The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-05-20
PARTY CONSTITUTION
REMAINS UNCHANGED;
STATE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
REJECTS RESOLUTION.
Qualification For Voting Remains the
Same.- State Chairman Chosen
By Executive Committee.
Summary of Work Done.

* -
4 Summary Of Work Done. Z
* A summary of the work Of the. .
State Convention, shows the fol- =
lowing:
* i. Voting requirements for pri- =
x maries were not changed. =
i 2. Chairman executive commit =
4 tee elected by committee and not 4
by convention.
& 8. Party platform adopted. .
4. Party constitution practically
= unchanged, changes mostly cleTi- >
cal.
&, 5. Practical harmony. =
x X x
Columbia, May 1S.-Ending siren
uous fight before the committee on
constitution and bylaws, and upon
the floor of the convention tonight,
the South Carolina Democratic con-
vention by vote of 210 to 79 refused
to adopt resolutions changing the
party constitution so that registration
be required to vote in the primaries.
By a. poll of the counties represented
by their delegates it was overwhelming
| ~ shown that no further restrictions
are wanted in this State in the DEM
ocratic primary. 49,. -.
There were several resolutions pre-
sented but. the main idea Of all was
that only qualified electors should, be
allowed to vote in the primaries. The
committee on constitution and by
laws submitted an unfavorable re-
port upon the resolutions, and the
vote tonight was upon the adoption OF
this report, resulting: Yeas, 210;
nays, 79. Charleston county voted
it's entire delegation Of II members
for the adoption Of the report; Rich
land county voted it's ten members
against the adoption of the report, and
consequently for the restriction of the
primary system of voting. Nearly all
the low-country, counties voted for
the adoption of the unfavorable re-
port. Newberry also voted against
any changes. ri. r. ~, =.
The question of qualification Of
voters, upon which majority and min
ority reports were made by the dele
cations, created much discussion. The
various resolutions in this matter
were then read and taken up separate
| ". The minority report by Mr.. NC
Mahan, recommended the amending
of the constitution so that only regis
tered electors be allowed to vote.
The names signed to the minority re-
port are: R. B. Caldwell, Chester;
Jno. J. McMahan, Richland; Jno. s..
Clifton, Sumter; J. G. Elliott, Lam
caster; Thos. J. Kirkland, KershaW;
W. F. Stevenson, Chesterfield; R. F.
Smith, Pickens; J. G. Mobley, Fair
field. -.
Cole. L. Blease, of NeWberry, claim
ed the effect of the adoption Of the
minority report would be to cut of
white poeplc from voting. Mr.. Blease
said the benefit would be to the ne
groes of South Carolina. There would
not be sufficient time to register all
the voters, and $4,000 voters would
be disqualified. On the jury question
/ Mr.. Blease said some men wouldn't
register, because they didn't want to
serve on the jury. R. G. Rem5ert
took issue with Mr.. Blease in the mat
ter. He did not think the resolution
would go into effect until 1912, giving
all time to prepare for the new order.
R. B. Caldwell, of Chester, called
attention to the danger from votes o.
persons who have no interests IN the
welfare of, the government. Upon a
call for the previous question debate
was ended. Senator Clifton's motion
that the vote be taken by counties
passed. The vote: Yeas, 21O; nays,
70. The unfavorable report OF the
committee was therefore adopted and
the resolution killed.
Constitutional Requirements.
The fight was upon Article 6, Of
the party constitution, with relation
to the primary elections.
That portion of the article which
it was proposed to change and which
now remains as it was, is as follows:
AT this election only Democratic
white voters, who have been residents
of the State twelve months and the
county sixty days preceding the next
general election, and such negroes as
"o!ei the Democratic ticket in 1875: