Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-06-12

the conference was good idea; but
he did not take any stock in the pro-
posed primary. He was satisfied that
without a previous understanding, a
large number of Conservatives and a
good many Reformers would refuse
to go into it.
Senator Finley spoke at considera-
BILE length. He reviewed the condi-
tion of affairs prevailing in the State
from 1861 up to the present time, and
said that the people are now confront
ed with the greatest crisis with which
they ever had to deal. The framing
of anew organic law is of the greatest
importance to the future welfare, pros
perity and civilization of the State.
The white people Of the State have
made it all that it is in progress and
civilization. They must continue to
rule, or the State will go backward.
The white people must work together.
He would just as lief trust five Me-
groes to make new constitution as
to trust five white men elected by Ne
gro votes. Mr.. Wilson had said that
seven-eights of the white people would
60 into a primary. He did not believe
it. 1t was not necessary to mention
names, but he could mention 25 white
men in the town of Rock Hill who
would not 60 into the proposed pri-
mary. Mr.. Wilson challenged this
statement and said that the only peo-
pie in Rock Hill who would refuse to
go into a primary, were those known
as Haskelites]. Continuing, Senator
Finley said that he was well acquaint-
ed with the political sentiment of the
white people all over the State. The
Conservatives had been taught to be-
lieve that they were entitled to equal
representation, and the Reformers
were reconciled to giving it to them.
Unless, however, there should be some
agreement beforehand, large number
of voters of both factions, and the Con-
servatives in body, would stay out
of the primary, and there would be an
independent ticket in the general elec-
ton. We had such condition of af-
fairs last summer, and we would have
it again. The only way to avoid this
is to agree upon equal representation
at a conference, nominate FIVE dele
gates and vote for them in the prima-
ry. If anybody else wants to run in
the primary, let them do it. The men
so nominated will no longer be Conser-
vatives or Reformers; but representa-
tives of the white Democrats of York
county, and union Of the factions
will be established. "But whether
nominations be made in conference or
by primary" concluded Mr.. Finley,
81 expect to support the nominees of
the regularly organized Democracy"
Major J. F. Hart said that he saw
no objection to the conference. He
thought that the Conservatives, if Or
ganized, could elect all the delegates in
York county, and in other counties.
He was a Conservative and he was
satisfied that they did not want to do
anything of the kind. All the Con-
servatives wanted was the framing of
an organic law that would guarantee
equal rights to all. He did not think
that the Conservatives would tolerate
any more fraudulent elections, and he
felt sure that they were going to have
proper representation in the conven-
ton. There is very little division
among the people on questions of prin-
ciple. 1t is almost solely on questions
of personal politics, and he thought it
should be an easy matter for the peo-
pie to get together.
Mr.. n. w. Hardin said that he did
not think more than 10 per cent. of the
people of York county would 60 intoa
primary. He was satisfied that such
was the case at Blacksburg, Antioch
and Buffalo, and he thought it would
be found to be pretty generally the
case elsewhere. The people were dis
gusted with primaries. He was satis-
fed that the Conservatives could east
ly elect all five of the delegates to the
convention if they saw fit. AS for
himself, he did not care whether the
delegates were Conservatives or Re-
formers. The constitution of the
United States guarantees the right of
franchise to every citizen, and that
question he considered settled. There
were other things however, of more
Importance, and he was in favor of
voting only for delegates who would
,,,h,n;t tho uork of tho convention