The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-05-23
To Senator Irby.
Some Questions BY One Of Much Faith
IN the "Oryanization."

Some Questions BY One Of Much Faith
IN the Reorganization"
You are the chairman Of the State
Democratic executive committee, the
official head of the party. You have
been trusted with the duty of caring for
the party's welfare and enforcing its
rules. Il is part Of your business to
apply such measures as will prevent
persons Who are not Democrats from
taking part in party conventions aud
primaries. Ia it not also part of your
business as Official head of the party
10 demand that no man who is not a
Democrat shall be recognized as a eau
didate for any Democratic nomination !
We ask the question for information:
There Is much confusiou as to what
democrat is. Judge Haskell and his
friends who ignored the party nomi-
nations four years ago aid they were
Democrats. The Alliance voters and
candidaees who brought the Ocala
platform into the Democratic party
claimed that they were Democrats.
The one test heretofore universally &C
cepted has been that men shall act and
vote With the Democratic party. shall
support its nominees, recognize its ma
chinery and be governed by its rules.
By that test, if you remember, the
Haskellites, as they are called, were
regarded four years ago as being out
side Of the party and we're readmitted
only on pledge to support the nominees
and obey the rules.
Three prominent candidates for Gov
ernor Of this State-John Gary Evans.
W. D. Evans and W. 81. Ellerbe-have
been asked. the following question
Wi you pledge loyalty to the de-
mapds Of the Farmers Alliance and
Industrial Union above loyalty to par
tY cauea., and vote against any and
MI candidates who decline to commit
themselves to this extent :"
Each of the three has answered this
question plainly and publicly, Eyes"
What does that mean, Chairman
Irbyf
Il means that these citizens, asking
nomination of the Democratic party.
asking 10 be made its representative
and leader, pledge themselves to act
With the party only so far as they are
permitted to do so by an Organization
which is not connected with the party
and which is in several matters aud many
parts of the country in direct AID violent
opposition to it. Suppose a man should
90 before the people pledged to ignore
the party caucus aud to vote lndepen-
IDENTITY Of party platforms and nomina-
tons when required 20 do SO BY the
Republican party? Would you recognize
him as = valid Democratic candidate ?
The cases + precisely the same. It
may be argued that the Alliance AID
Industrial Union is like church
denomination or a secret society, the
rules Of which a mao would promise to
respect above party obligations. But
that will not fit Churches aud secret
societies are not IN politics and the
Alliance is. 1t has held its conven-
lions aud announced its platforms and
one of it's foundation doctrines is inde-
pendepce of party. You doubtless
know that in this State it has been held
that no obligation relieves a man from
the stain of independentism if he bolts
the party nominees. Yet here are the
three leading candidates for Governor
pledgiug themselves to bolt if the
nominees do not fit the ideas Of the
Alliance. They promise that they will
vote against every man who refuses to
take the pledge exacted of them 10
other words if some man should have
the courage to declare himself a Demo-
crat first, last and all the time, and to
saw that he would be bound in his poll
teal action by the decision OF party
caucus, primary or o veptioD. aud if
such a mau should receive the party
nomination, these candidates would vote
against him
Now, what do you propose to do about
it. az the official head Of the party
You and other leaders Of the Reform
faction in this State have claimed to be
stalwart, straight Democrats. Some OF
YOU have talked very boldly in time
mast against Third party people. Most
Of you are said by your friends to be
men Of nerve, Of inviucible courage.
The public has been told much of your
outspoken and manly utterances and
your uufaltering determination.
Now, here is the time for you to
show how much nerve and courage and
determioasion you have. Now is the
time for you to speak when your speak,
ing NAV mean something of danger and
trial for yourself. Have any OF you the
stuff in you !? Have you the grit to face