needs. There are al
most as many suggestions as there
are minds And suggestions haze
been advanced with little evidence
of any mind back Of them. Most
Of us are foundering. We are Will
ling to press on if we can only get
out Of this Slough Of Despond. We
can never persuade Mr.. Obstinate
TO struggle through with us and
ne know that Brother Piable can
not be depended on in the pinch.
One Talkative always has a descen-
dant ready to offer his services in
this State but never leadssus any
where. Somewhere there is a
Great-heart who should be willing
to lead his fellow South Carolin-
ian> away from the gins and pit
falls which are before then.
Would it be practical to ask as
many patriotic citizens, those with
out political ambition themselves
and there are considerable num-
Der we knew-aS many as would
do so-to gather without fear and
without any secrecy in voluntary
mass meeting in Columbia and see
ii sufficient pressure cannot be
brought to bear on some real lead
er to offer his talents and time TO
the state in her time of need?
Could such gathering of patri-
otic men and women forget per-
sonal preferences and unite on
such q leader?
If Mellon desires new sources