University of South Carolina Libraries
ency of the Democratic party and the final solution of the race problem, so that each State may handle it in its own may according to its necessities. While I especially believe in the education of the white man, I believe in a different kind of enlightenment of the negro, and would be loath to advocate his education in the broadest sense by national aid, until the fangs of the serpent are drawn. If his education and enlightenment continues at the present pace for the next twenty years his selfassertiveness will go on proportionately and it will then take a race war to set tie the issue, it these two amendments should be in force when that awful day comes, the nation will be bound by them to stand by the negro in the assertion of his rights under them, and it is my hope that Northern and Western white men will not be compelled by the constitution to back the negro against their Southern white brethren. I believe that the negro was created for a purpose, and I do not believe that that purpose is equality with {be white man, political, social or in the business affairs of the world. I believe that he was created to be second to and subservient of the white man and that every effort by education or otherwise fo make him the equal of the white man must end in a manner de, structive of the interest and happiness of both. Notwithstanding the fact that I bold these beliefs, I am in favor of giving the ntgro justice in his proper inhere, and be.ieve that in doing this we are bis best f/iends. If elected to Congress, I pledge the best efforts of my brain and my conscience to represent tfae highest interests of every class and of every inter- : est of the second district. : < ( The race problem has broken out in con- ( nection with the Chicago strike. The South may hang a mean negro occassion- 1 ally, but it is the only section of this ' rrViora o In TV-n hl'f?iri?T neCTO can , tV'UH CI J ??MV*V V* .V 1, ?- k find employment without prejudice or hln- : derance. And this Is a consideration of t vastly more Importance to the respectable negro than any other. T know that money is money and politic are politics, as experience has shown In politics all kinds of influences con trol the result. Sometimes it is on thing and sometimes it is another; but in that race there seemed to have beei two very potent influences at work One was the respect in which Mi George Croft was held by a large num her of voters of the district and thei desire to do honor to him by honorinj his son, Mr. T. G. Croft, and the othe was. it is claimed the ambition of cer tain men who had the congressional be* buzzing in their bonnets, and while no in the race, were willing to see thos< in the race sacrificed by giving thei: support to young Croft. They did no want others given a send off by being elected to the short term, it being known that Mr. Croft would not offe: for the long term. His election there fore would not hurt their aspiration: and the defeat of the others would giv< them a setback that would be in th< interest of those who were holding FARMERS WILL ELECT WILLIAMS- HE THINKS CALHOUN WRITES ABOUT THE CONGRESIONAL RACE IN SECOND SOUTH CAROLINA DISTRICT. (By Wm. P. Calhoun.) The people of Edgefield, Sc.luda, Aiken. Barnwell and Hampton counties are just now very much interested in the race for Congress from this, the second district. Who is going to be our Congresman after the 4th of next March is being asked 011 all sides. It will be recalled that the lamented George W. Croft died early in this year and that there had to be an election to fill his unexpired term. That fact brought to the front many candidates who were willing to succeed Mr. Croft. From this county there were three who were mentioned, and one who was desirous to run, all of whom had many friends in the county. They were Messrs. J. Wm. Thurmond, W. J. Talbert, Leon J. Williams, with John C. Sheppard as a dark horse. But, only Mr Williams made the race which from start to finish was a peculiar one. George W. Croft was a very popular man and when lie died leaving only a short unexpired term, many of his friends desired that his son, Mr. T. G. f. 1 1 j ? ~ ?1 * ? 4-r\ vmc LTOIt snouia, lis it main vi uviivi iu ?uj father, succeed him for the unexpired term. All of those desiring to represent the district would not agree to the arrangement, and the campaign was opened with the odds greatly in favor nf Mr. T. G. Croft, who finally came ->ut the winner. The contest for the long term, commencing on the 4th of March next, is iow between Messrs. Leon J. Williams, if this county. S. G. Mayfield, of Denmark. and J. 0. Patterson, of Barnwell, : ill three of whom were in the race for lie unexpired term. T said that the contest for that un expired term was a peculiar one and I must explain what that means. You ; themselves in reserve. That will, in a great measure, it i: said, account for the fact that some o' the candidates received such a smal vote was polled. Altogether, under the circumstances, that race did not show the real strength of any of the candidates in the field. There were about three men in the county who desired to enter for the long term who had a number of friends and those friends would naturally vote in a manner to strengthen them by supporting Mr. Croft. All of the obstacles having been removed and there now being an open field, the chances of Mr Williams have been greatly improved and he feels confident of election. There were two candidates, or rather men prominently spoken of in connection with the race for Congress for the short term, who openly advocated the election of Mr. Croft in Edgefield county. and who under ordinary circumstances would be and no doubt are now, friends of Mr. Williams. I refer to Hon. W. J. Talbert who in a card, advocated the election of young Croft, and Mr. James H. Tillman, who openly espoused the cause of Mr. Croft and did % s all in his power for his election. Tha i. was natural, as Mr. Tillman and Mr - Croft, senior, were for years partner e at law. Besides there were many othe reasons why certain men did not stan< i to Mr. Williams in "that race who wil give him their support. Mr. Croft is neutral in the presen - contest, and Mr. Williams confident^ r expects the support of his friends ii I this. Saluda and Edgefield counties r which will place him in the front rani - of the contestants. The candidate wh( s beats Mr. Williams will be the nex t congressman. z Edgefield has always stood by hei men and she will stand by him and wil give him a handsome send off. Besides , he is competent as any man in the rac< r and his past record will show that h< - is without a blemish. He is not afraic 5 of any attack that can be made on tha i record. With the large vote of Edge 1 field county, that of Saluda, and th< ? good vote that he is assured of ir Aiken, there seems to be no doubt bui * that he will lead in the first primary i with strong chances of winning in the 1 second. * In Edgefield, Saluda and Aiken, he confidently expects a grand send off These hopes of Mr. Williams are no] unfounded, especially as he is the onl) : farmer in the race. I mean by the onl> : farmer, that he is the only man in the ! race who has no other calling. There : may be other candidates who have a side line of farming, but they cannot be said to be simon pure farmers. Our grateful population is very tenacious of i its rights and its just claim to have : representation in all departments of our government. If they follow their usual rule in that respect Mr. Williams will receive their votes and that is tantamount to an election. Hon. George D. Tillman was a farmer and lie represented this district for about ten years or more. He was succeeded by Hon. W. J. Talbert, a farmer, who also renresented the district for about terf years, declining a re-nomination at the end of that time. Mr. George W. Croft, it is true was a lawyer and a good one at that, but so were his opponents, Messrs. Thurmond and Bellinger. There t was no opportunity for the farmers to stand by their calling as .they have in s this race. The farming interests of the r district are large and important and no i on; can blame them for desiring to have 1 a representative in Congress. A successful farmer ought to make a successt ful congressman. Applying that test, y Mr. Williams seems to be the man for i the place. Then it must be remembered that he e has been in public life for some time 5 past and that his career as a public sert vant is clean and white. No person can point to a single instance where he r has failed in doing his duty as a pubI lie servant. lie is a man of striking personalty, . measuring over six feet in height with * a well proportioned frame and a handT some appearance. To back that he has brains, energy and character. Put him f on crowded Broadway in New York " City and his personal appearance would i attract every passer-by and each would l have a desire to know who he was. t Such is the man that Edgefield prer sents to the voters of the district for i its next representative in Congress?a man above reproach and one who would ; well represent us in our national legislature. 1 This article will give the voters of r this district a better idea of the man r than they have yet had. They will know that they are casting them for a man who will represent them with credit and who will always be alive to their interests. I never like to overdraw a picture with my pen as I do not care to mislead any one, and in writing of Edgefield's candidate, I have confined myself to the facts in the case and submit them to the public, without disparaging any of his opponents. With his usual energy, he is allowing no grass to grow under his feet. He is doing all that he can fo see the voters of the district so that they can | judge for themselves what manner of man he is. He is seeking the position of a high plane, stooping to nothing low and on that platform he will meet his opponents with every assurace of success. \ t ?