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PAGE FOUR PUBLISHED KVEBY THURSDAY BY THE CHRONICLE PUBLISHING 00. —^—HS ~—•—»»— WILSON W. HARRIS Editor and Publisher • * ■ V i Entered at the Clinton Post Office as matter of Second Class. ’i i Terms of Subscription: One year .... .... Six months ! ™ Three months — Payable in advance ....$1.50 75 r .50 i Foreign Advertising Reprevenftive \ THE AMERICAN PKLSS ASSOCIATION The Chronicle seeks the cooperatioff. of it’s subscribers and readers—the publisher wiH at all times appreciate wise suggestions and kindly advice. Make all remittances to THE CHRONICLE PUBLISHING CO. Clinton, S. C. CLINTON, S. C.. APRIL 3, 1924 12 PAGES THE PRIMARY SYSTEM OF ELECTION A monkey-wrench was thrown into the Democratic primary machinery works last Thursday evening when a motion was made to discontinue the primary and dissolve the club. The motion was carried we are informed by a vote of seventy to forty. The action came as a surprise since there had been no agitation for the aboli tion of the primary system of elec tion and no intimation had been made that the meeting was designed to kill tiie system of election that is prac ticed in all Defnocratic communities. In fact, the meeting was called by the president of the club to reor ganize and elect, new officers and put the machinery in motion for the ap proaching municipal election this summer. We did not attend the toeeting but am informed-that the attendance was slightly over one hun dred, and while the resolution to abolish the primary prevailed, it does not mean that the people of the community who favor such a system of election are to be deprived of it. Any body of men and wo men may get together and orgarrite a Democratic club, elect officers, adopt a constitution and by-laws, and pledge their support to the nominees of the primary. Those who desire to go into such an organization havfe a perfect right to do so and those who favor a plurality vote m a gener al election instead and who do not fa vor the Democratic primary method have a perfect right to stay out. That is Democracy, it is the theory of our (overnment by which as citizens we are unrestricted in our political and religious rights. The opposition in a community therefore to a Demo cratic primary does not keep others Who favor it from organizing, nor does it prohibit candidates from an nouncing themselves for any office subject to the result of the primary. The man or woman voting in a pri mary takes an oath to- support the nominee ~in the general election and with loyal Democrats this-js expect- er Ross D. Young, in the coming pri mary this summer should be declar ed elected with a vote of 3,000, •.sec ond opponent receive 2,700 votes/and a third, receive 2,400 votes, he would He could not be elected, he must go on the hustings again with his clos est opponent and receive a majority of the votes cast before he can duly be declared the nominee. That is a Democratic primary, the system by which we elect our public officials. Why does it start a. great panic and fight when it is applied to munici pal politics in a little country town like ours? Is there a prospective candidate in the community for any office that opposes such a system of election? * The Chronicle is a candidate for no office and has no candidate in the field for any office, but in the Demo cratic principal of majority rule gov ernment, we are vitally interested because w4 believe it is right. We take to ourselves the inalienable to the prices that mogt Enormous grapefruit can be bought for twenty-five cents per dosen, while fshey aaiingee way be had the prioit of a dollar- there its per dozen or better than iFiAagis mi ' ><th .right, pi voting for-t was made by auto and there were el. and is always the pipcedure, —^ -no mishaps or troubles to mar the We have never yet heard one plausible reason 'why there should be opposition to a primary system of election. In fact, it is the mode of election that is practiced the world over from our United States sena tors and congressmen down to the humblest offices., Some people may not understand the primacy system, others may attempt^ to confuse the people’s minds as to its purpose and wisdom, but When it comes to the final analysis, what is a plausible reason to oppose it? If it is unfair, unsafe, and frightens people like a ghost, why ia it so universally popu lar in the election of public officials? What is a primary anyway? It’i the Democratic doctrine of majority rule for which we have been as a people alt our lives, its the form of election used in selecting our na tional, state and county officials, and the plan adopted and favored by peo- .r.pie everywhere in the selection of public officials. It gives every citi- and to every other man. and woman we accord the same privilege, wheth er their views coincide with ours or not. But we are opposed to any man being elected to any office, whether it be school trustee, mayor, alderman or what not, unless he or she Is the choice.of the majority of the people. That’s Democratic government as we understand it, the theory in which Thomas Jefferson believed and for which he fought. It’s what the ma jority of the people in Clinton, or any other community for that matter, are in favor. . fj The theory upon which our govern ment is founded is that of majority rule. I * The primary 4 system is the v drily form of election by which the pe®-’ pie may be insured that the officers elected are the choice of the majority of the people. The primary takes the election ma chinery out of the hands of office holders and office seekers and places it in the hands of the people. The primary makes it easy for men and women to express their opinions at the ballot by the efirainatum of r the general election requirements, which when enforced, disfranchise many Voters. i • The people in the community who believe in such • forsn of govern ment are at perfect liberty to have it. One of the ^unsolved local puz zles is why a Democratic com munity should be opposed to a Dem ocratic form of government when it comes to the election of its munici pal officers. A primary in Laurens, Greenwood, Chester, Newberry, Rock Hill, York, or anywherV else attracts little attention. It merely sets in motion the machinery by which it is insured that the men elected to of fice are the choice of the majority of the people. In Clinton—a primary to some folks, is a nightmare. AH Along the •bands and d’bf their fruit gafdless of Che price. The trucking busi has reached lafgi proportiqws and jt is hard for one to comprehend what is being accomplished there in this direction. On all sides we saw great fields of cabbage, beans, Irish po tatoes, celery, lettuce, strawberries and other crops. The celery and strawberry crop was being gathered and shipped while we were there, and by this time the great Irish po tato crop in the Hastings section is moving. In this community there are eighteen thousand acres planted in Irish potatoes yielding an average of from forty to sixty barrels per acre. It was estimated that the open ing price for the crop would be •round fifteen dollars per barrel, with an average for the season of rom ^ight to tonjtollars^ You never see~an _ Acr‘e^bT~cbtton f only a little corn, but everywhere as far as the oye can see it is truck. We didn’t SEEING FLORIDA In company with Dr. L. Ross Lynn, president? of the Thornwell Orphan age, it was our privilege to spend the past two weeks in Florida in the in terest of that institution. The trip journey. The roads were good (af ter we got out of South, Carolina) and the weather was ideal. Every where we went we were most cor dially received and ^showered with many kihdnaasas and. , an fhnndnnr»f> of real, Southern hospitality. Dr. Lynn is no stranger in Flori da, having* Served i tVo / pastorates there covering a period of fifteen years. He ia well acquainted with the State and people, and this made the trip all the more enjoyable and satis factory. For our part, we bad never been in the State and were very much impressed with all we saw. Florida is a great State as one readily sees as soon as you get with in ite gates. The ^climate is wonder- fnl and. deer? tp its highly deshrdble advantages from a health Standpoint, this winter’s tourist crop is describ ed as the largest in the history, of the State, ft waz Spring when we arrived there' and the passers-by were wearing straw hats, palm beach suits and other summer togs. We describe the wo- hear the word boll weevil mentioned, nobody said a word about “hard times” or “back to normalcy.” One can therefore readily see that it was invigorating and refreshing to get into such an atmosphere and for a brief season at least enjoy some of the prosperity thart is apparent on all sides. In the real estate world, and buyers are becitwcaohrdlutaoir there are unprecedented activities "and buyers are becoming rich over, night. New towns are springing up here and there and enjoying pros perous and continual booms. Millions upon millions of dollars is being spent in the development of subur ban and city property. To,the casual observer, trying to take in the sights that are seen there, the admonition to the young generation would be paraphrased—“Go South Young Man.” One is immediately struck with the beauty of Florida and the neat and attractive surroundings. The people take great pains in their yards and promises and everywhere you find lovely grass lawns, clusters of roses and other flowers, 'flic same apldies to most of the cities, they are clean and well kept. They * are especially well lighted at night and this at tracts and pleaser, the thousands of tourists that are to he found there all through the winter. Our trip carried ns down through the Central part of the State and then to the western coast, and as you visit such towns as Otlando, Daytona, St. Au gustine, Lakeland, St. Pecorabmg and scores of others, you are impressed with their beauty and the spirit of individuality and attractiveness that characterizes the various communi ties. _ JA -r I I/] We were especially impressed with the fine spirit of interest manifested throughout the State by the Presby- erians in behalf of the Thornwell Orphanage of this city. Everywhere we went to tell the story of Thorn well, there was a cordial welcome and an evidence of sincere interest and ove for the great institution. In talking of the proposed Baby Cottage to be erected at the orphanage this summer, we were impressed with the deep interest being manifested by the adies of the various auxiliaries. Florida’s quota of seven thousand dol- ars was adopted by the Presbyterian women and with probably, one excep tion, every town - we visited found the ladies already “over the top” with their quotas. One 4>on saw that the e is assured and that the people thete have a deep and abiding inter est in the orphanage. Upon epp visit to the First Presbyterian^ chufrcK 'of Jacksonville, we found that they were just in the midst of rairing their Thorh- Old Thomas Trett would stew and fret, and toil and crave and borrow ... He wouldn't stop if he should drop—but said he’d rest tomorrow! FoTIcs saicl~Tie nevef^'went to beef^- so hard he pined for riches. He wast ed time—an’ called it crime—by put tin’ on his* breeches! He fed the stock an’ watched the clock—he put up hay on Sunday. . . . “The world is mine,” he would opine—and every day was Monday. . . . The neighbors guessed he’d have to rest if sickness overtook him—but, neither health nor sordid wealth neglected or forsook lim! Some called it pluck, and, oth ers, luck—but all pronounced it slav in’—because his life "was ’ endless strife of garnerin’ and savin'. . . . One eventide he up and died—which eft us steeped in sorrow. . . . Above lis head, a tablet read, that he would rest tomorrow! We hope it's so, though we dunno—he’s too fut gone to foller—though some surmise he’d farm the skies—if he could make a dollar! ; ; - ■ | sen an opportunity to express his or her choice for sll municipal office# .won’t attempt to and ujsores a brgfr interwt h* •fifmeri’s apparel, political questions on the part of the people. It doesn’t benefit, neither does it harm any candidate—it’s fair to voters and candidates, it is the only system of election by which the voters may be assured that the of ficials elected (regardless of the of fices) are the choicr of the majority of the people. That is Democracy To the visitor going to Florida for the first time, the great orange groves present n striking appearance and immediately win your interest and admiration. This year’s crop is still largely on the trees and the grpynd is covered with spoiled fruit. The cri>p has been the largest in the growers’ history and the market budget and that it qarried the well Orphanage in (is printed assess ment for benevolent 7 purposes. What was true of this church was true everywhere we went. Dr. &JE< Mc Nair, pastor of this'church, upon be ing invited to ’ deliver the baccalau rente sermon for the orphanage com mencement yi June, Stated that hie had informed his congregation that he would not be absent from his pulpit this year for a baccalaureate ser mon anywhere, and had already turn ed down several invitations. But .he stated wheu'the Thornwell invitation oame, **I broke over and jntend go ing for I know no place anywhere that appeals to me so strongly as our in stitution at Clinton.” The Presby terians in the State have no orphan age but. give their, interest snd sup- at saw, honesty compels us to say that WO were glad to got back home and] t ». didn’t my plw* wf l . - k * 'jig ijjj lerful country ai *»• OneTLn nty until ho g vtr bemi told of great possibilities. At the rate it is Jow forging •bond flong education al, religious, agricultural and manu facturing lines, as well ks the favored winter resort, it is destined to become the loading State of this whole sec tion.'' • . f \ if ia!t has 9 Uncle John I Von them both here six days to the week. Our old patrons are finding greater Service than ever be fore. New customers are finding that this store presents them a maximum of value for every cent they spend for eatables. ; - , , v . , rr ' Everything is of finest Quality, absolutely fresh and as moderately priced as quality permits. 50—Two Phones—54 Clinton, S. C. mffnnMajjiigpM WE CLEAN YOUR CLOTHES We repair them. We press them. BUCHANAN’S PRESSING CLUB Phone 28 The Economy OH for fords Made to lubricate the Ford. The only oil that will perfectly lubricate the Ford. The results are noted immediately. Jerkey chatter disappears at once. No more do the brake bands hold you back when you coast. Your Ford has smooth ease of oper ation. r ' ■ T On Broadway UcEL Had Sprin ■ Whether you have qi; have not, you will need some filling in of odd pieces of furniture or floor coverings. We axe especially utfipared to take care of your wants and invite yqv|to call an^aeq opr ©ffcjring^, What about that extra dresser or dressing table, bed, spring, mat tress, pillows, davenport table, night stand, rocker, book case, art square, rug, grass rug, linoleum, cedar chest, ■' etc..' : • r . 1 , . * v • v t *. ’. ' *i .‘\ ■ f \1 {• • j’f J ... '(T*f p *'// • I' -T^rir -"*0 ’" *"'*'■ * * * ” > If you need a bigger or better Refrigerator let us show you what we have. We handle “the chest with the chill in it” and have them marked at attractive prices. •nd with a Democratic citizenship, prices have been unusually low, in it’s almost unbelievable that it should have opposition. Any candidate offering for office and desirous of election, undoubt edly finds satfsfoction In the fact that is the choice of the majority of fact, there has been practically no market and this has brought heavy losses to the owners. Their crop this year is estimated at twenty millions of'Boxes with probably half atm oh the tresa. One is immediately, struck IpiiRiiWWis port to the institution located here of which they are joint owners. The interest being manifested in the or phanage does one’s heart good and these people are to ba commended for their love and generosity towards the institution. We met many delightful people while away and were entertained in the homes of several. Btarfy kind nesses ware shown us, all of which start to finish, and f