Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-05-09
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Primary Elections.

., County In 1915. we DO this the moro readily
because it involves q matter of common interest
! at this timo to tho people Of our County and of
tho whole State in tho now approaching fall
elections.
The State Democratic Executive Committee
have recommended the plan Of primary elections
for making nominations this fall as tho least
Objectionable and as truly democratic, and bavc
! submitted plan for general adoption. In this
! the committee merely rccommcnds both as to
tho principle md plan Of thus making nomina-
tions leaving to tho clubs pr people of .oaoh
county, who arc, supreme, TO adopt that or any
\ other plan.
No reading man in South Carolina oan deny
but tho first suggestion Of thus nominating can
didates in this State originated with The KEowEE
CoURIER, and this journal first discussed 1t as q
remedy for the general and we'll founded
objections to ring or delegate nominations.
Tho County Of Anderson held the first primary
election in point Of time but the system had
been discussed aud lost in this county two years
previous, the people not fully understanding it.
: In the next campaign our people adopted it,
though our election was on q later day than in
Anderson.
The subject is now being discussed oil over
the State and will doubtless prevail generally,
If not universally. With US primary elections
haye worked admirably and have cured the
evils complained Of under tho delegate system
!. Of making nominations. The plan by delegates
is Objectionable. 1t is not democratic Tho
mon 'necs aro almost always the choice of few
leadin. minds, or Of a combination formed by
The friends of two or three candidates, who
manipulate the local clubs and secure delegates
favorable to them. 1t became odous TO our poo
ple and to be nominated would have toen to be
defeated. It had about como to this pass, and
We cannot say without reason. In tue then and
in the now existing state of things nominations
wero essential to tho highest interests Of tho
people, and hencc tho primary plan was sug-
'gested and finally adopted. The plan is simple
and fair to all. It meets fully the idea Of
scrub raoc without danger 10 success, and then
OF nomination of aDemoorat with success.
The election under our regulations must afford
as fur an expression Of tho choice of the
Democracy as could be had at the regular cleo
tion conducted by low, and without danger to
tho good Of tho country. We encourage the
formation of as many clubs possible, thus
putting voting precinct within easy reach of
every citizen and securing the fullest expression
OF opinion This we regard important A
voting precinct in eaoh township will not
answer, as it is often too remote for many voters,
who have TO walk, to attend. In the eight
townships Of this county wo now have twcnty-
sseight clubs, and at our lost primary nearly two
Y thousand votes were cast, our full Democratic
strength.
Who can object to this plan? II is merely
Tial OF tho strength Of the candidates in the
Democratic party. All this party are permitted
+ TO vote. Mono but Radicals aro excluded from
'the.po,ls, for oil Democrats oan join tho clubs
anu vote The result among the Democratic
candidates is what 1t would hayo been at the
general election. They stand relatively as they
4 would have then stood, for the primary is held
only q short time before tho regular election,
that the canvass may bc thorough and tho yoto
be regarded as fixed. Tho benefit is this, that
Without tho primary all tho Democrats at the
regular election might have been defeated, while
the primary pits the strongest against tho
Radical candidate and prevents division of the
Democratic vote Have the candidates defeated
at tho primary cause to complaint They ought
rather to rejoice, for tho result shows they
would have been defeated any way, ana perhaps
also worked the defeat of other good Democrats.
Tho plan is q good one and should DO generally
adopted. It Is as follows:
Whereas, large majority Of the Democratic
Clubs Of Ooonee County hnvo decided in favor
& Of primary election as tho proper parr for
nominating candidates for the various Offices to
be filled by election in November next; md
whereas, large majority Of the delegates to tho
County Convention, held on tho fourth Saturday
:. In July last, under instructions from the local
y ciubs, ratified their action, and the voice of tho
county convention was mado unanimous there.
fore, be it
SC, Resolved 1st. That on election be hold at the
places hereinafter designated on Thursday, tho
& fifth day Of October, 1876, for the purpose OF
nominating candidates for the following offices
20 wit: Senator, two mombers Of tho House OF
Representatives, Clerk Of the Court, Sheriff,
Probate Judge, School Commissioner, Coroner
and three County Commissioners.
Resolved I'd, That no candidate shall be
voted for iu said election, and, IL voted for such
votes shall not be counted, unless such candidate
shall, at tho timo Of the election be mcmbe,
& Of sorno club in the county and pledge himself
& 10 support the nominees
" Resolved 3D.. That the candidate or candidates
TO the number eligible to any Of said offices, re-
coiyipg the highest number Of votes for such
office, shall be deemed ard declared tho Demo-
cra,io nominee or nominees, as tho caso may be-
y for such Office.
Resolved 4th. For the purpose Of holding
3 ouch election the various clubs shall meet at OF
near thoir regular place Of meeting and proceed
\ ID reteiveyotes for candid as proposed for
2S sho various Offices deSignased, tho club having
pyeyiously elected three members who shall aot