The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-09-17
LAURENs, s. G., Sept. II, 1895.
The constitutional Convention.

.A
theoretically the sovereignty of the
State tthe people, the whole people) is
assembled at the State House, Colum-
bia, framing an organic law, under
which special laws are to be enacted
for u government in the future. 1t is
composed. of 160-Forty of the
conservative faction, the rest Reform
ers, except a sprinkle Of nondescripts,
for the a Of a better designation,
mugwumps. An organization on the
first day, the 10th, was promptly had by
n election OF Coy. Evans to preside,
Mr.. s.. W. Vance OF this county being
chosen as clerk. The work of framing
h instrument was conveniently par
celled out to twenty-five committees,
the President promptly appointing
them. The President in naming the
chairmanships, the ~positionsaof honor
and responsibility, was as liberal to
conservatives as was to be expected
or as sound judgment justified, since
the Reformers in the last analysis,
EaaeRust be held responsible for the out
come of the work, be the result happy
or otherwise. Senator Tillman pre-
sides over the Suffrage Department.,
n will report the Mississippi plan,
with notifications possibly: it is O
quasi educational qualification, giving
70 county boards discretionary power
over registration; alternative property
qualification n poll tax receipt will
be discussed. Congressman Wilson
presides over the fortunes of the Judi
cial department, Congressman Stokes
mas the Office of claiming the hundred
B%riareus, the mighty over
neutrality-suspicious., while Mr..
mitchell, a conservative of Charleston,
looks to the Educational interests of
, h State. In tho hSnds of these COM
mittees are the gravest and most over
shadowing trusts in the gift and dis
erection of the Presiding officer. Sena-
tor Irby is chairman of the "Declara-
lion OF Rights" department, call men
are born free and equal" to wit, and is
eighth man on the committee styled "of
order, Form and Revision headed by
Judge Frazer, conservative. and asso-
clated here are many great "Lights''
as Is. IL. Tillman, %Stanyarne Wilson, @.
M. Ehrd, j. w. Stokes, Julian Mitch
ell, ID. s.. Henderson and on down to
the foot OF the alphabet. Delegate A. j.
smith is to labor on the Executive
department." and the "Militia," while
Delegate, j. H. Wharton will tax his
Legislative skill and patience on tFi-
nance and Taxation.
The outlook for the present is a har-
monious and speedy determination of
the work before that body. The Re-
m have 1t in their power to ''si-
lence envious tongues and cut of
everlasting talk, and the real issues
are no doubt narrowed down already to
1 diminutive compass by the Alexandrian
leaders. They will know how to cut a
Gordian knot. Some of the rural dele
gates, as must always be expected, on
the first two days showed q disposition
to experiment on their legs, and test
the acoustic properties of the Hall, but
they will o find out that they are not
on their W stamping grounds and as
t%onishing the homespun natives. On
the second day of the deliberations, up
onthe question, if or not the delegates
should be sworn in, the whole thing,
the President and Privates, became
badly ratified and tangled, Ben Tillman
finally stampeding the ranch his way,
the result being that a few patches
that We're sworn had to be by
a resolution that was Immediately
passed for the purpose.
The Legislature fixed the pay of
delegates at $500. 1t appears that
there existed q disposition to kick at
this remuneration; Ex-Governor Shop
Z Dard brought the matter forward and
had 1t confirmed at these figures, al
though there were those who thought
statesmen ought not to be rated fscally
like pillow boys and wanted $500 and mil
cage.
1t 1s Thought that Gov. Evans view
OF preserving all the higher educa-
tional institutions in the State and
providing for an advanced public
school system will be sustained. In
fact his inaugural suggestion-'put
out none of the lights"-was a graphic
and palpable hit. Senator Irby has
had little to say as yet. 1t is occasion
ally limited that he is mo in it" with
the Tillman-Evans aggregation and
that he will be left to the enjoyment of
a monopoly of the respondent efful-
gence of the Headlight and finally it's
waning and dying condolences. But
the future must determine. There is no
prying into the womb of time and an
ticipating which seed will grow and
J which will not. Very few racers, how
ever, r withdrawn from the course
by reason OF old age; q sprightlier colt,
kicking Ally, or q stubborn Jack-ass,
causes q knee joint strain and the most
brilliant cavorting and careering must
end.
1t will be probably ten days yet, be-
fore the trend of legislation will de-
velope: what will be done with the real
delicate issues before the convention
will be settled. In the meanwhile our
81 aador ohnrld ho nafianf Tbara owe