The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-05-27
Democratic Constitution as
Amended in Columbia.
Candidates for United States Sena-
tor Still to be Chosen by Primary.
Each Club to Have Separate Voting
Place IN Primar1es-EacA Canda-
didote to Pledge Himself Before the
First Campaign Meeting-A Ma
jority Required to Elect

sti,ution of the party was adopted last
night without much discussion-there
were bigger fish to fry. The ins'ru-
meu, is of great importance to the
Democrats of the State. It is as tot
lows:
Constitution of the Democratic party of
South Carolina as adopted in State
Convention at Columbia, S G. May
20, 1896:
Article I. There shall be one or
more Democratic clubs organized 10
each township or ward. each of which
clubs shall have distinct title. The
Democratic Club and shall!
elect president. one or more vice pres
ideuts. recording aud a corresponding
secretary aud a treasurer, and shall
have the following working committees,
of not less than three members each,
viz: A committee 90 registration, an
executive committee and such other
committees as to each club may seem
C6NcO'cuG.
Article II. The meetings of the
club shall be frequent after the opening
of the canvass, and some member of
the club or invited speaker deliver an
address at each meeting, if practicable
The clubs shall meet on the fourth
Saturday in April aud the county con-
veutioo on the FIRST Monday in May.
respectively, of each election year ::
Provided. that the county executive
committee may name any other day
within the same week for such club
meeting by gi9ing a; least two weeks
notice by advertisement in county pa
pers. Each county sbal! be entitled to
double the number Of delegates in the
State Convention as Ii has members ln
the General Assembly.
Article III The president or Eve
members shall have power to call an
extra meeting of the club. an at such
extra meeting one.fourth of the mem-
bers shall constitute quorum for the
transaction of business.
Article w. The clubs in each coun-
ty shall be held together and operate
under the control of county executive
committee. which shall consist of one
member from each club. to be elected
by the respective clubs. The execu-
tive committee. when elected, shall
appoint its own officers, Except the
chairman, who shall be elected by the
county convention, who shall not ne
cessarilly be members Of said commit
tee, but vacancy in the membership
Of the committee shall be fled by the
club, through the loss of whose mem.
Der by death, resignation OF otherwise
the vacancy occurs: Provided, that any
officer Sc elected who is not mem Der
of the committee shall not be entitled
to a vote os any question except the
chairman, and then only 10 case Of a
tie vote. The tenure Of Office of the
executive committee shall be unit the
FIRST Monday 10 May Of each election
year, at which time the county conveu.
tions shall be called together to reor-
ganize the party. Every Presidential
election year county conventions shall
be called by the county executive CON-
mitsee TO meet on the first Monday in
May, which shall elect delegates to a
State Convention called for the purpose
of electing delegates to the National
Democratic Convention and to elect the
member of the national Democratic
executive committee from this State.
The State Convention shall be called by
the State executive committee to meet
every Presidential election year on the
third Wednesday in May, and every
State election year and State couven-
tious shall meet on the first Monday 10
May and the third Wednesday in May
respectively
Article V. County Democratic Con-
ventions shall be composed Of delegates
elected By the severa! local clubs, Que
delegate for every twenty-five voters,
as shown by the poll list made at the
preceding first primary election in an
election year. and one delegate for a
majority fraction thereof, with the
right to each county convention to en-
large or diminish the representation &C
cording to circumstances. The county
conventions shall be called together BY
the chairman Of the respective execu-
tive com mittees under such rule, not
inconsistent with the constitution Dor
With the rules adopted by the State
Democratic executive committee. as
each county nay adopt, aud when as
sembied shall be called to order by the
chairman of the executive committee,
and the convention shall proceed to
nominate aud elect FROM among its
members president. ore or more vice
presidents, secretary and treasurer.
Any county convention may permit or
raoorc;,o tho formatinn of new clnh