The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-04-24
From, the Greenuillc NcWs.

OF the campaign c0mmlttee, requesting
that the Democratic State Convention
should not be convened until late in
August, to which I replied that his letter
would be placed before the Executive
Committee at its first meeting, and at the
same time reminded him that the State
Convention was generally called about
the middle or last Of August for the pur-
pose of nominating candidates for Cover.
nor, Lieutenant Governor, &c, but tina,
the last convention was held on the 9Th
of September.
81 have been surprised ct the demands
to which you refer; however, and am
curious to know upon whom they will
be made. The avowed euthor Of the
platform is Captain Tillman, and it is a
singular fact that these demands Of its
third section are utterly impracticable
and unattainable. The first clause reads
as follows: eve demand the re-appor-
tionment of representation in the Dem.
ocratic Convention upon the basis of the
census Of 1880, and that it go into effect
this year" No other authority than the
State Executive Committee can issue 9
call for the Democratic Convention, and
it must be guided solely by the Constitu.
ton of the party, which directs as fol-
lows: "The State Convention shall be
composed of delegates from each County,
in the numerical proportion to which
that County is entitled in both branches
of the General Assembly" The commit
tee has no discretion whatever as to the
basis of representation, and it is surpris.
ing that gentleman aspiring to the
high Office of Governor should deliber-
ately make such demand, which
slight investigation shows can not be
complied with. I am in full sympathy
with the idea of re- pportionment when
it can be done lawfully, but the Legisla-
ture refused to change the basis and we
are bound to observe the law rs it is laid
down in the constitution of the party.
Any other course is demoraliziDg and
suicidal.
"The other demand of the third sec.
ton is as follows: We demand that the
delegates to the State Nominating Con-
vention shall be chosen by primary elec.
ton on the same day that the other
officers are nominated ; and that all the
counties shall hold these primaries on
the same day, to wit, the last Tuesday
in August of each election year:" 1t is
not clear whether the author of the plat
form meant that this portion shall 60
into effect at once, but presume it was
so intended. This demand is equally
unfortunate with the preceding clause.
There is no power to regulate the cleo
tion of delegates to the State Convention
and dictate the mode of their selection.
Certainly the State Executive Commits
tee has no authority in the premises, and
it has never attempted to exercise any
control of this matter. Each County is
entirely free to provide its own mode Of
choosing delegates 10 the State Conren-
tion, and this has been the case all the
while. No power can prevent any
County from electing its delegates by
primary, and it is equally true that no
power can compel any County to adopt
the primary for this purpose. The prop.
osition to hold primary elections for
delegates on the same day in all the
counties is altogether out of the question,
unless the counties agree thereto. It
would take considerable time to make
the agreement, for what would suit one
locality might prove inconyenient to
others. At any rate, the way is open for
any County to order this election of del
egates by the primary system whenever
it chooses, and the election will be valid
and unquestioned.
"How about what is termed the sGeor.
gia plan of candidates going before the
people Is there any way provided for
discussions, so that the voters will have
an opportunity of hearing from the as
pirants as to their views upon public
questions 2"
ssThe Georgia plan, as it is termed, is
not adapted to our condition, if [ under
stand it. The course pu,sued in some
counties of Georgia is to hold mass
meetings, which decide the choice of del.
egates to the State Convention, usually
without ballots, but always in the absence
of very many voters Two years ago we
had preliminary campaign in this State,
a mass meeting being held in each Con.
gressional district for the purpose of
hearing candidates for State Offices, but it
proved 80 unsatisfactory in many respects
that the State Convention repealed the
clause of the Constitution under which
these meetings were held, and adopted the
following: "The State Democratic Exec.
utiye Committee shall request each
county committee to call meeting in
their respective counties, to which all
candidates for State Offices shall be invi.
ted" In my judgment this will meet the
demand for free discussion of public
measures, and amply provide the oppor-
tunities for getting at the views of candi.
dates. But while this is true, and the
Democratic party has given abundant
proof of its willingness to arrange pre-
liminary campaign, we are to have the
singular condition of affairs in the pend
ing contest of q campaign committee ar.
ranging a schedule of appointments for a
single candidate, whereas, the purpose of
this arrangement was to hear from all the
candidates. 1t is obligatory upon the
Executive Committee 10 request these
meetings in all of the counties, and it is
left with the counties whether they will
be held. 1t seems to me that there will
likely arise conflict between the appoint.
ments of the Democratic party and the
arrangements of Captain Tillman's cam.
paign committee, while such conflict
ought to be avoided il possible. Assn
redly the authority of the Democratic par
ty cannot be made subservientt to any fac
ton, and so far as am concerned, [ will
urge most strenuously that the arrange.
ments of the party, as adopted by the
State Convention, shall take precedence
of all other plans for preliminary can.
vass of the State. OF course, Captain
Tillman or any other citizen has an un.
doubted right to make his own campaign
for any office, but allude to the possibil.
ity of conflicting arrangements by which
the authority Of the Democratic party
might be put into contempt, and in that
event it will be the duty of the State Elk.
cy of the party as against any faction.
Here lies one of the dangers resulting
from the construction Of "a wheel within
Wheel and it would be the wiser plan
if all parties would accept the provision
already made for preliminary campaign
instead of acting Independently. Every
occasion for friction ought to be avoided