The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-09-25

new clubs. He offered an amendment
covering the case: "That any count,
convention can permit the admission
OF new clubs by the vote of majority
OF the delegates" There was much
talk, and an effort was made to refer
the matter back to the committee
Klugh's amendment was then adopted
AN amendment, offered by Mr.. Ap
pelt, that the language "club lists a
the preceding primary" be substitu
ted for poll lists, was adopted.
The constitution was then adopted
as q whole as amended.
ADOPTION OF THE PLATFORM.
The next thing in order was con.
sideration of the majority and minori-
ty reports of the platform committee.
Mr.. Jervey said it became his duty
to present to this body the reasons for
offcring the minority report. He APP
peared as Democrat before Demo-
Gratis. He knew that there were diff
ferences between himself and many of
those before him. He admired man
who would express the views he was
entitled to. But the reasons he would
present were principles. Whether they
agreed with him or not, he thought
he was right. He would not say he
was Jeffersonian Democrat. The
word was frazzled. Pm Democrat,
say. The practical test of Democrat,
gentlemen of the jury. wild applause
and laughter.) The practical test was
man who agrees and subscribes to
the tenets announced by the party that
bears that name in the United States.
So far we are together with the two
platforms. But here we come to a
point where we do not continue to be
together. He then quoted the second
section OF the report, and said that a
man cannot stand higher than the
principles of the national Democracy.
Now, gentlemen of the jury, (laughtcr,)
the majority report endorses the plat
forms of the Democratic party in this
State, which were against the Demo-
cratic platform of the national party.
When they were adopted the minority
acceded. But now, when the time
comes again to set forth our principles,
we cannot feel that we can be silent on
what we consider perversion of those
principles. If we cannot and do not
agree upon a platfor how can we az
que as to the Democracy of q candidate
placed upon an nundemocratic platform?
One point more You will be surpris-
ed to hear me say come before YOU as
reformer. Laughter.) have been
areformer before tho days of '76. My
powers were given to assist in giving
this State mighty reform, which, l
hope, will fix forever white supremacy
and our principles. (Applause.) Speak
ing as a reformer, now we are seeking
other reforms. We were told there
were rings" and we got up in arms
to break them up. Now, what are
rings? Nobody seems to know. 1t is
not rings that are wrong, but the ad
vice of rings that is wrong. The ring
is nothing more than u leader and his
friends finally growing closer together
till all others are excluded. Have we
not rings now? Pm willing to meet all
on issues Of fact. Now, gentlemen of
the jury, Qaughter,) have not there
been evidences this summer of ring
Have not two-thirds of the white peo-
pie been kept till this moment from
having say in the selection of the
nominees ?
Mr.. Scruggs-Why have they?
Mr.. Jervey-That's just what [ want
to know.
Mr.. Scruggs-Why haven't they
voted? Simply because they didn't
choose to exercise the rights they had,
Mr.. Jervey replied that the primary
should have been open to all tho white
Democrats in the State. He said the
majority report was such an invasion
of the peoples rights that they could
not acquiese therein.
Mr.. j. Bolton Watson, of Anderson,
said he had hoped that tho platform
glad to know that Charleston had come
over to the Reformers and that w. ST.
Julien Icrvey, the accomplished solicit
tor, had come over and expressed him.
self Il Reformer. Great applausc.)
won't speak to you rs gentlemen of
the jury" I'm plain countryman-a
farmer" (Applause.) He told of how
the Conservatives in his county had
joined Reform clubs to help defeat
Evans, and what handshaking there
was. He wanted to extend the right
hand of fellowship to Charleston, Zap
plause) and welcome her into the Re
form fold. We've adopted the plat
forms Of 1890 and 1892. He speaks to
you as Democrats but there's little
Ocalaism: That was too much for
thcm. The question was should the
dog wag the TAIL or the tail wag the
dog? lApplause.) The platform they
had before them had been adopted be-
fore. They expected Charleston to
como with such complaint. 1t was now,
down ut the root, question as to
whether the majority should rule. |
admit that we have ring now-but its
has ever had-a ring with "hands all
around" We want to get all the white
people into 1T. 1t has driven men to
the front who have never before had
a say. In plain English, we want the
farmers to have q say. Pm not down
on professional men-they are neccs-
sary. That platform is in good faith
and we hold out the oliye branch to
the Conservatives. Let them come in
and let us have the lamb. Pm in favor
of bringing all the white people to-
gether and stopping all the chickering's
we have had in our State. (Cheers.)
DR.. Wyche said this was u serious
matter and he was pleased with the
, attention given the gentleman from
| Charleston. We have adopted q gem
eral direct primary today, in which
every man will have his say. If that
! is not Democracy, what is Democracy?
| We Democrats come here and we have
our opinions. | believe that the plat
form we will adopt represents the truo
Democracy, which is the interests of
the masses OF the people. Shall tho
people of South Carolina divide? Can't
we go into primary and let tho ma
| jOrity rule? He then said he wished
to correct the statement he had made
that Cleveland was not Democrat.
He meant to say that Cleyeland was
mot uemocrat all the way"
Mr. Fitasimons said he he had heard
that as he was in minority the views
and the views of those he represented
would not be allowed fair expression.
He did not believe it. He did not
| believe that q convention of South