The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-04-14
State .'penl. Ex. Com.
NO DECIDED ACTION IS TAKEN.
Cbairman Irby s&ands Square Against
Bolting-Thc May Convention Must
Decide the Question.
Columbia Register.

Columbia Register
1t has been shifted fsHg. the Stat
Democratic Executive mittee t.
the State Democratic Com (htion.
That, in two short paragraphs, wa
the action of the executive, committed
last night.
Those who watched the proceeding.
carefully believe that a majoSity Of the
committee are opposed to o bolt, bu
that some of that majority were Op
posed to u fight on the issueNat this
time and SO forced a stand-Cif.
Many Of the committeemep were ir
town all yesterday morning and inpum
cradle caucuses and consultations were
held. The committee met shortly af
ter8 p. m. in the Senate chamber.
The following were present at the
M. Jordan, Aiken; j. p. Glenn, Ander.
son; S. G. Mayfield, Barnwell Thomas
Martin, Beaufort; II. III. Sweeney,
Berkeley; p. II. Gadsden, Charleston
Il. j. Cunningham. Chester G. J. Red
fearn, Chesterfield ID. j. Brabham,
Clarendon; j. N. Parrott, Darlington 7;
II. b. Watson, Edgefeld; Thomas w.
Traylor, Fairfield; r. M. McCown,
Florence; j; w. Gray, Greenville; j..
Hampton; ]. G. Elliott, Lancaster; j.
L. Nj. Irby, Laurens; G. M. Efrd, Lex.
ington; j. ID. Montgomery, Marion;
w. ID. Evans, Marlboro j. a. Sigh,
New berry; j. IL. Earle, Oconee o. r.
Lowman, Orangeburg II. G. Robinson,
Pickens; Willie Jones, Richland ID.
L. Bennett, Spartanburg; d. E. Keels,i
Sumter; A. Q. Lyles, Union; j. A..
Jackson, York. Colleton, Georgetown
and Kershaw were unrepresented. II.
j. Kirkland, the member from Ker-
shaw, telegraphed that circumstances
over which he had no control prevent
ed his after dance, but that he and his
county were going TO stand by the ma
tional Democracy. Nj. l.. Donaldson
OF Greenville, S. c., member of the
National Democratic Executive Com
mittee, was present and sat with the
committee. Mr.. Tompkins, the secre-
tary OF the committee, and Major U.
IL. Brooks, who was assisting the treas
urer, were also present.
Chairman Irby explained how under
the party constitution it was necessary
for the State Democratic Executive
Committee to meet. He showed that
there was q conflict in the constitu-
tion, parts looking to holding club
meetings on the first Monday in May
and other parts looking to the holding
of the County Democratic Conventions
on that day. He thought the commit
tee ought to decide this question by
providing for the holding of club meet
ings on the first Monday in May and
county conventions on the second Mon
day, while the State convention, under
the constitution, meets on the third
Wednesday.
Then he touched upon the vital is
sue Of the day. He said the Democra-
cy of the committee had been ques-
toned since 1890, hut it was the only
Democratic committee in the State
and the legal successors of the COM
mittee which rescued the State in
1876 He said the committee were
either here as Democrats, or as bolters
and traitors. On other occasions, such
remarks would not be necessary, but
the threats OF Il split and bolt made it
necessary to meet the issue fairly and
squarely. He would speak out. The
committee had come into possession Of
the machinery under a written pledge
to the people that they were Demo
! Gratis. If they were not Democrats, if
they wanted to desert, let them do so
boldly and openly and straightforward
ly. How had desertion been threaten
ed Z? The Conservatives had tried in
ldependentism and bolting and been
beaten. But now a greater danger
thrcatened. The Democracy is threat
ened by 8 distinguished Democrat, who
(has been one Of the greatest leaders
tIuhe State since the war. He had
\sad that If this State did not get what
SO wanted in the national convention,
I'M eighteen representatives would
s$to the four hundred and odd other
mpbers that they would not submit
tolajority rule. He denounced this
pnosition and said there was only one
hdrable way to do, to go to Chicago
anSubmit to the will Of the majority,
wNher that will coincide with the
wies of the South Carolina Demo
cra or not.
ID. Fl. Tompkins, the secretary
OF committee, then called the roll.
Seal substitutes presented their
crentials.
In came fight to exclude the
put from the meeting.
MEvans said in view of the is
suetised by the chairman's address,
themmittee ought to meet in execu-
tivassion. He moved that this be
dom
Bradham seconded the motion.
Madsden opposed the motion, for
all hOcrats were vitally interested
andluld be given full opportunity
to ki how their representatives met
tnelpSt. lie thought 1T better That
the Is get the doings of the com
mitttraight than some garbleG &C.
couHrnished after it adjourned by
somSmber.
Tlbte resulted in favor Of an ex.
confession, as follows:
Yd j. oY. Jones, Jordan, Glenn
MayI Sweeney, Redfearn, Brad
ham htson, Traylor, McCown, Nc
Swed Derham, Elliott, F,fird
Evah Montgomery, Sligh. Earle
Lowf Bennett, Lyles. Blackwell
DOnap, ,Iackson--4.
NaMartin, Gadsden, Cunning
ham, rott, Gray, Irby, Willie Jones
KeelA
AfAe hall was vacated by tn,
spect Messrs. McSweeney ant
Grayle fight to have the news
pape9 allowed to remain in th
meet1 Messrs. Evans and Lowmal
madeehes in opposition, and tn
newsH men were kept out.
Aftb reporters were excluded
Mr.. SIntrOducel the following re
soluti,
w Whlsince this executive CON
,l mittcSting under authority dele
gatedby the Democratic party c
Southina, and therefore possesse
no oribowers be it
Rest That in the opinion OF thi
eSccubmmittee that it would @
franSnig ito nnwnra fp "a