The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-04-23
Wednesday, April %. 1890.
The Democratic Campaign.

The interview with Colonel Hoyt, Chairman
y, tho Stote Executive Committee, will be
read with interest.
From that interview 1t will he seen that the
Executive Committee do not intend 10 ieho
their influence 10 the correcting OF any Vi '''
evils of which number OF our people nave
complained for years.
The basis of representation In ooIh Tie Leg
islature and the nominating convention does
not give satisfaction. 1t is an undlsputed lacl
Ii, Charleston holds several seats in the Leg
islature to which she is not entitled. Inc
holding Of these seats to which that CITY Is
not entitled, gives her the advantage OF TWICE
as many unlawful seats In the Nominating
Convention.
On former occasions the Press and Banner
and others have protested against giving '"'s
unfair advantage to Charleston, ana we NAVY
remarked on the fact that our own men anu
brethren would take such an advantage oi US
even admitting that the country ueles"tes
lacked selfrespect enough to demand equ''l
representation in 10th the Legislature anu
the nominating convention.
When a primary was asked the same old
stereotyped reply has always met us, and now
meets US, "the Constitution"
Well, now, we propose that the Democratic
party hold a political Convention, to
learn the will of the people. We know that
the executive committee must aolde oy the
law. but we submit that 1t is partisan for the
chairman of that committee TO argue the
question. 1t is the duty OF that committee u
obey the will OF the people as found IN the
Constitution, but it is also their duty to thro"
no obstacle in the way Of the people II they
seek to change that Constitution.
The State Executive Committee are
not responsible for the Constitution, ana thes
should not use their official station to fores'ai
or head off any desired change In that uocu
,nent. If the people are tired OF giving
Charleston excessive representation, IL IS 'ne
dutv of the committee to listen to their ap'
neaIs as they would receive information Oh
any other subject which might meet tne per
sonal views of tue members of that commit
tee. , /. :;
II the people want primary elections IL Is
the duty of the executive committee 10 recoe'
nize their wish, as may be expressed IN Inc
constitution. Any argument that the same
day would not suit all the people oi the state
Is mere suggestions which the com
,,it,ee has no official right to make. a full
and complete answer to the dictum OF the
committee lies in the fact that the state eiec-
,ion is held in every county on the same day.
But, suppose that the State election was he''
,n eyery county on any separate day That inc
authorities might select. That would nave
nothing to do with the executive committee.
They must execute the law as they fnd IT,
Not 9 they may think IL should, or should
not, be.
It would lave been fair, for the chairman
Of the executive committee to hear sugees-
tions from even the smallest minority, and II
is right for him to ascertain any one OF the
hundred facts that may be Of interest 10 the
party. Then, as q matter of fair dealing we
think such facts and appeals might I've, IN
some way, communicated to the Stale Con-
yention with such recommendations as may
be de med advisable The Convention can
then do as 1t pleases. That body Is supreme,
or infallible, If you will.
But we hope the public may be saved any
further lnfiiction of argument from the exec
utive committee. Their duty is prescribed
and the law IS plain. The argument ol the
questions OF primaries, and The day OF elec-
tion are matters foreign to any duty OF the eN'
ecutive committee, and, any other mans
opinion Is worth just as much us that OF Tile
committee.