The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-02-25
The General Assembly.
THE ELECTION BILL IN THE HOUSE.
The Australian Ballot Killed by aLarse Vote
The Eight Box Law Passed.

The House had undep consideration
the election bills, which included the
Australian ballot introduced by Mr.
Manning, of Sumter, (aud tho elgh
box law proposed by Jpdge' Townsend
Mr.. Manning saDd 1t is with
unassumed diffiienc9 that L have uu-
dertaken tho task 8f presenting this
bill, realizing as do the seriousness
OF the problem confronting us and the
great Importance Of It's wise and right
solution. Nothin9 but the earnest
provemont in our lelection system and
put it upon y higher plane OF public
task.
La introducing this till wish to state
with equal. frt4akness that l believe
II Is adopted Vt will greatly promote
purity and faiI rness Ia elections.
have tried to embody all that is just,
fair and right, and L hope that the at.
tention OF tho%ghtful men will be
that will direct pntalic sentiment and
demand the adoption OF such laws as
will insure fair electi{ons. 1t is not nv
purpose tv enter in&o a discussion to
prove that elections Shold in this State
in the past have not 6Seen honest, be-
cause believe that evsery candid man,
Of whatever party or fsection, will ad-
nit that frauds have tbeen practiced
under the election lawS heretofore in
force. Framed with }the purpose of
maintaining white s3premacy these
laws have accomplished that object,
but it has been at fea}rful cost High
toned and honorable Nm the private
affairs of life, but UNDER these prac-
tices our people have Heen taught to
believe that the end just4 4fes the means.
Such sentiment inevitably leads to
rapid downward moyeRnept of degrade
solemnly protest THAT such practices
must cease. Ill does it become the
State to set an exs$mple of fraud and
deception. She SHOULD ALWAYS aim to
teach hcr citizens tot do the things that
are right and true. SuUlL an example
must and will have an elevating esffect.
but if she sets an example of trickery !
and corruption what can we expect but
q debasing and degrading influence on
her sons? Such influence would soon
lead 20 deception among her people in
the 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 tell them to countc-
nance fraud when it comes to elections.
l believe, sir, that the constitutional
convention dealt with the suffrage
question in q commendable spirit and
taking it all in al with wisdom. Upder
the conditions now confronting u.s. we
can have honest elections and at the
same time maintain the rule Of the
Intelligent, and trust that this Cen
er&l Assembly will rise to the impor
tance OF the question, and provide for
the purity of tho ballot. am fully
aware, Mr.. Speaker, that the average
politician is afraid OF suggesting any
change which he thinks may be un-
popular among the voters, whose suf-
frage he may want, but i believe that
there is i strong and growing demand
for this reform. The governmental
and economic questions to be decided
by tho bailoo are far-reaching and all |
important ana upon their settlement
will largely depend the advancement
and progress Of the nation and State |
along material, educational and moral |
lines On questions Of momonU South |
Carolina has generally been in the !
front rank, on this question OF reform,
on which SO much depends, l hope she |
will follow her traditions Of former |
days and take the lead.
The bill which introduce cmbodies |
the essential features Of the Austria
lian ballot system certain sections |
are taken from an old law and it is
made to conform to every requirement
of the new constitution. [ will add |
that the Australian ballot system is
not a new one and it has been tried in
SO many countries and in SO many cleo
ticns that it can we'll be said to have
passed its experimental stage. 1t has
stood every test and in no instance on
record where the system has ever been
tried has it been abandoned.
Mr.. Bolton Watson then took up the
election bill and especially Mr.. Man
ning's bill. He said that the ballot
simply meant an educational qualifica-
ton. Ae hold that by forging the de-
Vices there could be frauds.
Mr.. Manning said the official ballots
dc not go outside Of the ballot box.
The stub protects the managers. The
supposed trouble has never arisen
where the law has been enforced.
Wr. Watson won't on to suggest that
managers might combine as they now
do. 1t Is unknown in what party any
of us may soon be. He was in favor of
listing conditions he did not think the
plan practicable. If all the people
were educated aud could prepare a
ballot it would be well, out the educa-
tion is not here and 1t must be recOg-
nzed. Tho eight.box system has
Objectionable features, but in compar-
isOn with this is better. He would not
willingly pass any election bill by
which old Confederate soldiers would
Of managers. There must be an elec-
tion law to provide for the substantial
white voters who are iliterate, as the
State is largely responsible for their