The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-04-30

fruirless tax upon their time; and
the attendance at the country bal
lettings would dwindle down to perhaps
a tithe of the voting strength of the re-
spectivc clubs. But while inconven-
iencc would fall thus heavily upon the
voters who are in the country and reside
miles away from the places to which they
would he thus repeatedly called to vote,
il would scarcely be felt by the citizens
Of Camden and Kirkwood, who reside
within a few hundred yar'ls Of their va
ting precincts or places Of club meeting
ard who could 60 ont and vote and re-
turn to to their homes or places OF bns'-
ness within fifteen minutes or hall m
hour. The effect Of this would be lh't
when at last the effective ballot "onId
be taken the country clubs con'd not
perhaps draw out a tithe oftheir votInS
strength; while the three clubs Of Kirk
wood and Camden could bring ont their
entire furce. or send round committee
to drum up deiaulters within an honr.
Thus all the nominations Of the county
wonld ultimately be made bv the three
clubs Of Camden and Kirkwnod. the
clubs in the country being manGrvered
out of heir just and overwhelming ma
iority by the primary election plan, and
kent in effect in hopeless minority.
But by the plan of primary elections
it is proposed, believe. to avoid the ob-
jrclion of intcrminahle balloIings by
ii rowing the nominations into the
County Executive Committee if a nom
inaion is not made at the second b'Ilot
But there are fire members TO be added
to the Executive Committee who arc
mol to be chosen by the people, nor even
from the county at large, hnt who, are
to be chosen by the Executive Commit
tor itself from Camden or its immeo''dfe
ricinHy. This. with the vote Of the
Chairman (also a Oamlo,ian) and the
Presidents of their three clsbs would
give Camdcn and Kirkwool nomna=
ting influence Of nine uOteS in the Exe>
cutive Committee where ony hI ec
jus''y belongs to them and would pro-
badly enable i-w Individuals who have
influence there to control the nomina-
tions "f the entire county. In either
case. the country voters would be deprlv-
ed Of their lcaiiimaie in!igenca aud viz
tuallydisfranchised to certain, and very
considerable, extent. The effect of this
upon the country voters isr " foros"en.
They would not support nom'ners thus
unfairly thrust upon them, and at the
general election they would Sote for their
own nominees or not vote at all.
II is clear, therefore. to my mind iliat
the primary election scheme, If accepted
by tie clubs. will Prove fatal TO the
Democratic party Of this county, and
.lll rcs,.lt ip IL defeat ana iiss"illinn
I therefore adjura every one to WHOM
that party is dear not hastily, nor With
out the most circumsp'ct examination,
to adopt a measure 50 fraught with evil
to US all as this same plan ofprimary cleo
tions There is far more in it than at
first meets the eye.
i. hae, Nr. EqtAr, perWit W', a. a
Democrat, to tender my thanks to Cap.
lain T. II. Clarke for his firm and able
resistance u the primary election scheme
in tie County Convention. BY his ct,
fonts. its adoption was prevented, and
the Democratic party of the county,
saved from au carly dissolution. And
II obligation iS prorortionate to the ser
vice rendered, the Democracy Of this
county owe him much.
| have written this article from no
selfish motive, have no sax to grind.
! ! am no candidate, and / seek no noui-
naiion. am TOO ipdolent 70 eanfass
the county as candidate for any Office
in the gift Of the people. But love
the Democratic party. and would not
sec it strang!cd in this county by its
friends as I know tic primary election
scheme would strangle it, without an
sa.scss protest against sach . ~ asure.
Yours Respectfully
J.. w. r. BLAIR.