The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-03-31

2. Doubters.-Those who fear tha
white supremacy will be endangered
by leaving the Democratic party, anC
who are loathe to break up lifelong
associations, while at the time they
earnestly desire to secure reforms in
national finances which they doubt
very much the possibility of securing
through the machinery Of the National
Democratic party. They are at sea,
and they hardly know what to do.
remain in the organization until they
see what the Chicago convention will
do, saying that unless an unequivocal
free silver platform is adopted and a
candidate nominated who is above sus-
p1cion as to his loyalty to silver, they
intend to bolt and ally themselves
with free silver men of the West.
4. Seceders. who have lost
all confidence in the National Demo-
cratic party and have determined to
sever their connection with the organ
ization and will not participate in the
club meetings called to elect deles ates
to the State convention held to choose
party representatives to be sent to
Chicago. They prefer to be repre-
sented in the silver convention which
meets in st. Louis on the 22d of july,
and will organize with that in Wow.
AS the May convention is not far off
1t might be we'll to ask for an opinion
from you on these questions at your
Democratic party in South Carolina as
TO the relationship existing between q
private member Of said party and the
national convention. The members of
the party. assemble at the various
precincts in their club meetings and
RlantQ 1nlnpofnc 70
tion. This body thus made up elect
delegates to the State convention,
which, being made up by delegates
from the various counties in the State,
elects eighteen t18) men to be sent to
Chicago to represent the party in the
national convention. Then does not
every voter who attends the club meet
ing at his precinct and participates in
the convention thereby assume an OBJ
legation to abide by the result of the
national convention and to support the
nominee OF the party? This argument
was used in 1892 TO keep the party in
line and to help carry the State for
Cleveland.
In reference to the primary election
for nomination of congressional, State
and county officers, does voting there
IN bind one to support the national
Democratic nominee for President? +?
Has not any white man the right, ac-
cording to the rules, to vote in the |
primary election If he will simply |
pledge him to ebide by the result and |
vote for the nominees of tho primary |
at the general election, voting what
ticket he pleases for Presidential
electors l would be please to hear
from from you on these questions at your
earliest convenience. 1t would be
well also for these matters to be laid
before your committee when it meets.
Some authoritative statement in re-
gard to these matters ought to be
given to the public.
l desire to give this to the press as
an open letter, but send it to you first
80 that your answer may appear with
1t. Yours respectfully,
WASHINGTON, March 2l.-Mr. J, w.
Read, Dear Sir: Replying to your letter
Of recent date, | will say that the ex,
ecutive committee, which meets on
the 7th of April, will take under con-
sidcration the questions propounded
in your letter. An answer from that
source, no doubt, will be moro salts
factory to you. In any event | prefer
to wait until it meets.
Respectfully,
j. l.. Nj. IRBY.
REIDvILLE, S. c., March 23.-Hon.
J. l.. M. Irby, Chairman State Demo
cratic Executive Committee, Wash
lngton, d. c.: Dear Sir: Your favor
Of the 2lst instant received. hope
you will lay these questions before
your committee when it meets and
publish statement from them.
Your respectfully,