Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-04-22
COUNTY NOMINATIONS.

Mr.. EDITOR: l have read with interest,
in the last two issues Of the ENQUIRER, the
communications of "Straight-Out" and "W.
T." on the subject of the proposed plan for
making nominations for York county in the
approaching canvass. am glad to perceive
an interest being manifested in this important
subject at this early day; and as your col.
umns'are open to full discussion of the sub,
ject, hope the advocates of either plan will
fully ventlate their views in the columns of
the ENQUIRER, SO that they may thereby be
disseminated among all the voters of the coun-
ty, and as the people read and reflect, they
will be more competent to act
While "Straight.Out" merely desired to
bring this subject before the people, think
he advocates, in latent way, the primary
plan; and "W. t." seems somewhat in doubt
as to which would be preferable. Latently
he evidently favors the convention mode, but
while he does not advocate the one, he is eau
tious not to denounce the other.
do not propose, in this brief commun;ca-
ton, to he equivocal. | will say in the ou'.
set that heartily advocate the primary sys
tern, and for the good of the Democratic par
ty and its success in the approaching and
future campaigns in York county, l hope it
may be adopted. The greatest fear that
"W. T." sees in the adoption of the primary
mode is what many thoughtful persons on
my side of the county think would be OBJ
waited entirely by that system; while they
think, should the convention plan be adhered
to, the identical result will follow, to wit
"a split in the Democratic ranks" 1t is
to preserve the unity desired by "W. T."
that the primary plan is advocated. True,
we have in our midst class of men who are
more or less contentious but the danger from
them would not be so great if defeated at
the primary ballot.box as if their aspira'
tions were thwarted by convention of dele.
gates. If defeated at the primaries, they
would need no further evidence of the futility
of persisting further if ignored by conven-
ton Of AZ delegates as against the Democratic
voters en- masse, they might be induced to
20 before the people as independents.
donot entirely agree with some, that the
wishes of the people can be properly reflected
in convention composed of delegates. The
delegates may be honest; their motives and
intentions may be pure; but . convention
composed of small body Of >men-some of
whom are unused to the wiles of the politi'
cian-is easily welded, and it not infrequent-
ly happens that the will Of few members,
though directly opposed to the wishes or inten
tions of majority, prevails, and the inno'
cent delegates come out of the convention
wondering how they had, even by implica-
ton, favored the successful nominations, made
apparently against the will Of the MAORI
ty of delegates, and certainly against the in
structions of the people. do not charge
that York Democratic Convention has ever
been thus manipulated; but that such wire
working has been done in county conventions
cannot be denied. What has been done in
one county may be done in another.
Free discussion iD Democratic clubs would
20 for nought if the delegates could not car
ry out their Instructions in the convention.
Free discussion in the clubs would only lead
to more ineligible and satisfactory action at
the primaries.
must confess do not see the force of the
remark of "W. IT," as applied to the fear
that should split occur by reason of the con-
vention plan, it would be confined to Demo-
cratic clubs and not to the entire county.
Probably the clubs constitute one halt the
voting strength Of the party. A "split"
among this number of voters would surely he
disastrous, unless the party is stronger than
am aware Of And speaking of the rela'
tive strength of the clubs, brings me to an i'm
portant point. There are, as have intima-
ted, large number of Democratic voters
who, for obvious reasons, do not or cannot
become members of the clubs Not that they
condemn that or any efectual mode Of organ.
ization; but it is Incompatible with their ideas,
and hence they fail to join, though their feal-
ty to the party is as strong as he who wears
a shirt of the deepest scarlet hue: These
men feel that they have right to be heard
in making selection OF candidates. l enter
tain the same opinion, and cheerfully accede
to them all the rights they claim. 60 fur
ther and confess that when deliberating in a
club meeting or riding in Democratic pro-
cession, have more than one time felt that
was enjoying privileges denied to Dem
ocratic citizens equally orthodox in the prin-
cipes Of the party as myself 1t is to thor
ougbly identify this respectable class of voters
with the Democratic party-that portion
forrring the clubs-that l advocate the pri-
mary system. Let clubs be organized. There
is no objection to them, inasmuch as itstrength-
ems the party to that extent !; but in the mean
time, with proper conditions and restrictions
hereafter to be provided, let all Democrats
be permitted to 60 to the primary box and ex.
nresa their Dreferenoe for the men of their
choice Then indeed will the Democracy of
York present an invircible front with solid
column, perfect organization and unity of