The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1906-04-20
COMING PRIM ARY.
CANDIDATES MUST FILE STATE
MENT OF CAMPAIGN EXPENSES.
and Pledge Themselves Not to Use
Money or Whiskey to In
fluence Voters.

At the session of theS legislature In
1905 an act was passed making certain
offenses in primary elsctioias misde
meanors and prescribing q form, OF
pledge TO be taken aud flied by every
candidate before Offering for election
The act WAS OF no special interest i,as,
year, as no primary election was belN
But ia the election this summer for
the state and some OF the county OF
hc2s all candidates will have to abide
by the provisions Of the act.
Among other requirements every
candidate, Immediately after the cleo
tion, must file an itemiz ID statement
under oath showing all moneys spent
during the election. In at least one
county the filing of such a statemen,
has been required before, but only ac-
cording to rule OF the county exaou-
hVe committee, but IL was inoornora-
Ted Into the state law at the 1905 sas-
sion of the legislature. The provisions
OF the act will bs Of interest not only
TO prospect 'e candidates, but to the
people generally, and is giYeu in full
as follows:
AN act making certain offences In
primary elections misdemeanors and
prescribing penalties therefor.
Section l--Be 1T enacted by the gen.
eral assembly of the state OF South
Carolina, at or before every political
primary election held by any political
party, organization or association, for
the purpose OF choosing candidates for
office, or the election OF delegates t.
conventions, In this state, any person
who shall, by threats, or any other
form Of intimidation, or by the pay
mant, delivery or promise of money
Or other article of value, procure or
offer, promise or endeaver TO procure,
another to vote for or against an7
particular candidate In such consider.
atlon, offsr to 80 vote, shall be guilty
of q misdomsauor.
Saction 2-EverY candidate Offering
for election, under the provisions Of
SecMon l, shall make the following
pledge and file the same with the
clerk Of court of common pleas for the
county In which he is q candidate, un-
less he should be o candidate in more
than one county, In which case he
shall file with the secretary of state,
befole he shall enter upon his cam
paign, to-wit:
/, the undersigned. ...... of the
county oI... ........ ....and state OF
South Carolina, candidate for tie
office OF. ....... hereby pledge that l
Will not give nor spend money or use.
lntUxicatiEg lIQd0rs FOR the purpose OF
obtaining or influencing votes, and
that / shall, at the conclusion OF the
campaign and before the primary
election, render to the clerk OF court
(pr secretary of state, as hereinbefore
osoVided) under oath, an itemized
statament OF all moneys spent or pro
yided by me during the campaign for
ampaisn purposes up to that time,
Ind | further plc6ge that l will, i'm.
ncdiat2ly after the primary election
or election that am q candidate in,
render an itemiz4d statemeut under
,ath. showing all further moneys spent
" provided by me Ia said lection.
Provided, that failure to comply
Win this provision shall rende. aucn
lec5i n null and void, In so far as the
iindi ate who fails TO file the state,
neat herein required, but shall not
sffocb the valldiJy OF the election O.,
candidate complying with thiB sec
ion. And provided, further, thai
tuch itemzed statement and pledge
shall be open 20 public inspection ~
al times.
Section 3-Thab any violation cfany
II the provisions OF thia act shah b
mtsdcmcanor, and any person, upon
conviction thereof, Bhall be aued p0t
less that 800 nor moro than $500
or be imptisoned at hard labor
for no5 less than one month nor more
THAI elk mouths or both fine aod In
prlSonnent, In the discretion Of the
court.