The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-09-24
gHuRsDAy MORNING, SEPT. "a, 1874
FOR GOVERNOR.
JOSEPH B. KERsHAw, OF CAMDEN.
FOR LIEUTENANT GOEERNOR.
WILLIAM D. SIMPSON, OF LAURENs'
Shall the Conservatives make a Noml-
nation?

UdIlU{k
The political condition of Anderson county
is somewhat puzzling to an interested specta-
TOR from distance, who is unacqualnted win
the existing sentiment of the people. Un-
doubtedly, the party known as Conservative
but which is better designated as anti-Radicai'
has q clear majority of voters, and could easily
control the selection of every official within
her borders, whose choice is made at the ballot
box. The want of unanimity and concerted
action has alone produced an opposite result,
in some instances, and thrown the balance OF
power into the hands of organized minority.
At every election, since the reconstruction
of the State government, considerable por-
tion of the Conservative party has been united
upon ticket for the legislative and county
offices. but which failed to receive the unanl-
nous endorsement of conservative voters al
the ballot-box. Probably three-fourths of the
penuine conservative vote has been thoroughly
united at each election, and the remaining one
fourth has been concentrated upon independent
candidates, or scattered among several candl-
dates for the different positions, other than the
regular nominees This detection is attrlbuta-
BILE to blunders and mistakes committed IN the
campaign, and to the industrious management
of the opposition, which has been wide awake
at all times to seize upon every error OF the
conservative element and turn it to their own
advantage.
The present attitude Of the anti-Radical par
ty presents many difficulties in the way OF sue
cess in the coming election, owing to the null
tiplicity of candidates before the people, who
will likely divide the conservative vote worse
than heretofore. Approaching this state OF
affairs, the Broadway Tax Union has begun a
movement for the concentration of public opin-
ion on this subject. The proposition or rather
suggestion is to have primary election among
the conservative voters, and determine upon
ticket to be voted in the regular election, which
plan may need explanation, as this mode Is
entirely new to our people.
A primary election is to ascertain the most
popular candidates affiliated with any party,
and bring about harmony within its ranks. 1t
is not entirely free from Objectionable features,
although it can be made to express the positive
voice of a party in an unmistakable manner
and produce the greatest harmony, where all
the candidates acquiesce in the result we
will not undertake to point out the possible
objections to this plan in detail, but will merely
suggest that it is defective, under certain CIR
cumstances, as for instance when a number OF
aspirants for the same Office receive vote IN
the primary election so nearly equal as to ex'
cite hope of success in the defeated candidates,
which would encourage and stimulate them to
remain in the field, thereby creating the very
discord which the primary election was inten-
ded to forestall. Another serious objection
might be the small number of votes cast III the
primary election, whereby the nominees would
necessarily be selected by comparatively few
voters. 1t is possible that tie might result
from primary election, which could not be
decided in sufficient time, unless the managers
we're constituted in a regular convention, with
power to act in the matter But pledge from
every candidate seeking the conservative vote
to abide the result, and in case he is not nom
mated to withdraw from the contest, would
tend to remove these objections, and make the
plan work admirably in consolidating the entire
strength of the party upon one ticket.
The convention system, on the other hand,
has its advantages and defects, and is subject
tn the hazards Of defeat, when candidates are
not pledged in advance to acqulesce IN the
selection made by the convention. The great
objection to this system, in its practical work
ings, has been that the delegates were chosen
by a limited number of voters III every pre-
cinct, and the allegation has been made that
they did not truly represent the sentiment OF
their neighborhoods in selecting candidates.
To obyiate this difficulty, and secure an en-
larged expression of public opinion, it would
he necessary to obtain general attendance OF
the voters upon their precinct meetings. where
the delegates could be chosen by ballot, and
the interests of the people confided into trust
worthy hands, with determination on the
part of every delegate to discharge his duties
without prejudice or partiality. BY adopting
the majority rule, and acting with unanimity
in supporting the ticket nominated, the con
vention system might be made to produce
general satisfaction among the conservative
voters. fully equal to the plan of primary
election.
Asan individual member of the Conserva
tive party, ready at all times to cooperate ir
any movement for its success, we are not wed
ded to any particular method of producing
,nitv in its ranks. We will heartily suppor
and advocate any plan agreed upon, which viii
likely concentrate the conservative vote, ant
to break down the prejudices against consoli
dated action.
One word about the Tax Unions operating IL
49,, d;rection. AS many persons do not belong