The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-13
4sRBINGER OF PEACE.
The State Democratic Executive Com
mittee Recommends an Oath OF Zeal
~, and that the Differences OF the
- Last Campaign be Ignored.
Especial toNews and Courier

Especial tOSNeWS aDG COuliel.I
COLUMBIA, January 5--The State
! Democratic executive committee met
tonight at so'clock.
The temper of the most prominent
delegates before the meeting was that
the committee had no prescriptive
right TO determine who could or could
not vote at an election Of the Democra-
tic party. The opinion was held that
the State Democratic Convention was
the political legislative department,
and that the committee is as much
bound by the laws of the Convention
as the individual voter. 1t was further
held that the question of the qualitlca-
ton of voters is matter to he settled
by each county convention, and III tne
frst instance by the various Democra-
&c clubs. For instance, at the coming
May conventions to elect delegates to a
convention to choose delegates to the
National Democratic Convention the
question can be settled as to whether
the delegates to such county conven-
tions were elected by "white Demo-
crats," this phrase being taken from
the State Constitution. The committee
on credentials at each county conven-
yention can determine from the club
rolls whether delegates were chosen in
accordance with this sole qualification
laid down in the State Constitution.
The committeeman whose opinions
are here given substantially were op-
posed to the committee assuming to
make or organize laws for the exclu-
sion of any class of voters. Their pre-
ference was in accordance with the
views expressed ty Senator Iroy as
chairman of the committee, which
were published in The News and Cou-
rier in December last, and in which
this whole question was first given to
the public. He then stated that be
was disposed to throw no obstacle in
the way of a consolidation of all the
Democrats in the State, with special
reference to those who voted against
the Tillman ticket in 1890.
The committee assembled at ll.45.
The result of it's action with reference
to voting qualifications for 1892 is con-
tanned in the following resolution,
which passed:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
committee that all white Democrats
who.shall first present themselves for
membership to any s6boFdinate Demo-
cratic club, or who shall offer to vote
at any primary election to be held by
the Democratic party, shall first take
the following oath: 'sThat he is
Democrat and will support the norni-
nee of the Democratic party nominated
at said election"
Resolved further, That all candidates
for any Office in the Democratic pri-
mary elections shall pledge themselves
to abide the result of the Democratic
primaries, the candidates for Slate Off
GERS to the State executive committee,
the candidates for county Offices to the
county executive committee respective
.ly.
And resolved further, That it is the
sense Of this committee that in the in
terest of peace and united Democracy
no Democrat shall be excluded in said
primary because of differences during
the last State election.
THE SUMTER CASE BEFORE THE COM
MITTEE.
The Sumter contest also came up
and was settled by the committee seat
ing Mr.. Il. R. Thomas, representing
that faction ofthe Democracy of which
Mr.. D. E. Keels is county chairman,
by vote of 20 to 5, the negative votes
being J. e. Haskell, Ira B. jones, of
Lancaster; O. G.. Jordan, of Aiken; D.
E. Finley, of York, and D. A. J. Sui
livan, of Charleston. The question was
disposed of by committee of rec,
consisting of J. W. Gray,of Greenville;
Neal, of Anderson, and J. D. Mont
gomery, of Marion.
The reporG was unanimous to the
effect that prior to the September Con-
yention Of 1890 there was no organiza-
ton of the Democracy of Sumter Coun-
ty; that subsequently, thereto the State
executive committee instructed P. P.
Gaillard to reorganize the county De-
mocracy, which instructions were dis
regarded by MIR. Ingraham's faction,
and on the other hand Mr.. Thomas
faction did attempt to comply with
the orders of the committee in that
they held meeting, ordered primary,
and nominated Mr.. Thomas as men,
Der of the State committee; that in the
primary 50 ordered it was developed
that the Thomas faction had majority
of the voters of the county. On these
grounds the sub-co:nmittee reported in
favor gThomas.
"a |s N argued his own case.
4 at the first convention
nothing was done other
3 delegates to the August
|Es Ess y.way of compromising
'as represented on that
y the election The Con-
ed. The next conven-
py Mr.. Gaillard, who
s bich convention Mr..