The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-07-28
DIBBLE TO IRBY.
A Letter In Reply to Ono Published Last
Week,

Hon. John J.. M. Irby, Chairman St ato
Democratic Committee of South Caro-
lima, Washington, d. e.
SIK--I read in newspa per on Satur-
lay, and have sin ce received your letter
Of 18th inst, in reply to my commuuica-
ton OF 4th inst, in which requested,
In behalf of the Conservative Demo-
cracy, that the State Democratic Com
mittcn take into consideration, and ex-
phcltly declare, what is to be done at
the August primary in regard to Third
party men who offer TO vote, and whether
enrolment in a Democratic club is
necessary to entitle one TO vote. stated
that you had been reported in the press,
in favor of allowing Third party men to
vote, and in favor of allowing Demo.
Gratis not enrolled to vote; and that your
published views had evoked discussion,
and that opinions differed as to their
correctness; adding that il was necessary
to a lair election that all doubts should
be set at rest on these important points
by the State Democratic commltte tee ut
its next meeting, when we desire to sub.
NIT our views, as the representatives of
our wing OF the Democracy of the State.
In your reply you state that you
know ofno- Third party in South Caro-.
llna," and that you therefore conclude
that any white man, know TO be Demo.
crat, who takes the obligation at the
time he votes al the primary election,
Will, and ought to, be permitted to vote,
whether he has hitherto favored & Third
party, or has been an Independent Has
kelllte, or now favors Prohibition, Wo-
mans Suffrage, or otherwise. You add
that the State Democratic Committee
will meet Tuesday, the Goth INST, to
consider this and other questions.
| The obligation taken by tue voter
does not settle the question, for i, is
prescribed by the rules of the party in
the following from: ''I do solemnly
swear that | am duly qualified to vote
at this election according TO the rules of
the Democratic party, and that have
not voted before at this election"
am surprised to learn that you
"know Of no Third party in South Caro-
lina," in view Of your predictions at
Chicago that Cleveland would not carry
South Carolina; and the only logical
conclusion from y0ur.utterunccs. IS that
you expect the Republicans to carry
South Carolina for Harrison. This can
not happen, unless white men desert
the Democratic party for the Third party
or for the Republican party. Should
such men be allowed recognition as
Democrats, and participate in the pri-
mary to elect delegates to the Scptmber
convention, which is to nominate the
Democratic electors?
L do not wish to be misunderstood
here. The doors of the Democratic
party-the party Of the people-are ever
open Tor accessons from the people of
those who may have been connected
with Other parties; but they should rem
der full allegiance to its platform and its
candidates. A supporter Of Weaver,
the OLD Greenback palty's candidate for
President, and now the Third party's
candidate, on substantially the old
| Greenback platform, cannot be a Demo-
crat at the same time; and if not a
Democrat, should not participate in our
primaries.
AS to the matter Of enrolment, the
State Dem ocratic constitution declares
that "thc club rolls OF the party shall
constitute the reg istry list, and shall be
open to inspection by any member Of
the party, and the election under this
|clause q. e. the August primary shall
be held and regulated under the acL.n
etc. The rules adopted by the State
committee contains the expressions,
capitalization for membe rshlp in any
subordinate club Of the Democratic par.
tY OF this State, or ior voting at any
Democratic primary, shall be as fol-
lO"s:' ETC.. and enrolment is not men,
toned as one Of the qualifications. You
are no dubt aware that these clauses ara
constructed differently III different coun-
ties, and this is sufficient reason for a
more explicit declaration from the State
committee.
You also state that the ''Queston of
appointing more than three managers to
conduct the primary election" will ali
be considered at the meeting of the
State Democratic Committee, and [ have
no doubt that it will be considered in
that fair and impartial spirit. which be-
longs appropriately to the body, which
is the executive organ of the entire
Democracy OF the State, and not OF any
particular wing or faction.
In the conclusion OF your letter, you
have made-permit me TO state an
illogical distinction. You consider that
only Democrats who are aggrieved, or
who represent grievencc, should have
audience Ofthe State Democratic Com
mlttee. You also assert that the State
Democratic Committee is competent to
exercise lts delicate and lmpartant func-
tions ''without interference or sugges-
ton from any one;" and add, 1--WE are
not disposed to convert the State DEM
cratic Executive Committee into de-
batting society for questions Of imaginary
grievances"
This pretenson of exclusiveness and
lnfallibillity would ordinarily be remark
able as the utterance ola dc nOcrat;
but this is "record. breaking" time. /
call your attention to the fact that the
matters in question arise from some of
YOUR personal utterances in the capacity
OF Chairman, and can hardly i'm agiue
that you assert for yourself the right to
commit the State u ,mocratic Commit
tee TO the position you have Indicated,