The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-02-27


then said This Australian systom
will raise tho people out Of an election
mire, out in the broad open sunshine,
ana it will show our Northern friends
that in the race for honesty in elec-
tions they can not outetrip us. The
eight-box law has evil associations
and that is it's chief trouble. D.shon-
csty in our elections prevents and
strikes ut our very government. He,
too, would protest against depriving
any Confederate hero Of the right to
vote. Ample protection Ia givon every
illiterate voter. This Legislature has
q grand opportunity today. There is
now an opportunity OF immortalizipg
ourselves and Of boing real benefactors
If we will hold tho light South Caro-
lima will follow. Whatever may be
tho changes wo will have tho con
sciousness OF having done our best
and that we have taken from the
statute books law that has beon "
reproach and disgrace to the State.
Mr.. Shuman, OF Greenvlllo, took up
the defonce Of the oight-box law. lie
urged that tho opportunity for fraud
| was where the voter was unable to
read. Thore Is no difference in the
two laws as to tho preparation of tho
ballot. Tho cight.box law requires
Instructions, when requested, and be
saw no advantage Of one law over tho
other. The people were accustomed to
| the eight-box law. He believed evory
properly under this law He did not
believe any white man had over been
defraudcd Of his vots. Ho believed
the charge untrue and a calumny on
the State. Every whito man has felt
that every othor white man was en-
titled to and should vote. The pres
cnt lazy has repeatedly carried US to
victory and it would be bad policy to
depart from it now.
Capt. Wilson, Of Sumter, simply
wanted to add his testimony that if tho
people arc in earnest for honest cleo
tions, and he believed they were, then
this bill should be passed. He was q
member of the Legislature that passed
the eight-boX. He then regarded it q
necessity, but he no longer regarded 1t
q necessity to have an eight. box law.
Ee merely wanted to advocate honest
and pure elections.
Mr.. Bacot said the eight-box law was
conceived in u spirit Of Justice and
right. 1t was the bridge that had
carried us over and it does not now lie
with us to abuse it. He could not go
back on what he believed to be an
honest purpose to maintain white
rule. The eight-bOX law is admirable
| in its conception and so with the Aus
tralian system. He was not vet in q
position to decide upon the merits of
the two bills.
| Mr.. Manning proposed that tho reg
lstration bill be first taken up, then
Mr.. Townsend's election bill, and then
come back TO his bill
Mr.. Tt'tum moved to kill Mr.. Man
nlng's bill by striking out the enacting
words. MIR. Manning called for the
yeas and nays. The vote resulted {:
Yeas, T6; nays, II.
Mr.. Townsend offered the following
substitute section for section 8:
at tho general election for the
year 1896 and all special ELECTIONS
thereafter held up to tho first day on
January, A. d. 1899, the managers of
election shall require of every elector
Offering to vote at such election, be-
fore allowing him to vote, in addition
to the production Of a registration
certificate, proof of the pay hent Of
poll tax six months bbfore said elec'
tion OF any poll tax then due and paya-
Bile. After the first day Of January,
elector Offering to vote at any election
before allowing him to vote in addi-
ton to the production OF registration
certificate, proof of payment Of all
taxes, including poll tax assessed
against him and collectahle during the
previous year. The production Of a
certificate or of tho receipt Of tho
onlcer authorized to collect such taxes
shall be conclusive proof Of tho pay
ment thereof" Adopted.
Mr.. Patton proposed as an amend
ment that tho result should be posted
Immediately after the result was de-
clarcd.
Mr.. Thurmond said the published
statement may lead to contests.
Mr.. MishOe wanted to know If it
would not require more work.
| Mr.. Patton said under the bill q man
has right to seethe count. The pur-
poseis to put as great q check as posi- bile
upon tampering with the box from the
timo it leaves the me nager to the time
it was officially counted by the oom-
missioncrs. There would bo no rea-
son to invalidato the box, but only to
make It q orime.
The amendment was tabled by voto
of so to %.
Mr.. Manning proposed as an amend
| ilSho GU iSttoV oiio VI VllCSo COllIl(l lSSlOu-
crs shall belong to tho party polling
the largest vote at the last preceding
general State election, and at least one
shall belong to the party casting next
largest vote at suoh election. The
commissioners OF election shall ap-
point three managers of election for
each polling place at each election
precinct of the county for which they
shall respectively be appointed. At
least one OF those managers shall be-
long to tho party polling tho largest
vote at the preceding general election,
and at least ono shall belong to the
party polling tho next largest vote at
such election.
The discussion on Mr.. Manning's
amendment was postponed in order
that committee reports might DO re-
ccivcd.
Argument on the election bill was
resumed or Mr.. Manning's resolution
providing for bipartisan boards.
Mr.. Watson said that in the country
it was reelection to suggest dishonest
elections, and he moved to table tho