The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-01
The State Convention.


Committee for a convention in June
has evoked considerable discussion.
Among the exchanges received at this
Office thus far, the Ners und Courtey,
the Darnwell People and the Kcrshaw
G"zcfte favor a nomination of State
officers in June. The papers in tho
upper section of the State, SO far as
heard from, oppose tho measure, the
Objection generally being that tho
campaign would be too long and cx-
pensiVc, and the nominations Drcma-
ture, us being made in advance of the
National platform.
1t ls matter OF regret that some Of
the papers have been Incorporate in
their remarks. The Edgefield Advey-
user si'Sinatizcs the call as without
prccrdcut, and perhaps usurpaton
ana abuse Ut power not delegated to
the Committee. The call is, in our
opinion, poorly supported by prccc-
uent' Out we cannot see how it is q
usurpation Of power. The Committee
Is entrusted with the duty Of calling Il
convention, and. as the constitution is
silent On the point it would have q
RIGHT to open the campaign on the first
Ol january it it should sec fit 10 do SO.
or the right we think there can be no
question. The cxpcdicncv is differ
ent thing Again, The Abbc,illc
ANediHm holds the untcnablc pos;iion
;nat convention should not be called
without the unanimous consent of
every member of the State Committee.
lie very "August Convention" OF
1915 Itself, was not tic unanimous
Judgment Of the State COMMITTEES. or
thirteen members seven constitute i
quorum, under ordinary parlia,unnta-
rF rules, and of these, four can give
any measure tho same binding l.,.l
force rs the whole thirteen. Iha mn.al
force is different thing, and is iii.
vowed IN the question Of cXpcdicncy.
The Mcdiun, predicts that June
Convention would be followed by Il
second convention to set ,p another
ticket. AS this would DC bat a th!n!,
disguised independent movement we
Will not discuss il rs possible Demo
cratic measure.
On the other hand, the .Ncms ond
Con'ter Is unfortunate in applying tic
cpithcts "hystcrical" and "habitual
rcvilcrs" to some Of those who dcprc-
cate the action Of the Stale Committee.
lnstcnd oflretlxing tho vague spccifi-
cation "somc", it should havc indicat-
ed moro clearly those to whom lis
structures apply. No good can posi-
bly, como of heated words in the pres
cnt emergency. The State Committee
has gotten the party into what promis-
os to be Very unpleasant, if not dan
gerous, snarl, and the utmost patience
and forbearancc arc requisite to suc-
cessful bridging Of the chasm. -,
While not denying tho Committcc
the right to make ,phe call, we must en-
/Pless the belief that it was grave
blundcr. We have carefully consider
ed the arguments Of tho advocates of
tho measure, and they have no:
changed our opinion in the least.
AS to precedent, the example Of the
State of Illinois is cited during the
present year. Unfortunately the
Democrats have not carried Illinois in
an age, and have no expectations Of
doing so In All age to come. 1t mat
ters not how their nomination is made.
But we venture to say that tho nolni-
nation of State ticket by dominant
party, or even in doubtful State, in
advance of the Presidential nomina-
ton Is without any respectable prccc-
dent. South Carolina is the last place
In the world to Introduce an innova-
ton. The -NeicS and Courier in an
swcr to the objection that the masses
have not considered the question of
candidates, assumes that man who
Is waiting to como out in July would
be defeated in August as well as in
June. This is a violent supposition in
these days of dark horses. The pco-
pie sometimes get tired Of standing
candidate and go with rush for a
new man. Again, the NcWS 0nd
~o"''Sf SFpN' uSoutucS tluC Lie
sovcrnorship is the only Office in ques-
tion. While this race has pretty gen
orally settled down to two men, the
other offices have not been mentioned.
as has been well said, now issues NAV
spring up in the campaign requiring
different candidates. Had The MAY
Convention in 1876 nominated Il cantii-
date for governor, who would have
been the man2 Such an upleaval is
not likely to occur this year, but it is
safer to take no risks, especially as an
early nomination is SO utterly uncallcd
for. 1t is q strange fact, that as Car as
we know, no one has yet told the pub
lie why the nomination should be
made IN June. The argumcn; used is
(. that cit will do no HARM" which puts
the measure OH the defensive at tho
very beginning.