The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-05-25
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
Synopsis Of What was Done 10 CoIum.
bia Last Wednesday.

The State Democratic Convention
met in Columbia last Wednesday;
pursuant to previous announcement,
and disposed Of the business for which
it had been called. The convention
was called to order at 1908 o'clock
p. m.
The convention was called to order
by D. H. Tompkins, and |. H. McCalla,
of Abbeville, was chosen as temporary
chairman, and r. L. McCown was
chosen as temporary secretary. The
tenn porary officers we're subsequently
made permanent.
Upon motion it was agreed that all
resolutions and amendments TO the
constitution be read to the convention
aud then referred to the two commit
tees without discussion. Numerous
resolutions and amendments were Of
fered. A few were adopted, but most
of them were killed.
A resolution by Mr.. Gaines was
adopted providing that in case Of the
death or resignation Of county chair
men, executive committees be author
lied to fill vacancies until the next
county convention.
A proposition to elect the State
chairman by the State convention
rather than by the State executive
committee, was killed.
Mr.. Patton sought to change the
date Of holding county conventions,
but failed.
A resolution prohibiting candidates
from using money in elections, except
for legitimate personal expenses, and
requiring each candidate to file with
the county or State executive commit
tee, as the case may be, an itcmized
statement of all expenditures, vas
adopted.
An effort to limit the amount Of
assessments that might be levied upon
candidates to 3 per cent. Of the amount
of the annual salary attached to the
Office for which they aspire, failed of
passage.
The following: offered by ar. Pat
ton of Richland, was adopted unani-
mously:
The State executive committee is
directed to provide suitable rules to
afford an opportunity to such OF the
volunteer troops of the State as shall
be mustered into the service of the
United States in the present war with
Spain, TO vote in the approaching
State and county primary elections
while they are within the United
States, although they may uc absent
from the polls, anything i'll this con-
suitution to the contrary notwithstand-
ing; and such troops shall be permit
ted to vote undef such rules if tney
are otherwise qualified; provided that
the requirements as to length of resi-
dence do not apply to such voters as
would have been qualified had they
remained at their place of residence
at the time Of their enlistment.
Unfavorable reports were submitted
on resolutions providing that campaign
meetings be held only in each judicial
circuit or each congressional district.
A vast majority of the convention
was in favor of meetings in each
county, and, as the result, there must
be Al meetings this summer.
The following, offered by Mr.. Blease
on the liquor question, was killed
after debate:
Be it resolved, That the State
Democratic Executive committee in
struct and order the managers Of the
primary election to be hel; on the
fourth Tuesday in August, 1898. to
place at each precinct or voting place
a box in which each voter shall be
allowed to cast ballot upon which
shall be written or printed, "Prohibi-
tion," High License or "Dispea-
sary," and the managers of said cleo
tions shall count said ballots and make
true returns thereof to the County
Democratic Executive committee, who
shall tabulate said returns and make
a true return thereof to the State
Democratic Executive committee, and
in case neither of the three plans re-
ceive a majority Of the votes cast in
said box at the first primary, another
election shall be held at second
primary the second Tuesday in Sep
tember, 1898, between the two plans
receiving the highest vote at the first
primary election, votes to be counted,
tabulatcd and returned as in the first
election, and that all candidates for
the general assembly in this State
be required to file with the chairman
of the Ssate Democratic Executive
committee pledge in writing, to the
effect that he or they will abide by
the result Of said election and vote
for ff e!cctcd) the passage OF an act
to carry ont the will Of the majority
as expressed in said separate box.
Mr.. Nenucdy offered a resolution
providing that no one holding an Office
will be eligible rs candidate for
another office without resisnins, un-
less the tcrm OF the office held expires
contcmporanccusly with the com
mcnscmcnt OF the term Of the new
Office asp;rcd to. The resolution was
killed.
Colonel Robert Aldrich introduced
a set of resolutions in which he sought
to secure an endorsement of the pres
cnt State administration. The reso-
nticrs ~ fayorably reported by the