The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-29

81. Luke> June 25. iS!r3.
y. J.. 7. BEnt:>EArGH.
Secretary.
The members Of st. Luke Democra-
cratic Club ask space in your columns
to correct SOME nis-statement of facts
made under the caption 'Statenlent Of
Facts" in your issue Of the Sth inst
We would have refuted the charge that
we have acted 'unjust, uumauly, and
un9emocratic in the extreme" before
this time if there had been a meeting
Of our club. At this the first meeting
OF our club (which constitutes :; ma jor-
ity Of the Democrats of this comnuni-
ty) since the denouncing Of us we give
the facts in the case so that the public
may Judge whether we or the faction
making the charge have acted "uniust,
unmanly, and undemocratic in the ex-
trelne." The charge is a grave one to
be made against those who claim to be
| Just and manly and democratic
| The division in the club originated
It a meeting held July %, 1890. 1t was
explained that the meeting had been
called at the request Of the Tillman
Democratic party of Newberry County
tor the purpose of ascertaining the
choice Of the club for candidates
for the State Senate and the House Of
Representatives; that the members Of
the club in favor Of such plan are to
vote for the men of their choice, the
ballots to be taken to Newberry c. H.,
and tabulated with the votes for the
other Farmers Movement clubs, in the
county. The anti-Tillmanite members
and one or two others who claimed to
he Tillmanites were opposed to the club
taking any part in making such sug-
gestion, and wished to adjourn. They
| claimed that Democratic club has no
right to take such action; that a person
taking part IN such proceedings yields
up his manhood and ceases 20 be a free
citizen; that he is deprived of his right
OF suffrage. Those in favor of the plan
! held that there is nothing wrong
| in Democratic club taking such ac-
ton if the majority see fit; that there is
nothing undemocratic in local Demo-
cratic club making suggestions of can
didates: that any political organization
has the right, and that it is proper so
to do, t. take action which looks to the
accomplishment Of its aims and the
carrying Of the same into practical
operation SO long as it does so in a be-
coming manner; that the preliminary
primary" as it is termed, is 10 more
undemocratic than primary election,
as in the latter every voter does not get
his preference in the selection of Off
GERS; that those most loud in opposition
to the plan hold caucuses, constituted
of a "favored few" and still the effort
is made to nislead the Tillmanites in re-
gard to plan in which every Tillman-
ite has a voice if he chooses; that how in
the name Of common sense do the Till
NANTES cease to be free citizens by
taking this action when they do so of
have been defeated in politics so often
that they have learned if they wish
TO accomplish anything that they must
meet the thorough organization Of
their opponents with thorough organi-
zation; that the bitter denunciation of
the plan by the opponents of the Far
mers' Movement is proof that there is |
good results in it for the reform cause;
is there a reformer so stupid as to be
misled by his opponents?
An anti-Tillmanite moved to adjourn. |
The motion was tabled. Those who |
favored adjournment withdrew from
the meeting and few were so angered |
that they ordered their names erased |
from the club roll. Those that remained |
(the majority proceeded with the busi
ness before the CLUB.
a meeting of citizens of the commu-
nifty was held April 8, 1892, to reorga
nize the st. Luke's Democratic Club |
under the provisions of the new State
Constitution. When signing ofthe roll
had ceased and it was noticed that |
some in the meeting had not enrolled
the chairman stated that only those who
sign the club roll are rlembers, and in
vited all present TO enroll. The leader
of the seceders of two years ago then
said that he and others wished to know
before they would decide whether they
would join the club fthe club will take
any part in suggesting legislative
ticket as it did two Years ago; if the
club would promise to take no such
action be and the others present who
had not enrolled would do SO. He de-
nounced the action taken by our club
in suggesting candidates as undemo-
cratic, and that those who take part
yield up their manhood and cease TO
be free citizens.
One or two of those who had enrolled
saw no need Of bringing up the matter
of two years ago which had helped to
bring about a division in the club; that
it was strange proceeding for those
who had just enrolled without having
had any promises made to them to be
asked to make promises not to take
certain action before others would en-
roll that all should enroll on the same
conditions and then decide what &C.
tons the club woulo take. Those who
lad enrolled declined to consider such
a proposition-to say what actions the
club would or would not take. There
fore, the seceders refused to sign the
roll, and, consequently, were not en-
titled to take any part in the further
of the meeting.
The next meeting of the club was
held May Sth for the purpose of as
certainins the choice Of the club for
candidates for the General Assembly.
There was not very large turnout of
owing to the busy season
Of the year, some having sent their
ballots by others. Unexpectedly to the
most oftne members the seceders turned
out in full force. The members were
that those so bitterly opposed
to preliminary primary" should
come to u meeting that they must have
known was called solely for that pur-
pose. Thinking if the seceders got en-
rolled before the meeting adjourned
they would strenously oppose the husi
ness for which the members had as
Seubled, directly after the meeting had
been called to order while the seceders
were enrolling, motion was made to
adjourn and meet week later, which
carried. The seceders then organized
4 new club.
So much for the facts in the case
Now few words in regard to some
statements made by the seceders.
The reply of Senator Erty, Chair
man of the Stale Democratic Execu-
i've Committee, to a member of the
H.