The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-02-27
The General Assembly.
THE ELECTION BILL IN THE HOUSE,
The Australian Ballot Killed by Large Voto-
The Eight Box Law Passed.

Tho House had undor consideration
the election bills, which included tho
Australian ballot introduced by Mr..
Manning, Of Sumter, and tho oight
box law proposed by Judge Townsend,
OF Marlboro.
Mr.. Mapning said: 1t Is with
unaseumed dinidonce that ] have un-
dertakcn the task Of presenting this
bill, realizing % J do the seriousness
Of the problem confronting us and the
great Importance Of its wise and right
solution. Nothing but the earn est
conviction that We must have an i'm
provcmcnt in our election system and
put it upon u highor plano Of public
morals has made mo undertake tho
task.
In Introducing this bill wish to state
with equal fraukncss that | believe
If it is adopted it will greatly promote
purity and fairness in elections. l
have tried to embody all that is just,
fair and right, and I hope that tho at
tention Of thoughtful men will be
drawn to the subject with an interest
that will direct public sentiment and
demand tho adoption OF such laws as
will insure fair elections. 1t is rot my
purpose to enter into discussion to
prove that elections held in this State
in the past have not been honest, be-
cause believe that every candid man,
OF whatever party or faction, will ad
init that frauds have been practiced
undcr the election laws heretofore in
force. Framed with the purpose of
maintaining white supremacy these
laws have accomplished that object,
but 1T has been at a fearful cost. High
toned and honorable in the private
affairs Of lifo, but under these prac-
tlces our people have been taught to
believe that the end justiiics the means.
such sentiment inevitably leads to a
rapid downward movement Of dcgrada-
tlon OF public morals. Against this,
Mr.. Speaker, l raise my voice and
solcmnly protest that such practices
must cease. Ill does it become tho
State to set an example of fraud and
deception She should always aim to
teach her citizens to do the things that
are right and true. Such an example
must and will havo an elevating effect,
but if she sets an example Of trickery
and corruption what can we oXvcct but
q deDasing and degrading Influence on
her sons? Such influence would soon
lead to deception among her people in
tho private affairs Of life. No, sir.
We can not afford it. We, who have
sons to bring up, can not tell them to
be upright and honest In private
affairs, and then toll them to counte-
nance fraud when it comes to elections.
! believe, sir, that the constitutional
convention dealt with tho suffrage
question in Il CONNIE ndable spirit and
taking it all in all with wisdom. Under
the conditions now confronting u.s. VIC
can have honest elections and at the
M a n hn Of n
intelligent, and [ trust that this Cen
eral Assembly will riso to the impor-
tanco Of the question, and provide for
the purity OF the ballot. | am fully
aware, Mr.. Speaker, that tho average
politician is afraid of suggesting any
change which he thinks may be un-
popular among tho voters, whose suf-
frage he may want, but I believe that
there is Il strong and growing demand
for this reform. Tho governmental
and economic questions to be decided
by the ballot arc far-reaching and all
important, and upon their settlement
will largely depend the advancement
and progress Of the nation and State
along material, educational and moral
lines. On questions Of moment South
Carolina has generally been in the
front rank, on this question of reform,
on which SO much depends, / hope she
will follow her traditions Of former
days and take the lead.
The bill which introduce embodies
the essential features Of the Austria
lian ballot system-certain sect 'Ons
are taken from an old law and 1t is
made to conform to cyery requlrement
of the now constitution. | will add
that tho Australian ballot system ID
not q new one and it has been tried in
30 many countries and in so many clecr
tions that it can well be said to have
passed its experimental stage. II has
stood every test and in no instance on
record where the systcm has over been
tried has it bcon abandoncd
Mr.. Bolton Watson thon took up the
election bill and especially Mr.. Man
simply meant cn educational qualinca-
tion. He held that by forging tho de-
vices there could be frauds.
Mr. Manning said the official ballots
do not 90 outside Of the ballot box.
The stub protects the managers. Tho
supposed trouble mas mover arisen
where tho law has been enforced.
Wr. Watson won't on to suggest that
managers might com bine rs they now
do 1t is unknown in what party any
OF us may soon be. He was in favor Of
the OBJECTS OF the bill, but under eX-
listing cond tions he did not think the
plan practicable. If all the people
were educated and could prepare IL
ballot it would be we'll, out the educl-
tion is not here and it must be recvg.
nized. Tho eight-box system Ea.
Objectionable features, but in compar.
ison with this is better. He would not
willingly pass any election bin by
which old Confederate soldiers would
have to vote according to the dictates
of managers. There must be an eiec
tion law to provide for the substantial
white voters who are illitorato, as the
State Is largely responsible for their
condition. The only safe thing is tt
carry out the arrangements we now
have. This can DO dnne to tho salts
faction of everyone.
Mr.. Manning insisted that ho would
leave 1T to any unprejudlced man as tc
whether his bill was not more guarded
against fraud than tho cight-box law
He had no idea Of disfranchising any
one and was willing to give illiterates
assistance.
Mr. Francis FL. Weston, of tho Rich
land delegation, took up tho subjec