Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-11-13

an elaborate discussion of details; but
in times past he has attended scores, If
not hundreds of deliberative meetings
of various descriptions in this county.
and while the conduct Of many Of them
has been faultless beyond criticism, it
is a regrettable fact that the objects
of most of them are impaired or de-
feated through failure to observe the
elementary principles Of order.
1t is very easy to understand why
the average good citizen Of much more
than average intelligence and informa-
tion knows little Of the commonly ac-
cepted rules of order. With most Of
them in this country, it has been their
to be so occupied with 9TH
er things that they have not had the
to acquire information Of
this kind, which they are disposed to
consider as so much useless red tape.
But still it is fact that order has its
place everywhere and in the success
full conduct of a public meeting 1t Is
absolutely indispensable.
But it is not necessary that the read
er become confused or alarmed. To
become really expert parliamentarian,
is a matter of years of experience. The
fundamental principles, however, nee
essary for the ordinary conduct of the
average public meeting, are so simple
as to be easily within the comprehen-
sion of a 12-year- schoolboy, and
it is merely to the fundamental prin-
ciples that it is desired to call atten-
ton now.
The first principle of parliamentary
law is one thing at a time, and the sec
ond Is one speaker on the floor at a
time. To go just little further, the
principal duty of the presiding officer
is to permit no discussion until there
is something before the house, and to
restrict the discussion to that subject.
When a quasi deliberative body begins
a running discussion, participated in
by two or more speakers at time,
some from the floor and some from
their seats, and the presiding officer
fails to enforce order, deliberation at
once goes to the winds. Until the sub
iect for discussion comes up regularly
in the form of a resolution, written or
verbal, there can be no enlightening
discussion, and so long as two or more
speakers undertake to talk at once,
there can be no order, and without de-
liberation and order there can be no
business worth the trouble.
Let no reader gather the idea that
parliamentary disorder is confined to
the meetings of farmers and business
men, inexperienced in the niceities of
parliamentary law. Disorder often
breaks out in meetings composed OF
men familiar with these things from
boyhood. In such cases everything de-
pends upon the presiding officer. He
must know the law, to begin with and
he must have the nerve and tact to en-
force it. An interesting and amusing
case in point occurred at the meeting
of the First Presbytery of the Asso-
ciate Reformed church in Yorkville
last spring, Rev. DR.. r. G. Miller, pre-
siding. The preceding question hav-
ing been disposed Of, and new ques-
ton intimated, but not offered in prop
er form, various members began dis
cussing the new proposition. one
preacher fired away at the moderator
who announced: There is nothing be-
fore the house." The speaker went on
with what he had to say and when he
concluded, the moderator repeated:
There is nothing before the house"
1t was quite a while before the pres
bytery began to appreciate the signit-
canoe of the repetition of DR.. Millers
positive, but good natured assertion;
but when it did the matter was brought
up in proper form and good order was
restored. From thenceforward the
meeting proceeded regularly.
The fundamental principles of par
liamentary order, sufficient for the
government Of any general public
are:
l. Question before the house in a
regular manner.
2. Every speaker Snoulu rise peAoie
the chair, even II he is TO-
say but a single word.
z. No two speakers should try to-
occupy the floor at once. The chalr
decides the preference.
4, A new subject should not be
taken up until the former subject has
been disposed Of.
OF course, parliamentary law Is not
without its endless niceities and ramifi-
cations, and the study Of it Is most in
teresting: but as stated, the above
principles are sufficient for the conduct
of ordinary business. Failure to OBJ
serve these principles inevitably result
in confusion.