The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-06-10

officers, congressman and United
Senators.
All contests for all nominations at
primary elections shall be heard first
by the county executive committee OF
the county in which such irregulari-
ties may have occurred, and may be
reviewed by the State executive com
mittee, whose action shall be final:
provided that no votes shall be counted
for any candidate who does not file
with the chairman of the State execu,
tive committee, or with the respective
chairmen of the county executive
committees, a pledge in writing that
he will abide the result of such pri'
mary and support the party nominees,
and that he is not, nor will he become
the candidate for any faction either
privately or publicly suggested, other
than the regular Democratic nomina
ton; provided further, that no candl'
date shall be declared nominated un-
less he receives a majority of the votes
cast flor the office of which he is a
candidate. Provided, That the pledge
of such candidate shall be filed on or
before the day of the first campaign
meeting of the county or State respect
ively.)
Article VII. The officers of the State
convention shall be a president, one
vice president from each Congress
sional district, two secretaries and a
treasurer.
Article VIII. The State executive
committee thall be composed of one
member from each county, to be elect
ed by the county conventions on the
first Monday in May of each election
year. When elected said executive com.
mittee shall choose its own officers, not
necessarily members thereof prior to
said election: Provided, That any
officer so elected who is not member
of the committee shall not be entitled
to vote on anv question, except the
chairman, and then only in case OF a
tie vote. The State executive commit
tee shall meet at the call of the chair
man or any five members, and at such
time and place as he or they may ap.
point. The member of the National
Democratic executive committee from
South Carolina shall be elected by the
May State convention in 1896, and
every four years thereafter, and when
elected shall be eX officio member OF
the State executive committee. Va
cancies on said executive committee,
by death, resignation or otherwise,
shall be filled by the respective county
executive committees. The State ex-
ecutive committee is charged with
the execution and direction of the
policy of the party in this State,
subject to this Constitution, the prin-
ciples declared in the platform of prin-
ciples, and such instruction, by resolu-
ton or otherwise, as State conven-
tion may from time to time adopt, not
inconsistent with this Constitution,
and shall continue in Office for two
years from the time of election or un.
til their successors have been elected.
(The committee shall nominate Presi-
Dental electors and if any vacancy
occurs in the State ticket or of electors
or of member of the national eXecu-
tive committee by death, resignation
or other cause, the committee) shall
have the power to fill the vacancy
all by majority vote of the whole com
mittee.
Article TX. The vote in the respect
i've counties for all of the State otfi-
GERS, Congressman, and United States
Senator shall be transmitted by the
chairmen of the respective county eX-
ecutive committees to the chairman of
the State executive committee as ear
ly as practicable after each primary,
who shall proceed to canvass the vote
and declare the results.
Article K. When the State conven-
ton assemblies it shall be called to
order by the chairman of the State ex,
ecutive committee. A temporary
chairman shall be nominated and
elected by the convention. and after
its organization the convention shall
proceed Immediately to the election of
permanent officers and to the transac-
ton of business. When the business
has concluded it shall adjourn sine
die.
Article XI. Before the election in
1896, and each election thereafter, the
State Democratic executive committee
shall issue a call to all candidates for
State Offices to address the people of
the different counties of the State, fix
ing the dates of the meeting, and also
inviting the candidates for Congress,
United States Senate, and for solici-
tors, in their respective districts and
circuits, to be present and address the
people. At such meetings only the
candidates above set forth should be
allowed to speak.
Article XII. 1t shall be the duty of
each county executive committee to
appoint meetings in their respective
counties to be addressed by the candi-
dates for the General Assembly and
for the different Offices, all of whom,
except magistrates and supervisors of
registration), shall be elected by pri-
maries on the last Tuesday in August
of each election year under the same
rules and regulations hereinbefore
provided.
Article XIII. Each county delega-
ton to State convention shall have
power to fill any vacancy therein.
Article XIV. This Constitution may
be amended or altered at the regular
May convention OF the State or at any
convention called specifically for that
purpose, the call for which shall spec.
| ify the changes to be made.
Article XIV. Any county failing or
refusing to organize under the provis
ions of this constitution shall not have