The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-04-14
IRBY is A STRAIG HTOUT.
U~ualterably Opposed to Boiling from
n National Democracy-Hc Will
Agree to No MOngrel Alliances.

Chairman John L. M. Irby, OF the
State Democratic executive committee,
was interviewed before the meeting of
his committee on the 7th inst, and ex-
pressed himself freely as to the lines
on which the party is to be reorgan-
lied. His remarks are reported as
follows by the Columbia Register:
THE constitution of the party ex-
pressly states who shall participate in
primary elections, namely, known
Democrats and negroes who have voted
the Democratic ticket continuously
since 1876. The executive committee
supplemented this part OF the constitu-
ton for the election in 1894 by opening
the doors and allowing even Republi-
cans and Populists TO participate in
the primary election, who would agree
to abide the result of the primary and
support it's nominees actively. Any
n can see that in the reorganization
OF the party on certain fixed principles
the doors must be more carefully
watched than in q primary election.
In other words, in the organization
Democrats, and Democrats alone,
should participate. In conferences and
councils on party policy none but the
true and tried should be allowed to
enter. While there might be some
excuse in primary elections tt gain all
the recruits from other parties posi-
Bile, ! do not hesitate to say that none
but Democrats who are willing to give
and take, and to abide the result and
sustain the nominees, should partici-
pate in the organization or reOrganiZa-
ton at this time.
81 do not want to be misunderstood,
for | never intended or attempted to
deceive the people of the State, since /
nave been chairman of the party, as
winkipg at a mongrel organization.
The white people, [ know, are Demo-
crsts by inheritance and have entrust.
ed the cOlors OF the party into the
committed hands as its guardian and
trustee. 1t is treachery, outright,
bare-faced. to talk of q State DemOc-
racy and a national popuiism. We
must go the whole hog or none at all.
AS chairman of the State | recognize
the authority OF the national chair
man, MI. Harrity, and am acting un-
der him as such and | propose to fight
any party whether Populist or Repub-
lican as an enemy TO the Democratic
party of this State and the United
States. [ would not like to be misun-
dersto0d, though / believe everybody
understands, that | favor free silver
and believe and have always believed
no relief can come In this direction
except through the Democratic party.
A bolt or split means ruin to the South.
If we repeat the mistake of 1860 it will
fasten upon us the Republican party
for probably so years because il VIC
can scarcely win with IL solid Demo-
cratic front hOw can we hope to with
stand the dunlnna nf annblio,ni, po
that would follow a division into two ?
1t looks now as II Mckinley will sweep
the national Republican convention in
ST. Louis. If the Southern farmers
leave the party Of their fathers, the
goldbugs of the West, North west,
North and New England States will
naturally go to the Republican candi.
date; and an Overwhelming triumph
will result for Mckinley and a Water.
loo for the Democratic party.
This would mean, in addition to the
election of President, q Republican
House. They will soon have the Sen
ate. Then would follow high tariff |
and high money, or in other words
high hats, or clothes or shoes and low
cotton for the Southern farmer. If we
stay In the party and are defeated for
President by Mckinley we may carry
ehc hSNV AtOuoOj "hlSh "Oulu 10 IL |
check upon the election of Mckinley,
who is the logical candidate of the Re-
%publicans and bound To be the nominee
unless the Republican champion of
protection in this country be repudi-
ated. If the Southern farmer remain
steadfast and sends his representatives
to Chicago instructed in favor OF free
| believe now and have always
believed we will be aole to control the
convention as far as the majority Ia
concerned and force a free silver plat
form, and prevent the nomination OF a
goldbug under the two-thirds rule.
adhere to the position taken some time
ago that this States Democracy should
send delegates instructed for free sill.
YER, who will meet their brethren of
other States upon equal and honorable
terms and do the best that can be
done, In the present emergency. II
they win they will expect the opposi-
ton to act as Democrats, IL they lose
they should NOT do less than they ex-
sect OF 0thers.p
"What is your impression of the I
among Reformers and Demo- |
rats on fShis matter ~ /