The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-06-06
Candidates Cannot IT. eat.

At the session of the legislature II
1905 an Act was passed making certain
offences in primary elections misde.
meanoIs and prescribing a form OF
pledge to be taken and fledby every
candidate before Offering for election.
The Act was of no special interest last
year, al no primary election was held.
But in the election this summer for the
State and some of the county officers
and candidates will have to abide by
the provisions of the Act.
Among other requirements every
candidate. Immediately after the cleo
ton, must file all itemized statement
under oath showing all money spent
during the election. In at least one
county The filing ofsuch statemsni has
been required before, but only accord.
ing to the rule of the county execu-
tive committee, but it was incorpoIat-
ed into the state law at the 1905 session
of the legislature.
The provisions of the Act will be OF
interest not only to prospective candi-
dates, but to the people generally, and
is given in full as follows:
An Act making certain offences in
primary elections misdemeanors and
prescribing penalty therefor.
Section /. Be it enacted by the Gen
eral Assembly of the State of Stale OF
South Carolina at or before every pc.
litical primary election held by any
political party, organization or asso-
citation, for the purpose of choosing
candidates for office or the election OF
the election of delegates to cOnvenn.
tions: in this State, any person who
shall, by threats or other form of in.
timidatiOn, or by the payment deliv-
cry or promise of money, of other ar
ticle of value, procure or offer, promise
or endeavor to procure, another to vote
for or against any particular candi.
date In such consideration offer 10 81
vote, shall be guilty Of q misdemean-
or.
Section 2. Every candidate offer.
ing for election, under the provisions
of Section l, Shall make the follow.
ing pledge and file the same with the
Clerk of Court of Common Pleas for
the county in which he was q candi-
date, unless he should be a candidate
in more than one county, in which
case he shall file with the Secretary of
State. before he shall enter upon bis
campaign to wit;
l the undersigned
the county
and State Of South
Carolina, candidate for the office Of
........ .........hereby pledge
that l will not give nor spend money
or use Intoxicating liquors for the pur.
pose of obtaining or influencing votes,
and that 1 shall at the conclusion OF
the campaign and before the primary
election, render TO the clerk Of court
Cor Secretary of court. as b r 9 in b e
fore provided under oath, and itemi-
zed statement of all money spent OF
provided by mt during the campaign
for campaign purposes up to that time
and I further pledge that I will im'
mediately after the primary elections
that I am q candidate to render an
itemiZed statement, under oath, show.
ing all further moueys spent or prOvi.
ded by ME in said election. Provided,
that 8 failure to comply with this pro-
vision shall render such election null
and void, in 80 far as the candidate
who fails to file the statement herein
required, but shall not affect the valid
ity of the election of any candidate
complying with this section.
Section 3. That any violation OF
any Of the provisions of this act shall
be a misdemeanor, and any person, up
on conviction thereof shall be fined
not less than 800 nor more than $500
or imprisoned at hard labor for MOI
less than one month nor more thar
six months, or both fine anq imprison
ment, in the discretion of the court.
Approved the 9th, day of March
A. D. 1905.