The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-08-08

Oy aOJOluluR cluoS getttnS toke'he' -""0 WV
pairing lists. Speaking for Sumter, he WAS sure
that the entire club was willing to 60 into
this arrangement With the other clubs in this
township. All the other clubs have 10 DO Is
to agree to bring in their rolls. Sumter club
is ready and invites the most searching inses-
tigatios. IF we have pames on our list that
We are not entitled to We want to ktow it,
for we dent want them.
Mr. Thomas said that the proposition to
have neighboring clubs meet and purge rolls
suited him.
Col. Graham changed the subject of dis
cass,on somewhat ty asking whether the
Convention had the right TO adjourn. He did
not think that it had the right TO do so with
out having perfected the organization. AS to
purging the rolls, it must be done by agree
ment.
Mr. Commander moved that the Convention
adjourn.
Mr.. Carnes amended by making The ad-
ionrnment sine de- The motion was not
seconded, and went BY the board by default.
Mr. Peter Melett and Capt. R A. Brand
both favored Mr. Moses's suggestion for the
revision Of club rolls by ueighboring clubs.
Mr. Moses spoke again in favor of his sug-
gesnon.
Chairman Keels ruled that power of
pureing rolls is vested in Credensial Com
mittee.
Mai H F. Wilson offered resolution EN-.
bodyiug the suggestion made By Mr.. Moses.
Before it could be acted on, however,
Chairman Keels sook the bit in bis mouth and
carried everything his own way. He an
nounced that he would proceed to organize
the convention, and all contests must be
entered when club was called.
Mr. Moses: am satisfied that we are all
agreed under Maj. Wilson's resolution.
Mir. ". A. James, it,, Will such resolu-
ton be binding?
Answered 1t will be binding on those who
90 into it in good faith and are willing to
keep it.
Chairman Keels: The Constitution is man
dstory. will proceed to orgaoize as pro-
vided.
Roll call of clubs was commenced.
Atkins was called and SIR. T W. Lee
entered a contest
Just here the right Of inspecting cus rolls
was brought up by some means. Chairman
Keels announced that he had written ont his
opinion and would proceed 10 read it.
The point of order was raised that the
reading Of the opinion would be out of order
ss the roll call of clubs bad been entered
upon and had not been completed.
Chairman Keels declared that out of order or
in order, be proposed TO read the opinion; and
he proceeded to do so. It was az follows:
1 have read Mr.. Purdy's opinion as
to the right of member of the Demo
cratic party to inspect the club rolls.
When we cOnstrue the constitution
and the rules together Mr.. Purdy may
possibly be right. The constitution Of
the Democratic party was adopted by
the State Democratic Convention, the
supreme power of the Democratic
party, the source of all constituted law.
The State convention and the consti-
tuition rank above the State Executive
Committee or any rules adopted by
the committee, body created by
the convention. The convention be-
ing the supreme power and the source
of all constitutional law we have no
right to construe the constitution and
the rules together. l don't know if
any construction was put upon the
constitution by the committee when
they adopted the rules, neither do l
care. We are not dealing with the
rules any construction the commit
tee may have put upon the constitu-
ton, we can apply the constitu-
ton to the rules and make the
rules conform to and comply with the
constitution but we cannot apply the
rules to the constitution and make the
constitution conform to and comply
with the rules. The question is has a
member of the Democratic party the
COuSGlCuGiOuol 1fSuG w 1AoPCCe VIC
club rolls. Article 6 of the constitu-
ton provides, the club rolls of the
party shall constitute the registry list
and shall be open to inspection by any
member of the party. When the clubs
are re-organized the club rolls are the
registry list of the party. The repre-
sentation to this convention is based
upon the clnb rolls and as the repre-
sentation to this convention or any
other business to be transacted is
based upon the club rolls 1t is i'm
portant that the club rolls should be
correct and there is no doubt in my
mind that it was the intention of con-
stitution to correct the club rolls. l
hold that where clubs are re-organized
the club rolls are the registry list OF
the party and subject to inspection by
any member of the party at any time.
Mr.. r. D. Lee moved that the opin-
ion be received as information.
On motion of Col. Lee, Chairman Keels's
opinion was received az information
Mr.. Purdy's opinion, to which reference is
made by Capt. Keels is given herewith SC
that the question may be more fully under.
- ,.,o0o &c n oocoUo s tbo t-o