The Greenville times., 1891-06-20

xisting rule of representation. r T
.Tidence the truth Of tais @ssertion T
he following resolutori are produced .
herewith;
.sn0prFD By COUNTY NOMISAIING
coSvENIIoS 1891
aResolved, That the present basis Of
for delegates TO tho
Democratic District Conventions 20
wit the registered vote, be changed
and that hereafter the basis Of repre-
,entati0n shall be the polls as Shove
BY the assessors rolls, the numbe. Of
delegates 10 bc fixed by the Executive |
Committee"
That the Executive Committee there
after acted under the above is shown
BY the following order calling the con-
veution Of 1890;
aIn obedience to the resolution Of the
last Democratic County Convention TO
scale the representation in future con-
ventioRs by the number of polls re-
ported by the assessor in each Super
Yisvr's District, the Committee appor-
toned, on motion, that each District
shall be entitled to one delegate for
each $50 polls, and for each fraction of
rs or over, to one additional delegate,
in the County Convention, which ell
titles the different Districts to the fol-
lowing representation in the Conven-
ton:
First District, Delegates; Second
District, 8 Delegates; Third District,
ls Delegates; Fourth District, IA Del
egates; Fifth District, 8 Delegates {;
total So Delegates
As to the absurd charge Of changing
the district boundaries-these are fixed
by law.
AS 10 the action being unprecedent-
ed and undemocratic, if ii is undemo-
cratic to make it easier for all Demo-
Gratis to participate in conventions,
then the charge is well founded; pre-
cedent for such precinct conventions
and for the change ordered by the
committee, is to be found rs above
shown, in our own county, aud such
conventions are common all over the
State.
II Is charged that the committee
disregardcd the expressed will OF the
majority have stated, upon
abundant proof, how these petitions
originatcd-all arc aware how
easily and carelcssly the average
man signs his name. But however
authoritative is tho popular will when
fairly appealed to and deliberately ex'
pressed, petitions hurriedly circulated
by irresponsible or interested persons,
are not mandatory over propositions
of plain and unquestioned merit and
justice.
1t IL said with great earnestnoss that
this change is surprise. A surprise
to whom? TO the Democratic voters
They will assuredly have ample notice
of the place at which they are to as
senble and less Inconvenience than
usual in reaching it. 10 the candi'
dates Even admitting that conyen'
tions are held not for the conveuiencC
of the people, but solely for the bene'
fit of aspirants for office, tho conyen
ton was called for day then nearly
i 8 weeks distant; the most surprised
candidate has ample time for rccove
and a thorough canvass of the count,
aud, of the candidates who had made
a canvass, probably all were surprised
alike. If the change had been mad'
at any time within the last year woult
Il have been less unfair Would th,
boundaries of the precincts have beef
different, or could a different basi
of representation have been adopte,
then that fixed by the convention
Would a six months canvass directc'
TO particular precincts have been NOR
effective than one of three weeks? Th
answer to all these questions is self
evident. The facts making the divis
ion distasteful would have existed a
any time or on any notice as they d
to-day. If tho division is right an'
proper-the true questionable inter
ests and conveninco of the peopl
would be suborlinated to that of th
candidates, whom 1t is said will, in
cidentally, be injured.
As TO the 2nd change proposed, IL
wit: to allow each voter TO vote 10
his choice for each Office, the delega
ton to be instructed for the candidate
receiving the highest number of vote
In each This will be seen to be
modified primary designed TO let eac
candidate have fair test of ii
strength in each precinct, receisin
, the vote of that precinct if the rnajoril
of the people favor him, aud TO prevci
practice which has been much con
, planned of, to-wit forcing the peopl
: to vote for delegation because the
| happened to favor some particula
candidate, and depriying them OF III
a opportunity of expressing their prefe
: ence for other candidates, the delcgi
! tion being manipulated in the intcre
q of the strongest candidate. This sysleI
: seems especially desirable at this tim
4 because, owing to the numbers of cal
/ didates and great variety of prcfe
+ ences, no delegation could be chose
in any District who would cast the vo
, of the District for the various cand
!, dates who were entitled TO it accor,
!, ing to the popularity In the Distric
, This change the committee only recon
!, = mended, not making it all absolu
Z order because a member of the cor
, mittee, Major W. ID. Ferns, and
4 prominent candidate, Hon. j. Nj. Jayn
purporting to voice the sentiments
n their respective Districts, stated that
! would not be observed. The fairne
! and justice of the plan are too plain
- need demonstration, 1t being thoug
n preferable, especially by the count
"a members, to the straight primary, /
a cause 1t preserves the represent
r ton of the country Districts, VIII
:, the others would give the control
nj the comfy to Grceuville, which wou
"a always insure US the jcalour and d
"A satisfaction of the country. Morrow
,s as to straight primary such wou
re have involved change in the BAi
w Of precinct representation-which
committee had no right to order.
as There Is one charge that has be
ID made against both plans which cann
"a be denied that is that they do 1
re favor combinations and swaps amo
"a the candidates. Whether the CONN