The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-08-20
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ELECTION.
The Law Governing the Primary
and Rules for Conducting the
Election.

Many voters are not as we'll inform
ed as they might be IN regard to the
qualifications that are necessary Ito
vote in the primary election, and if
they will carefully examine the follow
ing rules and regulations it may save
them trouble and disappointment on
the day of election. Too many people
take it for granted that as they are
known to be Democrats, it is unneces-
sary for them to comply with the re-
quirements of the law governing >the
primaries, but it is absolutely requis-
ite that certain conditions be fulfilled,
which the managers are sworn to en-
force in the conduct Of the election.
Article VI of the constitution Of the
Democratic party says: At this cleo
tion only Democratic white voters who
have been residents of the State twelve
months and the county sixty days pre-
ceding the next general election, and
such negroes as voted the Democratic
ticket in 1876, and as have voted the
ticket continuously since, to be shown
By the certificate OF ten white Demo
cratic voters, who will pledge them
selves to support the nominees Of such
elections, may vote: Provided, That
no person shall be allowed to vote eX-
cept his name be enrolled on the par
tic1lar club list at which he offers to.
vote, at least FIVE days before the first
election. Each club shall have sepa-
rate polling place for primary cleo
tions.
Rule /. The qualification for mem
bership in any subordinate club OF the
Democratic party OF this State, or for
voting at Democratic primary, shall
be as follows, viz: The applicant for
membership, or voter, shall be q
years Of age, or shall become SO before
the next succeeding general election,
and be white Democrat, or negro
who voted for General Hampton in 1875
and who has voted the Democratic
ticket continuously since. Provided,
That no white man shall be e1cluded
from participation in the Democratic
primary who shall take the pledge re-
quired by the rules of the Democratic
party.
The managers at each box at the
primary election shall require every
voter in Democratic primary election
to pledge himself to abide the result
of the primary, and to support the.
nominees of the party, and to take the
following oath and pledge, viz. 80
do solemnly swear that l am duly quail.
ifed to vote at this election accord
ing. to the rules Of the Democratic
party, and that have not voted be-.
fore at this election, and pledge my
self to support the nominees OF this
primary.
In the coming primary election there.
are two tickets to be voted, one for
United States Senator and State off,
GERS and the other for Congressman
and county officers. The tickets are
supplied to the managers with the
names of all the candidates printed
thereon, and the voter must scratch
out the names Of those for whom he
does not wish to vote. No other ticket
is allowed, and partly written and
partly printed tickets will not be
counted by the managers. Registra-
ton certificates are not required in the
primary election.
The first primary will be held on
Tuesday, August 26tb, and the second
primary on Tuesday, Sept. 9th. The
polls viii be opened at s O'Clock IN the
morning and will be closed at 4 o'clock
in the afternoon. The managers are
required to count the votes immediate
" after the polls are closed, and the
count must be made in public, which
means that disinterested persons are
entitled to be present while the votes
are being counted, and that secret
count by the managers would oe