The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-03-04
PRIMARY ELECTIONS.
How They are Conducted-The Desire for
Change General.

PRIMARY ELECTIONS.
How They are Conducted-The Desire for
nChanse General.
Editor Times and Democrat:
In YOUR issue of Feb. 18, is commu-
nication from East Goodland Swamp, in
which the, writer seems to condemn
the primary system of nominating
candidates. ... ID. ~
AS the primary method has never
been tried in this county it may not be
generally understood by the voters, and
as no question can be intelligently and
proftably discussed before its funda-
mental principles are understood, we
will attempt a synopsis of what the
primary plan really means. "
The first step is for the County Exc
cutive committee to call a convention,
composed of the usual number of dele
gates from. each club, or double that
number if preferred; for the purpose Of
deciding whether the primary or con-
vention plan of making nominations
shall be adopted. The call should state
this distinctly as the object of the
meeting, in order that the matter may
he fully before the people and argu-
ment heard both ways. Then it is op-
tional with each club whether its
delegates are sent with instructions for
or against primary or 60 nninstructed.
If this convention decides in favor
of the primary plan, there is yet one
other question, which variety of the
primary plan, majority or plurality,
will be used, and a short explanation
of each may not be out Of place. But
before explaining further we will re-
mark that either the majority or plu-
rality plan gives every patriotic DEM
ocrat of Orangeburg, who is eligible to
Office, chance to offer his services to
his county. Whether the citizens are
appreciative enough to accept his ser
vices or not, the test of the primary
will prove.
With the majority plan the various
candidates announce themselves. 4 rea-
sonable time is given them in which to
canvass the county, then an election is
held. The two for each office getting
the highest number Of votes respective
ly are required to run the race again,
all the other names being dropped. OF
course if any candidate gets majority
of all the votes cast at the first election
he is declared nominated, and need not
be voted for in the next election. '~
The plurality plan requires that the
candidate for each Office receiving.tG
most votes shall be declared the nollii-
nee, and only one election is held.
Such details rs the pledges required
of the candidates, who shall be allowed
to vote, the time and place Of voting,
rules governing the election, managers
and their appointment, may be decided
by the same convention which decides
the question Of the primary, or may be
left to the County Executive Commit
tee. Each Of these primary plans has
its advantages, and both may be open
to criticism. The majority plan results
in having the candidate the choice Of
more than half Of the Democratic
voters Of the county, while with the
plurality plan Il full set Of candidates
might be nominated by one or two
strong voting precincts combining on
Il SLATE" just on the eve of election, too
late for districts more remote to learn
of and checkmate the move. On the
other hand the majority plan is more
tedious. requiring two elections, the
candidates longer before the people,
thus prolonging the political excite
ment; while the plurality plan is SIM
pie, only one election being required.
Either plan judiciously carried out will
procure Il tolerably wcll-dclncd choice
of the people, and presumably stop the
can't about a ring" etc.
We do not express Ill opinion rs to
whether there is such Il thing as a
political ring in Orangcburg County,
but. the primary will give the gen
tlcmcn accused Of being in Il ring, Il
splendid chance to prove their popu-
larity with the people. Wchavcta talked
with representative men from various
sections of the county, and the desire
for change in our method Of making
nominations seems general.
The objections urged by your Good
land Swamp correspondent seem to us
rather an abuse Of the system than Il
fault in T.! system. II the convention
plan is retained there is nothing to
hinder "theSe slick-tongucd candidates"
from stopping "the plowman" as effect
ually as the candidate before the pri-
mary; with this additional considera-
tion that candidates before the con-
vention have only to manipulate the
various clubs, and this is done through
Il few leaders, with each one of whom
he can spare the time to talk half a
day" even though he does not "pass the
bottle round" With the primary plan
he has SO many to see he cannot spare
much time to annoy any particular
one, even ut church. We hope to see
the matter fully discussed in your pa
per. Very truly,
INDEX.
Orangcburg, S. c., Feb. 9th 1886.
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