The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-06-13

Manning. July lU.
Bonnean's, July IL.
Charleston July II.
Walterboro, July Is.
Beaufort, July IA.
Hampton, July 16.
Barnwell, July II.
aiken, July Is.
Edgefield, July 19.
Lexington, July 20.
Winnsboro, July "a.
Orangeburg, July %.
Columbia, July 25.
Newberry, July q.
Lsurens, July %.
Union, July 81.
Spartanburg, August !.
Greenville, August 2.
Pickens, August 8.
Oconee, August6 s.
Anderson, August.
5Abbeville, AugustS.
Mr., Finley explained that the schedule
gave the Yorkville section start this
year as all the others had been given trst
place in previous years.
The schedule had been carefully ar
ranged. At the suggestion of Mr:. w: D..
Evans the schedule was reviewed. Mr..
Gray thoughtit best tc start the campaign
In the Piedmontsection. Chairman lrby
suggested that not over four meetings q
week should be held. Mr.. Finley said it
was absolutely necessary to have more
than four meetings In some weeks. Mr..
Finley and Mr.. Gray continued to cross
fire on the question.
Mr.. MI. Donaldson, of Greenyille,
said ono one, It seems to me, is better
able to arrange for the meetings than the
entire committee.
% Mr.. Robinson, or Pickens, suggested
that no arrangements were made for
extra meetings. Mr.. Townes wanted an
extra meeting at Holley's Ferry; 1t was
seen that this could be arranged by the
candidates for the day after the Lexing-
ton meeting. Mr.. early wanted the
Darlington meeting held at Lydia. Chair
man Irby announced that the local
county com mittees could hold the meet
sings wherever they thought beat. The
Finley schedule was finally agreed upon,
and the political fun begins at Yorkville
on the 18th.
ID Mr.. Kirkland sprung trap when ne
introduced the following resolution:
Resotved, That at the ensuing Demo-
cratic primaries the following pledge
shall be exacted by the managers of each
voter before he casts his vote: 81 SOL
:emnly swear that am entitled to vote in
this primary election and will abide the
result of the same"
After some, talk attention was drawn
to the fact that the same thing was already
provided for in the presentrules, and the
motion was withdrawn by Mr.. kirkland,
Then without any premonition Chair
man Irby squared himself in his arm
chair and took The. bull by the horn he
said "There Is one question that Is being
agitated In South Carolina, and has been
a9itated for several months, to which [
would call your attention., So far as
am concerted, as chairman of the Demo-
cratic party,I do not propose to dodge
the question. It's consideration l. shall
not undertake to influence or dictate to
any membe of the committee, and I
repeat it most enphatically that I will
not dictate to the committee, but to sug-
gest to you gentlemen that ye march
fight up to the front and take our posi-
ton upon this question. SO far as am
concerned as the member Of this COM
mittee from Laurens and the chairman
of the Executive Committee Of the party
Of this State, shall not hesitate (eYen
should 1t become necessary by tie vote
to give my opinion by my yote) to ex-
press my own convictions on this ques-
tion. The question Irefer to Is this, and
I am unwilling to evade it, for I see
disposition to dodge it through. do not
use the word dodge in Its offensive sense.
Whether men who participated in the
State officers and other candidates, who
voted in the club and sent delegates to
the State Convention which elected dele
gates to the National Convention at
Chicago to nominate q President, whether
these men, who are known as Third
Partyites, shall be permitted to partici-
pate in the general primary to be held in
August next. AS your chairman I feel
it to be my duty to say that we should
take some positive, decided, ontspoken
action on this question. Isay, I repeat,
that we as representatives Of the Demo.
cratic party Of South Carolina, and lam
glad to see that every county is repre-
sented here, ought not to dodge that i'm
portant question. IF we believe that the
men who participated In the primaries Of
1892, and who voted for Weaver, should
not be permitted to vote at the approach
ing primaries we ought to say so, If we
believe that they are Democrats within
the meaning Of the constitution and rules
Of the Democratic party then we ought to
say 80 and permit them to participate.
What I wish to emphasize Is that we
should not evade or dodge this question.
We ought to discuss it fully, whether 1t
be in public or private, but We should
declare whether or not they can partIci-
pate under our rules. FIVE do not take
such action we lay ourselves open to the
charge that we have lodged the question
and that the committee was unable to
solve it one way or tho other. Thought,
gentlemen, that it was my duty to say
this much to you on this subject, which
is now open to you for discussion"
Mr.. Frank Mellet, Of Sumter, promptly
arose and said that in behalf of the great
Democratic party be moved that all white
men who took the pledge at the last
Democratic primary and thereafter voted
for Weaver electors be embarred from
voting at the approaching primary.
Senator Derham moved that those
white men who voted the Weaver ticket
be allowed to vote In the coming pemo-
cratic primary.
DR.. Pope, Of Newberry. made a yigor.
Gus speech favoring this position. He
argued that the Democratic party could
not afford to lose snyone. Men who
voted for Haskell are---no better than
those who voted for Weaver. They both
did wrong, but one no worse than the
other, and we have to let them all vote.
Mr.. Kirkland moved to amend the
Derham resolution by adding "upon1
taking the oath prescribed by theparty."
claim to he as good Democrat as any
here, and I am favorable TO allowing
these men to vote in our primary.
Mr.. Robinson, of Pickensi sour coun1
ty had great many to vote for Weaver
and who are now willing to vote with the
Democracy. There is no use to insult
these people. It is unnecessary"
Mr.. Mixson moved to table the Kirk
land amendment.
Mr.. Townes, of Edgefeld: eff these
voters took the oath of allegiance in 1892
and violated it, what have we to know
that they will not do so again If these
men did not 20 into the primary after
taking an oath, it would be different.
They broke their pledges once, why not
take it for granted that they will 10 30
again?"
Mr.. Neal, of Anderson II see no rea-
son to exact double pledge"
Mr.. Jones, Of Lancaster, wanted the
old rules read. A vote was finally taken
on tabling the Kirkland amendment, and
those who voted against tabling were
Messrs. kirkland, Finley, Mellstt. Eli
oft, Townes, Kinloch, Redfearn-S.
MIR. Donaldson, of Greenville, seemed
to think there was danger of such action
being misunderstood. He would not
have it said that any inducements were
offered those who left the party over
those already in it. He was sure such
was not the Intention Of the committee.
II IN oaSSrr