The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-04-15

man, Redfearn, E6rd, Montgomery,
Robinson, Bennett, A. @. Lyles,
Blackwell, Glenn and Donaldson. So
the newspaper men got up and left
with the balance of the crowd.
Then Mr.. McSweeney tried to have
the representatives of the press admit
ed, but that failed, and the committee
went to work with blissful thoughts
of its own security. After the press
had been disposed of Mr.. Evans
thought it best to appoint doorkeepers.
Mr.. Lyles, of Fairfield, was allowed
the privilege of the floor. 1t was de-
cided that the county clubs meet on
Saturday, the I'd of May, and the
county convention on the first Monday
in May, and the State Convention on
the third Monday in May.
Then the fight of the night began.
Mr.. Sigh, of Newberry, offered the
following resolutions:
Whereas, since this executive COM
mittee is acting under authority dele.
gated to it by the Democratic party OF
South Carolina, and therefore possesses
no original powers; be it -,
Resolved, That in the opinion OF
this executive committee 1t would oe
transcending its powers to undertake
to decide issues and questions Whlch
belong appropriately to the Democrat
ic State Convention. But 1t IS 1urtner-
more the opinion of this committee
that it is unwise to discuss all such is
sues and questions since it would be an
effort to forestall the action of the
sovereignty of the people, and further
more, that the only duty this execu-
tive committee can properly perform
is to direct the reorganization of the
local Democratic clubs and the hold
ing of county conventions and that of
Slate conventions.
Mr.. Sigh took the position that the
matter called to the attention of the
committee by Chairman Irby could
not be officially acted on, as it was not
properly before the committee, (which
had no right to act. The committee
was the servant of the people and could
not pass on any qualification and had
nothing to do with any personal con-
troversy between two Senators.
Senator Irby said that the committee
had ample power to act in the absence
of convention, and it was all wrong
to talk about the committee being
powerless.
Then Gen. Gray came to the front
with the following resolution:
Whereas, an issue has been raised
questioning the loyalty of the Demo
cracy of South Carolina to the national
Democratic party, and whereas a sug-
gestion has been made that delegates
to the National Democratic Conven-
ton from this State should bolt the
National Democratic Convention on
certain contingencies; and whereas
tho State Democratic executive COM
mittee considers it would be suicidal
on the part of the Democrats of South
Carolina to sever its connection with
the national Democracy, now be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
committee that no person shall be
eligible to membership in Democratic
clubs who is not a qualified voter at
primaries of the party as provided by
the constitution of the party, and who
will not pledge himself to support the
nominees of the State and national
Democracy.
Gen. Gray supported his resolution
with an extended speech, in which he
cited the Constitution for the authori-
ty for passing the resolution he pro-
posed. He urged that the issue had to
be met, and should be met at once.
Senator Irby made another and
redhot speech in favor of the Gray
and said that the commit
teemen were the watchmen on the
Democratic tower and were response
BILE for the safety of the party. The
committee was acting under powers of
the last Convention, and if il could
not act there was no need for a COM
mittee. He wanted to know if the
committeeman would want to open
the doors so that Republicans and
Populists might come in and capture
the clubs and send delegates to Chicago
Do the members now allow Republi-
cans to come in and vote in their pri-
maries2 Does anyone now vote ex-
cept under pledge 10 support the
nominees, whoever they may be2 The
committee is either responsible to the
Democratic, Populist or Republican
party, and if it stands for Democracy
it should Look to its interests alone.
He said that it was a most remark
able thing that when it came to State
election the committee was anxious
enough to bind all who participated,
but that when it came to national
election there was desire on the part
of some to avoid being placed under
the very pledge that was exacted of
others. Every voter in 1892 and 1894
was made to 60 under pledge, and
there was no objection to it at that
time, and it was a very poor rule that
did not work we'll both ways. Was
the party going backwards and to
abandon the whole principle of pledg.
ing, or was it to apply only when it
did not hurt those who were making
the rule? A bolt seemed to be pro-
posed before there was any cause or ex-
cuse for it. Iffree silver was ever to
be gotten he did not think it could
possibly be secured by a bolt. The
only thing for the South to do was to
stand by the party through thick and
thin. The national party has done
too much for this State for it to drift
off at this time. He was very empha-
tic in his warnings to the committee
that if it sanctioned a bolt trouble
would be sure to result. It would be
the ruin of the Democratic party.
Mr.. Blackwell, of Williamsburg,
made strong argument against the
Gray resolutions and said that if Cleve-