Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-04-09
D1nOoaAIlc IxEcurNl coKMltrIe.
Making Ready for tho Political Campaign
this Summer

d l..
The state Democratic Executive Com
mittee met in Columbia on Thursday
night and fixed the date for the meeting
of the State Convention. An effort WAS
made 70 have the convention meet in
Charleston, but soine of the members
thought they caught the odor of mig
ger in the wood pile" and this proposi-
ton was voted down. Twenty-six of the
forty counties were represented Senator
Tillman was present by virtue of his
position as member of the National Com
mittee. Col. Willie Jones, chairman of
the committee, presided, and Mr.. u. X.
Gunter, Jr, the secretary, was in his
place.
The members present were: A. w.
Jones, Abbeville; w. w. Williams,
Aiken; J. Perry Glenn, Anderson; s. G.
ger, Barnwell: s. G.. Mccoy, Berkeley;
w. f. Stevenson, Chesterfield; Louis
Applet, Clarendon; l.. j. Williams, Edge
field; Z. III. Kitchens, Fairfield; ID. III.
Traxler, Florence; M. l.. Donaldson,
Greenville; ID. III. Magill. Greenwood; !;
M. b. McSweeney, Hampton; j. A. Nc
Dermott, Horny; ID. G. Richards, Ker-
Griffith, Lexington; w. ID. Evans, Marl.
boro; Cole l.. Blease, Newberry; w. j.
Stribling, Oconee; W.;O. Tatam, Orange
burg; Willie Jones, Rlchland; r. B. Wat
son, Saluda; Altamont Moses, Sumter;
j. G. Wilborn, York; u. x. Gunter, Jr.,
secretary; b. r. Tillman, member of the
National Democratic Executive Commit
tee.
There was considerable discussion
caused by the introduction of resolu-
tion by Mr.. Magill that no member be
allowed to vote unless that member had
been regularly elected. This was sup
ported by w. ID. Evans and @. l.. Blease,
J, II. Wharton and Altamont Moses
opposed the motion. Senator Tillman
said in reply to Mr.. Moses that it is some
times the case that members of the
National Democratic Committee are rep
resented by proxy. 1t was decided to
let members present, by proxy or other
wise, participate in the proceedings and
in the votes.
When this matter was settled, Col.
Jones announced that the committee
had received a request that the meeting
of the State Convention be held in
Charleston. He read telegram from
Major J. G. Hemphill, manager of the
department of promotion and publicity,
Offering the convention the use of an
auditorium and assuring the members of
a warm welcome. There was also tele-
gram from Capt. f. w. Wagener, presi-
dent of the Exposition, in which he asked
Senator Appelt and Mr.. j. G. Wilborn to
tion meet in Charleston.
In accordance with these invitations,
Col. Wharton offered a resolution that
the May convention of the State Demo-
cratic party be held in Charleston. In
supporting his resolution Col. Wharton
spoke in glowing terms of the exposition
and stated that the railroad fare from
most of the towns in the State would be
lower to Charleston than to Columbia on
account of the exposition rates.
Mr.. Blease offered substitute for Col.
Wharton's resolution. The resolution
fixed Columbia as the place for meeting
and the 21st of May as the date. In sup
porting his resolution Mr.. Blease spoke
in highest terms of Charleston and the
Exposition, but it would be contrary to
the spirit of the constitution of the
Democratic party for the meeting to be
held outside of Columbia.
Mr.. Bellinger contended that the first
thing to consider is whether or not it
would benefit the Democratic party for
the convention to meet in Charleston.
He intimated that certain issues might
arise which could be better discussed in
Columbia.
Mr.. w. j. Stribling, of Walhalla, said
that the fare from that place would really
be $3.50 cheaper to Charleston than to
Columbia, but the other expenses would
Offset this difference. Furthermore the
members of the convention might fall
into tho hands of the Philistines-the
blind tigers.
The motion was put and Mr.. Blease's
| substitute to hold the convention in
Columbia was carried by vote of 81 to
| 7. There seemed to be hidden reason
for objecting to the proposed change in
the place of meeting; probably some
expect matters affecting the organization
of the party to come up, and think it
best for such matters to be disposed of
away from the enchanting music of the
midway spielers.
One of these matters of party policy is
the attitude of organized Democracy
toward the so-called "Commercial Demo
Gratis" Mr.. Blease introduced resolu-
tion to the effect that the committee
advise the convention to add a new sec
tion to the oath to be taken by candi-
dates in the State primary, so that they
would be bound to support the platform
Of the National Democratic party. He
withdrew the resolution at the sugges-
tion of w. D. Evans, who declared that
it would be somewhat like arrogance for
this committee, which now goes out of
existence, to make any such suggestion
to the convention.
There was no further business and the
committee adjourned. Under the consti-
tuition of the party the Democratic clubs
in the State meet to reorganize on the
last Saturday in April, the Goth, this year.
The county conventions meet on the first
Monday in May, the 9th day, and elect
delegates to the State Convention, which
MEETS in Colnmbja on the 21st of Nav