The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-02-15
A GENERAL PRIMARY ORDERED.
HOW DELEGATES TO THE CON-
VENTION WILLB NOMINATED

VENTION WILDE NOMINATED
Senator Irby Reads an Address to the
Executive Committee-Prima for
democratic Delegates, and an Ad-
dress to the People.
The Democratic Executive Commit
tee held most important meeting in
Columbia on the 9th inst. The object
was to provide for the approaching
constitutional convention and look out
for the opposition that might be made
to it.
The committee met in the Secretary
of States Office and there was full at
tendance, all the members being pres
ent or were represented by proxy
Senator Irby presided and Senator
elect Tillman and Governor Evans
We're, on motion, invited to he present
dnring the deliberations of the COM
mittee. They both came in and were
interested spectators.
Before the committee was invited to
begin work, Senator Irby read the fol-
lowing address:
Gentlemen of the Committee 1t
has not been customary for the chair
man of this committee to open it's pro-
ceedings with any remarks, but on this
occasion | deem it necessary to have
something to say in brief.
I'm view of all that has happened in
this State since 1890, it is well that we
should take our bearings now and
meet the situation face TO face like
men.
u cannot congratulate you on a
bright outlook for the Democracy.
You, and those whom we represent,
are in no way responsible for this.
When the Democratic party came in
to power in 1876, under Constitution
that was forced upon the people by u
Republican government, one of the
first questions agitatcd, the first de-
mand made by the people was Con-
stitutionai Convention to frame an or
ganic law that would be adopted to
their wants. The powers that con-
trolled between '76 and 80, for reasons
satisfactory to themselves, but unex-
planned to the people, dallied with this
question and refused their reasonable
demand. Fortunately for the State.
the people took charge in 1890, and af-
ter long and hard struggle, succeed
ed in ratifying the call made by the
Legislature of 1893. The Democratic
party OF the State, whom you and | re-
present, and may say the only Demo
cratic organization in the State, pro-
posed in its last convention of last
september to make it a party question.
The Republicans and Independents,
aided by some loyal Democrats, came
very near defeating this call at the
last November election. You and
considered it as our imperative duty,
representing as we do, the will of that
Democratic convention, to urge the
people to sustain it. After fair and
free election, it was carried by short
margin. | had hoped when this call
was made and the Legislature had
passed an act carrying it out, that its
white enemies, for the good of the
State and white supremacy, would
have grounded their arms and allowed
II peaceful and harmonious solution of
this question but not so. We are con-
fronted today, first, by a Republican
organization, which, outside of few
Congressional districts, has been re-
garded as Il political corpse, though
its representatives and its black hosts
are now attempting to be marshalled
for desperate struggle. But for
some things, which | shall hereafter
mention, they could be easily over
come, for the rank and file OF the Re-
publicans in this State are tired of pol
iticS and cannot De organized in such
this convention and white supremacy.
Second, there is a qulsit organiza-
tion made up under the leadership OF
the editor of The State. They, calling
themselves Democrats, are unwilling,
and have been since 1890, to submit to
what majority OF the white people
demand and are not ready only to defeat
the call aud objects OF this convention,
but to unite in an unholy alliance with
the negro leaders, whom they helped to
overthrow in 1876. | rejoice, however,
that this number is small and cannot
assume dangerous proportions.
There is still another element
that Is the more conservative of the
Conservative (so-called) element who
are unwilling to unite with the negro.
but who are unfriendly to the present
administration and its officers.
There is still another that belongs
to what is known as the Reform party
most, if not all, Of whom were opposed
to the election of Governor Evans
Lastly, there is the Reform move
ment upon whom, thank God, this
committee, with all its scattered
forces, il necessary to maintain white
even with Il great detection among the
white people, can defeat the Rcpubli-
cans and save the convention.
" 1t is our duty, and the white peo-
pie of the State expect us to perform
1T, to see that the Republicans are de-
fcatcd in the election for delegates to
this convention. There is 70 use TO
mincc words about it. We must carry
this convention or white supremacy is
gone forever.
The const tuition, under which we
were elected, does not give Us the cx-
press power TO act in this matter, but
1T does by implication. 1t was IL party
question. This committee took charge