The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-06-06
THE ccMMiTTEE AFRAID THEY MIGHT
OFFEND.

4Es tCa.sIi ! e AENH4N 3tt%~
OFFEND.
The State Democratic Execu-
tive Committee balked at shad-
ow when called upon to construe
/ that provision of the party con-
stitution which refers to faction
al nominations, and instead of
meeting the question as Repre-
sentatives should, they repeat
the milk and water decision of
two years ago. Not a member OF
the committee doubted that the
meaning of the constitution was
to prevent these preliminary
nominations within the party, SO
that all candidates can go before
the people on the same footing.
Instead of making a positive con-
struction, they shillyshallied
around the question by adopting
a resolution which is so eX-
pressed, as to leave room for
consciences to be stretched to fit.
The language of the constitu-
ton is as follows:
That no vote shall be counted for any
candidate who does not file with the
chairman of the State Executive Com
mittee or with the respective chalrmen
of the County Executive Committees, a
pledge in writing that he will abide the
result OF such primary and support the
nominees thereof, and that he is not nor
will ne become the candidate of any
faction, either privately or publicly
suggested, other than the regular DEM
ocratic nomination.
In order that there might be
no opportunity for misunder-
standings with regard to the in
tent and meaning of the above,
we introduced the following res
olution:
Whereas, There is some contention
AS to the proper construction of a cer-
tain provision of Section of the consti-
tuition of the State Democratic party,
which said provision OF said section
reads as follows: provided, that no
vote shall be counted for any candidate
who does not file with the chairman OF
the State Executive Committee, or with
the respective chairmen of the County
Executive Committees,a pledge in writ
ing that he will abide the result OF such
primary and support the nominees
thereof, and that he is not nor will he
become the candidate of any faction,
either privately or publicly suggested:
other than the regular Democratic
nomination"
Be it resolved, That the Democratic
State Executive Committee hereby con-
strues said proviso in Section + to mean
that it is in violation of the intent and
meaning of the constitution of the Dem
ocratic party for any person or persons
to become candidates in the primary
elections to be held under the auspices
of the Democratic party OF this State
who have been, or may be, nominated
or suggested by any other organlza-
tion or faction.
This brought out much discus
sion, and if the speeches of
some of the members who
opposed the resolution had
been published they would pre-
sent ridiculous attitude. We
refer to those who took the posi-
ton that factional nominations
were in violation of the party
constitution, but to say so now,
after nominations had been made,
might cause an independent
movement, and, as a matter OF
policy, they accepted a substi-
tute offered by Col. R. B. Wat
son, and which reads as follows:
Resolved, That we interpret the con-
stitution as disapproving factional NOM
nations, but if the pledges are signed
by the candidates as individuals the
votes will be counted.
1t will be noticed by reading
the resolutions offered by US
there was nothing said about
what candidates could do if they
signed the pledge, and there was
no threat to throw out votes. 1t
was plain question founded in
the constitution which demanded
an unequivocal answer. What
was the purpose of the conven-
ton? Did that body intend to
prevent preliminary nominations
within the party? What is meant
by the language 'sand he is NOT
nor will he BECOME the candi-
date of any faction, either pri-
vately or publicly suggested,
other than the regular Demo
cratic nomination." A plain,
straightforward answer was nee
essary to throw light on matter
which some people differ on, but
it came sugar-coated instead OF
plain and positive.
Candidates in the primary
must, under the party law, sign
a pledge: that pledge must be