The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-21
AFTER THE CONVENTION.
How the Action of the Convention 'P
pears to One Who Saw it ln'ousn
The Need of the Hour.
Editorial Correspondence

SALEM VA, August lN-1 s>'" ''-1N
heard the late South Carolina Demo-
cratic State Convention from begin
oino to end. left Columbia the day
it adjourned and came here. l nave
NOT seen a South Carolina paper since,
nor a South Caroliuian with whom 10
talk over the situation. I have not
hoard what action was taken by those
6e,eaates who withdrew, although l
understood they were to hold confer
ence on Thursday and issuean ADDRESS
T think I was an impartial, though IN
terested spectator of the proceedings OF
the Convention. Interested as all South
Carolinians ought to be interested, 10
the extent that home rule, honest
government, and white supremacy
should prevail in South Carolina. 10
nv mind, the situation IS one that ce-
serves serious consideration, and &
patriotism that can rise above petty
faction and personal success. WHAT
has developed since l left | 90 not
know, and it would not help the pur-
nose I have in view in this article 10
know.
Now a few words as to the Conven-
ton itself. suppose The Herald and
News i'll contain this week the glst OF
what was done, and I will do no more
than a'lude to it.
For convenience l will designate the
two factions in the Convention Till
man and anti-Tillman. There can De
no question that the Tillmanites had
largely the majority. They carried
thirty out of the thirty-fire counties
with solid delegations, and from one
other county they had half the dele
gates. giving them PSI out OF the 52o
delegates in the Convention, leaving
the minority only 50 delegates.
This fact so large majority thre"
upon the Tillmanites Il reSponslolllty
which they should have appreciated.
They threw aside the custom hereto
fore prevailing of permitting the CHAIR
man to name the temporary president
of the Convention. This they had a
perfect legal right to do under the con-
stitution, and it seems to me it would
have been better for Chairman Hoyt
simply to have called the Convention
to order and permitted it to have
selected its own temporary officers, for
this the Tillnanites had determined
upon anyway. They were determined
to have everything or nothing, as one
of the delegates said on the floor. l do
not think it was wise in the Tillmanltes
to trv in this way and others to aggra-
vate the minority, but l have no COM
plant to lodge on this score.
The committee on credentials deter
mined to throw out the Bratton dele
gates from Fairfield. From what L
could gather from the evidence and the
speeches, I think the Bratton delegates
ought to have been given their seats,
but the Convention thought otherwise.
Mr.. Douglas, of Fairfield, made an
eloquent speech for his side. A lot OF
time was consumed in these matters,
which was unnecessary so far as result
was concerned; yet, I like to see men
contend for principle, and although
they know the majority is against
them.
That was very unfortunate occur
renee between DR.. Pope, of Newoerry,
and Maj. Woodward, of Fairfield, ana
it would have been great deal better
if Mai. Woodward would not have said
what he did. I desire to say here that
in my opinion DR.. Pope was making a
fair and temperate statement Of the
case from his standpoint, and the IN
terruption Of Maj. Woodward was
alto gether out Of place, and uncalled
for. know that DR.. Pope is enthusi-
astic, and deeply in earnest, and from
my way of looking at the situation not
always right. but l believe he is
thoroughly honest, and I know he is
incapable of wilfully misstating the
facts.
After these contests were settled the
permanent organization was effected.
It was then late at night, but the dele
gates were determined to finish the
work before adjournment was had.
The Convention was called for the
sole purpose of deciding the question
of primary, but that seemed to be of
minor Importance.
The committee on resolutions re-
ported new constitution. This is what
stirred matters to the highest pitch.
Here is where the Tillmanites made q
mistake. If they had not insisted upon
the adoption of this constitution, the
anti-Tillmanites could not have found
the slightest preteXt upon which to
hang an excuse to withdraw, except
that they were in the minority. And
now I ask what wisdom was there in
forcing the adoption of this constitu-
ton: What good can they expect to
accomplish by it: They might have
proposed it, and had it printed SO that
the people could see what it contains,
and given notice that they would adopt
it at the next State Convention. That
seems to me would have been the wise
course. \ constitution should be a
very important document, and should
not be hurriedly adopted.
They had 4 perfect legal right to elect
4 new executive committee, alth&roh
do not think it wise to have done so.
The minority has withdrawn. What
will be the effect of this can't say. l
do not think they ought to have with
drawn under any circumstances. They