The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-04-05
TIE STATE CAMPAIGN
BY COUNTIES.
10 NO FERS WANT n CHANGE /?
senator Tinmnn Rcplics to Some
NHesiiunS Along This Line He
Thinks the Primary is in j, opardy.

'''"''i Ailltnan KCplics To some
Questions Along This Line He
Thinks the Primary is in j, opardy
Ino following correspondence will
! prove interesting to the voters OF the
State:
pliA NC;EHURG, March l., 1900.
Ilou. Is. H. Tillman, Washington, ID. G..
My Dear Sir and Friend According
to the constitution Of the Democratic
party of South Carolina, the State
| Democratic convention will cOnvcpc IN
C"iumh hta on Wednesday, May l6Ih
1900, to elect delegates to Tic natioual
convention, Is member Of the national
Democratic executive committee and
20 make such changes Hni amendments
10 the constitution OF the Democratic
party in this State as may seem dcsira.
biu Ton the proper conduct Of the com
! lug campaign.
The object OF this communication is
to ask your opinion rs to tho propriety
and dcsirability OF amending artlclc II
o; the constitution OF the Democratic
party of this State, which reads as fol-
lows:
Article II. Before the election in
1886, and each election thereafter, the
State Democratic executive committee
SIall lSSuc S CHIl W AL CSnul lO'
State offices TO address the people OF
the different counties OF this State.
liking the dates OF the meetings, and
also inviting the candidates for Con-
gress, United states Senate and for
solicitors in their respective districts
aud circuits, TO be present and address
tho people. At such meetings only
the candidates above set forth shall
be allowed To speak
The above article is mandatory. 1t
requires the State Democratic cXccu-
tive committee TO formulate the schcd-
ulC for the whole State campaign with.
out giving the county executive com
mittccS OF the various counties any
voice in The arrangement OF the time
and place Of meeting for their rGspcC-
tive counties NlilC number OF pCO
pie, and Win apparent good reason,
think that this article Of the party con
stltution should be either entirely alb
rOgatcd, or at least SO amended as to
give the individual counties voice in
making the schedule OF the meetings.
The most potent reasons adduCcd IN
behalf Of such change or amcndmcnt
in the constitution Of our party are
these
t'lrst. The county executive com
mittcc, OF the several counties, know
ing the desire and the need OF The pcO-
pie IN their respective counties better
Than is possible for the State cXcCu-
tive CON mittcc To know. should have
the privilege Of liking a time aud q
place for the State campaign meeting
Of their respective counties.
S Second. Many Of the meetings in
the last two campaigns were merely
farces. They wcrc forced upon com.
munities at inOppOrtune times and at
places whore no meetings were desired.
This should be avoided in the future.
Third. II Is impossible to run a. cam
paign OF education on the old plan.
When all candidates arc required TO
attend the meeting at a certain time
and place, the great number present
to address the voters prcciudcs the
idea OF intelligent discussion Of grave
public questions in the brief space Of
five, ten or fifteen minutes allowed
each speaker.
Fourth. The newspaper reports OF
! the various meetings are virtually the
| same, day after day, and are usually y
| but mere stereoLypcd skeleton OF a
| skeleton argument, and in no case snf'
| hciently elaborate to express clearly
| the views Of the speakers or TO en-
tighten the hearer. Therefore, if The
meetings are to be educational, the
I will and the convenience Of the pcOpl,
must be consulted in appointing tn,
campaign meetings, SO tnat largel
audiences will be attracted and Longer
time be given to speakers.
Fifth. The proposed change in the
constitution would give each candidate
the greatest possible latitude and lib
crty in conducting his own campaign
and would give the respective counties
the right to regulate and dircc. their
own political appointments and to in
vie wn0msoever they desired TO be
| present whenever and wherever the
people wished to hear them.
S xth. Under the Old plan, a meet.
| ing is scheduled for each county,
whether desired or not, and each can.
| didate must follow the procession
throughout the State regardless OF rX.
| pcnse or convenience. The great cX-
| pcnsc Of making the canvass Of the
| State will eventually shut out 1. poor
man from running for. Il State oilicc,
| however worthy and compctcnt he
may be. This is one Of the strongest
arguments for a change.
Seventh. 1t is very desirable that
| these matters should be brought to :he
| attention Of the people for full and
free discussion before the May con.
vcntion. The foregoing arc the princl-
pal reasons, cruGcly stated, why q
change in the constitution appears to
many as very desirable. They DO not
| touch upon the numerous minor points
I that might be adduCCd.
| snall be very GLAD to hear from you
| relative 10 these points and TO any
! other that may suggest themselves to
| You IS pertinent to the question either
! Tor or against the proposed amendment
! TO the constitution.
! What | desire most and what ] be-
! tiovc the public desires is that from q
free and full discussion Of the matter s.
| plan may be evolved which will work
| for the beet interests OF the State and
! for the cOmiOrt convenience and 10,
! dependence Of boJh the candidates in
the coming campaign and the people
| who wish TO know them.
Very sincerely your friend,
JAMES u. PARKS.
In reply to this Senator Tillmar
wrote as follows
\,