Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-08
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.


The York County Democratic con-
vention met In the court house yester-
day pursuant to the recent call of the
executive committee and 1t was un-
doubtedly the warmest political meet
ing that has occurred in this section
for a good many years. There was
rain pretty nearly all Of Sunday night,
and the weather was still very disa-
i,reeable on yesterday morning. Or
Clirariy under such circumstances the
attendance would have been small.
Had 1t not been for the publication OF
the Columbia Records article last Fri
day, 1t is probable that there would
have been but an Indifferent attend
ance even had the weather been good.
But with the intimation that the dis
pensaryites were moving, the anti-dis-
pensary people began to bestir them
Selves and while they were not out In
anything like the force they might have
mustered had they been Of a mind to,
they had no trouble in keeping control
of the situation. Log rolling COM
menced with the arrival Of the early
train from Rock Hill, and II continued
until the convention was called to or
der. There were times when 1t looked
as If the dispensary people were In the
ascendency, and some of them thought
SO up to the first test vote on the tenn
porary craftsmanship; but there 1t de-
veloped clearly that the anti-dispen-
sary people had big majority, and the
proceedings were all one way till ad-
journment. The main issue was the
county craftsmanship. There was
lineup on the temporary organization
and again on the permanent organiza-
ton; but it was only the county chair
manship and state executive commit
teeman about which the anti-dispen-
saryites were especially concerned.
They elected a delegate at large 1t Is
true; but they made no effort to name
the delegates to Columbia leaving that
entirely to the townships. After the
convention there were those who
lined from Columbia, although 1t failed
somewhat in the carrying out was
clearly shown in all the proceedings.
Altogether the developments OF the
convention were very interesting, and
II they indicate anything at all 1t would
seem that there are to be some pretty
lively times this summer.
With the announcement that he did
so by virtue of his Office as county
chairman, Senator Brice called the con-
vention to order at shortly after IL
o'clock, and proceeded with the work
of effecting a temporary organization
by calling for nominations for tempor-
ary chairman, which officer he explain
ed, must be elected by a rising vote.
Mr.. c. E. Spencer Of Yorkville, NOM
mated Mr.. w. w. Lewis of Yorkville,
and Mr.. J. F.. Ashe OF McConnellsville,
nominated Mr.. j. r. Halle OF Fort
Mill.
Rising to a question Of privilege, Mr..
Halle took occasion to say that re-
Iover South Carolina to the effect that
he had been doing underhand dirty
work in connection with an effort to
secure control of the party organiza-
ton. Whatever he has seen proper to
do, he has done open and above board,
and he desired to denounce any state
ment to the contrary as unqualifiedly
false. Any man who claimed that he
had done anything dirty or secret is a
liar.
Mr.. Haile's remarks were greeted
with liberal applause, and Mr.. w. H.
Stewart also claimed the floor on the
ground of personal privilege. He said
that he had been reflected upon by TILE
ToRKvILIE ENQUIRER, which represent
ed that he had been using his position
in connection with the Southern Cot
ton association to further political
plans, and also that he had probably
goae to Columbia and collogued the
,ditor of the Columbia Record, etc.
He wanted to say in the first place that
he had not been in Columbia since the
of the senate and In the
second place he had not whispered pol
itics at any time while going the
rounds of the county I'm the interest of
the cotton association. If any one
knew anything to the contrary, let him
speak. He had given his services to
the cotton association at great sacri-
flee, and the report to be made up to-
day would show the effectiveness of his
work. He denied that he was seeking
the position of county chairman, fur
ther than that he was willing to an
swer any call to duty, but claimed the
right to take as much interest In pol
itics as he chose. He wanted to say
that any intimation that he had been
to build up a dispensary
party in connection with his cotton as
sociation work was absolutely and un-
oualifiedly false. [Applause1.