The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-23
TO SENATOR IRBY.
Some Questions for the State Chairman to
Answer.
TGreenVille News.

Ofnclal neaQ OF tue parry. 1ou Lave
been trusted with the duty of caring
for the party's welfare and enforcing
its rules. 1t is part of your business
to apply such measures as will prevent
persous who are not Democrats from
taking part in party conventions and
primaries. Is it not also part of your
business as official head Of the party to
demand that no man who is not a
Democrat shall be recognized as can
didase for any Democrrtic nomination?
We ask the question for information.
There is much confusion as to what
q Democrat is. Judge Haskell and his
friends who ignored the party nomina-
tions four, years ago said they were
Democrats. The alliance voters and
candidates who brought the Ocala plat
form into the Democratic party claimed
that they we're Democrats. The one
teat heretofore universally accepted has
has been that men shall act and vote
the Democratic party, shall support
its nominees, recognize its machinery
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 outside of the party
and were read limited 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. II. Ellerbe-have
been asked the following questions:
"Will you pledge loyalty to the de-
mands of the Farmers Alliance and
Industrial Union above loyalty to
party caucus, and vote against any and
all candidates who decline to commit
themselves to this extent?"
Each of the three has answered this
question plainly and publicly, Yes"
What does that mean, Chairman
Irby?
It means that these citizens, asking
nominations cf the Democratic party,
asking to be made its representative
and leader, pledge themselves 20
act with the party only so far
as they are permitted to do so by
an organization which is not con-
nected with the ty and which is
in several matters and many parts of
the country in direct, and violent op-
position to it. Suppose a man should
go before the people, pledge to ignore
the party caucus and to vote indepen-
dently of party platforms and nomina-
tions when required to do so by the
Republican party? Would you recog-
nize him as 8 valid Democratic candi-
date? The cases are precisely the same.
1t may be argued that the Alliance and
i Industrial Union is like church de-
nomination or q secret society, the
| rules Of which a man would promise
to respect above party obligations. But
| that will not fit. Churches and secret
societies are not in politics and the
Alliance is. It has held its conventions
and announced its platforms and one
of its foundation doctrines is indepen-
dence of party. You doubtless know
! that in this State it has been held that
no obligation relieves man from the
stain of independentism if he bolts the
! party nominees. Yet here are the
three leading candidates for Governor
pledging themselves 10 bolt if the NOM
inees do dot fit the ideas of the alliance
They promise that they will! vote
against every man !" ho refuses to take
the pledge exacted of them. In other
words if some man should have the
courage to declare himself a Democrat
first, last and all the time, and to say
that he would be bound in his political
action by the decision Of party caucus,
primary or convention, and if such a
man should receive the party nomina-
ton, these candidates would vote
against him.
Now, what do you propose to do
about it, as 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 times
past against Third party people. Most
you are said by your friends to he
men of nerve, Of invincible courage.
The public has been told much Of j our
outspoken and manly utterances and
your unfal ering determination.
Now, here is the time for you to show
how much nerve and courage and de-
termination you have. Now is the
time for you to speak when your speak
ing may mean something of danger
and trial for yourself. Have any ot
you the stuff in sou? Have you the
grit to face influences and powers and
perhaps, opposing lnajorities for what
you know to be righ ? You have been
sailing along with the tide while your
friends have boasted ofyour Democracy
, and nerve. Are you a fair weather
, Democrat only, or can you face storm:
Are you the kind Of man who cal
fight we'll only while on the strong
side and who fickers in time of danger
, and disaster? Are you, Senator Irby
politically speaking of course, deao
game, or will you finch from the gaf
and take to your les?
Have you the nerve to say to the
party of which you are the official heac
that each man must choose whom h
will serve; or will you go on and recog
} nize as Democratic candidates anI. Fl
to be Democratic nominees men who