The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-04-15
SENATOR IRBY's VIEWS

At go early hour this morning, Sen.
ator Irby was seen 10 his room
What do you think Of the. result Of
the committee meeting
1t seems to be drawn battle [
made the best fight l could for the
Democracy of the State. / made
speech favoring the resolutions offered
BY General Gray pledgipg participants
in the primaries to abide the result as
to the platform and nominees of the
national Democratic convention.
Mr.. Sligh urged vigorously the adop-
ton of his resolution, and it seemed a
contest between these two. but the COM
mittee was unwilling to make choice.
If there bad been any way by which
test vote could have been forced be-
twee boiling and anti-bolting the latter
would have won. because there was an
unnistakable opposition to boiling the
national ticket. ! don't think there
was member CT the com mittee who
favored boiling
/! There was only ore Conservative on
the Communicable. Gadsden of Charles.
ton. He made peculiarly attractive
and impressive speech. Several CT tie
| men oers hare since spo.:en to me in re
ference to it.
The sentiment of the committee
seemed to be that i; was coutes,
among leaders aod they we're unwilling
to take auy sides In fact, one Of the
speak.cs said. IF you adopt Mr.
Siigh's resolution it will be construed
as victory for Senator Tillman; if
Gen. Gray's resolution is adopted, it
will be Irby's victory hence they COM
promised upon the resolution of Senator
EGrd. which in effect, provides for re-
organization. subject to the provisions
Of the Democratic constitution, viz :
that no white man shall participate in
the primary clubs who is not known
Democrat. or negro who has not voted
4 the Democratic ticket continuously
since 1876. This must be taken in con.
nection with the rules Of the party, that
are IF full effect since their adoption in
1891 Tie effect Of such rules is to
require pledge on the part Of toe ap-
plicaut for membership to abide the
result of the convection The rcso-
Luton of Mr.. Edrd does Dot say 50
in SO many words, but as the chairman
Of tue party, say that these rules are
still of force and have not been abro
gated oy the action of the last State
Goa veotion OF by the actioO CT the COM
mittee tonight, aud the Democrats OF
of tie State ought to see to it that
noue but Democrats participate in the
election of delegates to the county
conventions. Any voter. doo's care
whether be is white or black, who is
oot willing to abide the result, accord
ing to my Interpretation, is not a
'.kuown Democrat" as contemplated by
the constitution of the Democratic party
of this State.
This thing of white men "bullying
around and theatenIng to bolt the
party ought to be rebuked, and pow is
| just about as good a time for it as |
4 know. / am sick and tired of temper
j Ning with winners and men who arc
! not satisfied with the management apd
| leadership Of the party. l know this
is pretty strong talk, but the sooner we
know who we are it will be the better
for all parties concerned and the Demo
craey of the State.
IF we had not have emporized 10
'92 aad '94 you would 60: see all these
kickers or hear SO much about .Jefer .
sonian Democracy now.
J Do gou think the negroes will make
any opposition to the Democratic ticket
ia this State this fall
do. There is very great dagger.
and who could blame them with ali
this treasouable talk going ou among
r,eu who SHOULD IN a; corscieDces oe
loyal to the party. iae:e are very
able men w:lo are ;ea3iUg the oegroes
10 .his State Miller, SnalIs, Wigg aud
many others, TO say nothing Of their
white allies, are able men AID are
watching for and Will take all the
chaoces in sight. understand they
passed resolution in convention to-
day looking to this very end The
people Of the State will be surprised
wbaa thev realize the number Of regis
tered negro voters ia the State. 4 ne
gro can be taught 10 write mectani-
cally: his name, 10 a night. There
are hundreds of them vino own $500
worth of property. This is right that
cannot be taken asay from .hcm BY
manipulation or fraud, because it was
supposed to be an adjustment of the
suffrage il the STATE. IF they have