The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1890-09-11
4 REYIEWOF THE C-IUSES


Calm and Clear Discussion and Logical
Conclusion.
Ncssrs. E1tcrs: 1t is certain that
the convention that met in the Court
House on August the 9th, was the
Democratic Convention.
1t is certain that the chairman OF
tile Democratic Convention, (then and
there and by every one acknowledged
to be the chairman of the Democratic
party of Fairfield County, aras COM
peliea 10 decide parliamentary qnes.
ton. 1t is certain that ne act of the
convention prior to the decision of
this question changed the chairman
ship, or altered the character Of the
convention as the Democratic Conven-
vention OF Fail fiald County.
1t follows, therefore, necessarily that
either that decision altered the charac-
ter of that convention, or that, it 1t
did not, that any persons Withdrawing
from that convention, withdrew from
| the Democratic Conccntion of Fairfield
County, and LETT M"t convention nn-
altered.
In order .ior that decision to alter
the character of tina. convention, it
must have impaired the rights of the
delegates as Democrats, beyond remedy
by the delegates in the convention,
necessi,ating action by them in sepa-
rate convention for the maintenance Of
such rights in their integrity.
What is the right that, it is claimed.
was imperilled By that decision?
The only right that it can be claimed
was inperilled was the right Of each
club 10 representation in proportion to
its membership, as pToeided for by Me
County Democratic Constitution.
The same constitution that provides
for this representation, provides that
''the Clubs in this county shall be held
together and shall operate under the
control of q County Executive Com
miltee."-AHT. ". One act of ''tne
control" thus vested in the Executive
Committee was provision that all
cluhs should file with the Secretary Of
the Executive Committee 8 roll Of its
membership, certain nnmbcFof days
prior 10 the assembling OF a conven-
lion (>uficient to enable the COM
mittee to ascertain the number OF dele
gates to which each club is entitled.)
This act was either within the scope
of the powers vested by tie consti-
tntion in the committee or beyond the
scope. Which was il? In all repre-
sentative governments, the con>tl-
tuition provides The ratio Of leprcsen-
talion, G. c. one representative 10 so
many people, and the method Of ascer-
tanning the number of people within
any given territory, thereby determin-
ing the number Of representatives to
which the pee pie in that territory are
entitled. The machinery for making
this numerical estimate is under COLI
troll Of the executive department.
Therefore the Executive Committee
+tir.its. -poW and in strict
accord with representative govern
ments. II being clearly then within
the scope of the committees powers, to
require the fling Of these rolls, to re-
view and, to the extent of its infor-
nation, correct them, we arrive at the
parliamentary question which the
chairman of the convention, before re-
ferred to, was compelled to decide, to
wit, was the temporary organization
of the convention to be made on the
basis of membership as ascertained
and declared by the committee? I'M
less the reasoning preceding this can
be shown unsound, | cannot see how
he could have acted otherwise than so
decide. This basis of organization is
not in conflict with committee on
credentials work, but preliminary to
il; this determines the number of dele
gates to which any club is entitled, the
other, the personnel of the delegation.
But, il will be objected. while the cen-
sus bureau furnishes the basis OF rep
resentation. its results are reviewed by
the respective bodies TO be affected by
the enumerations, and the reapporllon-
ments are ordered by the bodies them
selves. This is true, but the body
that passes on the enumeration and
rcapportienment is not that body
which skal! be-" but the old body before
there are any chanyes i'll the representa-.
ton, and in the absence Of such old
body, unchanged, can only he done by
the Executive Committee. Therefore
our constitution especially provides III
Article ": THE Cubs III this county
shall be held together and shall operate
under the control of Comfy EXecu-
tive Committee. And here the matter
might end. But III order TO meet any
further objections, there are three
methods by which the representation
of clubs might be determined, bv the
clubs simple s'aca.rnt, by 'he ENccu-
tive Committee, by the convention
itself. The acceptance If the clubs
own state mant is open to the objection
that in times Of excitement, IN" roll
might be enlarged by enrolment OF
ucgro,s not entitled TO join under
Democratic usagcS, or tals!fied, or
former members unvittingly retained
after their real membership had been
changed. The determination by the
convention itself is liable to the OBJ
lection, that clubs having a common
object could join forces, and on a COM
mittee, to pass on their representation,
mutually support each other, or hav'
ing the chairman in accord with them,
secure a comlDittee composed entirely
of the maioritl'S way of thinking.
All cfthese objections are met by leaV.
ing the determination il the hands of
the Executive Committee where each
club is represented equally, where
there is ample time and where the
bias Of parti$anship is most etfectually