The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-08-04
THE DEMOCRACY.
IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE STATE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

B"rvstIyo Democracy nud Answered by
| dorsrd.
COLUMBIA, S. C., July 2S-The State
Democratic executive committee held
an important meeting in this city last
night In the hall Of the House of Repre-
sentatlves. All the counties were rep
resented except Williamsburg On
motion the newspaper reporters were
excluded.
The following communication was
| read:
COLUMBIA, July 26, 1892
| Hon. j. l.. NJ. lrby, Chairman, and mem-
herS OF the State Democratic Executive
COMMITTEES of South Carolina:
| MISUNDERSTANDING received notice of
your meeting to be held this evening, tho
executive committee Of the Conservative
| Delnacracy Of South Carolina has appoint
ed the undersigned as a committoe to pre-
sent, IN writing, for the consideration of
your committee. the following questions,
winch have evoked discussion, and con
ccrhmg which different constructions have
oeen announced in different parts OF the
safe. In the interest OF fair primary
eiect!on, we respectfully request an cX-
piiclt dec laratlon on each Of tho points
submitted, and that, when your conclu-
nlcatc tue same to us, as we desire to con-
form to the requirements Of the conStitu-
tutlon OF tho Democratic party of the
; State, and we recognize your committee as
thc executive body of the party under tho
said constitution.
First. Are avowed Third party men to
DC permitted to vote at the Democratic
primaries III August, when delegates are to
bc elected to the September convention,
whlch Will nominate the Democratic ticket
lor freSidentlal electors for South Carroll
ma, as we'll as the Democratic ticket for
State officers?
IN regard to this matter we respectfully
submit that there are now in the field can
didatcs for President and Vice President.
nominated by the Third party, calling it.
q platform of principles at variance with
the platform of the National Democratic
party adopted at Chicago last month And
. We call your attention, with regret, that
various individuals, some of them candi.
dates for nomination by the Democratic
party. have openly declared themselves in
accord with doctrines of the Third partS
and opposed 10 the National Democratic
platform in those particulars in which 4
2 c0ntrovcrts the doctrines Of the Thir(
party; and we cannot see how such mel
can be permitted to participate in the Dem
ocratic primaries unless they explicitly re
nouncc their Third party views and declar
j their adherence 20 the platform and candi
J dates of the National Democratic party.
4 Second. Arc unenrollcd Democrats en-
r. titled to vote at the Democratic prima
II rieS?
Il In regard to this we are informed relIa
= bly, that some counties have adopted a rul
It closing the Tolls five d"yS before tho prima
|. ry or at the last regular Clnb meeting be
;. fore the primary; while in others no sucl
I action has been taken, and the rolls, there
- lore remain open for the addition of name
on the day of the primary of Democrat
not previously enrolled.
e 1he State Democratic Constitution de
y oiarcs that the club rolls of the party
: shall constitute the registry list" at tho Au
0 gust q primary: VIII the county regulations
IN TINS matter, each county for itself. II
the aDsense OF general rule, be recosniZ
Ell as legitimate in this election?
ANY reasonable rule, well understood
and promulgated, by which every facility
Is Afforded to Democrats ~ vote, aud which
Mt the same time, sufficiently protects the
primary from repeating and from the par.
ticipation Of those who are not Democrats
seems TO us to meet the requirements in
this matter.
Upon the remaining questions, we sim
ply request your announcement of opinion,
so that uniformity OF action oyer the State
may be secured
, Third, Is Democrat entitled to vote
, elsewhere than where he is enrolled?
Fourth. Must a Democrat be register
ed voter, under the registration laws of the
State, in order to be entitled to vote at the
August primary:
Fifth. Rule 9, adopted by your commit
tee, states that "a majority OF the votes
cast Shall be nee 'SSary to nominate candi-
dates. and to elect delegates to the State
conVention.' We are informed that at 4
primary heretofore held a serious question
arose VIII thcr candidate, who had ma
> Jority over competitors for tho same Office,
was nominated because he did not have a
majority of the entire poll list. some of the
voters having omittch to vote for the Office
in question. We respectfully ask your
committee to state whether Il candidate
, having majority Of all the votes cast for
the position for which he 'nlGcrS, is thereby
nominated; or whether it is necessary for
him to have majority Of the ontirc pOil
' lists though some voters cast no vote for
= him or his opponents for the same position?
Upon these questions, we do not desire
to consume the time of your cOmmittee @
: with argument, unless it is your wish to
, Fear us further upon them, In the latter
, event the undersigned will be at the Hotel
, Jerome this evening during tho session OF
your committee, where any communica-
ton will reach them.
| We respectfully request a reply upon
the matters suggested, and inf0rma' ion on
any other points decided at your meeting,
relating to the primary election, to bo ad.
dressed to samuel Dibblc, Chairman,
Orangcburg. S. G."
Respectfully yours,
SAMUEL DlBBLE. Chairman,
&. L. QUhTrLEBAUM,
AARON CANHON.
DR.. LOwman, of Orangeburg, moved
that 1t be received as Information.
MIR. I'elliDger suggested that it be re-
ferred to committee of the whole for
consideration and answer. Carried.
Upon motion the questions asked in
the letter were taken up seriatim. The
vaI ious questions involved were hOtly
discussed, and consumed much time.
In reply to the first questions asked
it was decided to refer the Conservative
committee to Rule 1 of the "rules gov
ernlng the primary election" as here
amended, to read as follows: "rhe
managers at the primary 81 ,ction shall
require every voter in a primary cleo.
ton to pledge himself to abide the re.
suit of the primary, and to support the
nominees OF the party, and require
every voter in IA Democratic primary
election to take the following oath: 81
} do solemnly swear that | am qualified