The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-05-11
CHANGE THE ROLLS.

CHANGE THE ROLLS.
We take the liberty of suggest
ing to the members Of the Clar-
endon delegation to the State
Democratic convention to become
an active force in said conven-
ton by introducing a resolution
which should be adopted as a
rule of the party, to the effect,
that there shall be at least one
club in every township and that
no voter shall be allowed to vote
in any other township than the
one in which he resides, provid-
ing also that a voters name can
only be enrolled upon one club.
In order to insure accuracy in
the enrolment, the county exec
utive committees should be
charged with the duty of exam
ining certified copies Of the club
rolls at least twenty days before
the primary election, and where
they find a name enrolled upon
two rolls to strike one off from
the club farthest away from the
voters residence.
It is conceded that a great IN
Justice is done by the present
method of enrolment, and the
only way we can ever have fair
ballot and a just representation
is for some action Of the kind we
indicate, to be taken by the State
convention. There is nothing, in
our opinion calculated to cause
disintegration and dissatisfaction
in our political affairs more than
notorious unfairness. and as our
primaries are in realty the cleo
ton, we should safeguard our
methods so that every man IN
the party will have equal rights.
In the recent convention it was
manifest that the representation
was entirely out Of proportion.
There was 95 delegates which
represented 2375 votes. Where
are they: Certainly not in Clar-
endon. Then why shall this
county cling to a representation
which it is not entitled to? It
may be argued by some that ad-
ditional delegates in the conven-
ton cannot result in evil, because
when itcomes to a vote at the
primary the matter adjusts Is
Self, but such argument will NOT
suffice, when it is a known fact,
that by having names enrolled
upon several clubs advantage
has been taken Of such a condi-
ton, by men who haveno regard
for fairness, and which resulted
in more votes being polled than
there are legitimate voters.
Clarendon at her full vote may
poll as many as 1850, which mum,
Der the party rules would
give in convention 66 delegates,
then why have 95? According
to the enrolment of the three
court house clubs there are about
700 voters, which is nearly one
half Of the voting strength Of
the entire county, yet when it
came to an actual vote, less than
one-half OF this number showed
up. We contend instead of the
court house clubs electing 27 del
egates as they did, they were not
entitled to over Il, and by going
into convention with 81 elected
delegates, it was unjust to the
country clubs as everybody
must admit when they learn the
true facts. What harm is there
in it? The harm comes in con-
centrating power and control in,
to the hands Of a few at the
court house who gain advantage
by the manipulation of the polit-
ical machinery, and virtually
making the country clubs a scat
tered unorganized force.
Whether harm results from
this unfair concentration of pow
er or not, it is not fair and the
delegates to the State convention
should seek to remedy this men
ace to party harmony by the
adoption of a rule which gives a
fair representation to every club
and prevent the possibility Of
fraudulent practices.