Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-05-20
DEMOCRATS IN CONVENTION.
Continued from First Page1.


lican tendencies and in the 'preserva-
ton Of the general government in it's
whole constitutional vigOr as the sheet
anchor Of our peace at home and safety
abroad we are opposed to the central
ization policies of the present national
administration. We insist that Fed
eral remedies for the regulation
interstate commerce and the prev.
tion of private monopoly shall be add
ed to, not substituted for, state rem
edies.
The subcommittee on platform con-
sisted of Jas. A. Hoyt, Geo. S. Mower.
Richard l. Manning. j. II. Lesesne and
S. MEG. Simkins.
Committee on Rules.
When the report of the committee
on constitution and rules came up an
unfavorable report was read on res
olutions affecting the qualifications of
voters in the Democratic primary
elections. These were offered by
Samuel McCrary, Richland delegation,
Sumter and Aiken delegations. The
committee defeated the propositions
by a vote Of 81 to after a vigorous
defense by Mr.. McMahan.
The committee reported unfavora-
bly, the resolution offered by Mr..
Stevenson proposing to amend the
constitution relating to the elections
of the state chairman.
The resolution reads as follows:
Resolved, That the party consti-
tuition be amended in article as fol-
lows: Insert in line 4 after the word
office the words except the state
chairman who shall be elected by the
state convention
Add at the end of the article the
following: Provided, II the state
craftsmanship shall become vacant,
the committee shall elect a chairman
to act till the next state convention" t"
The committee reported favorably
on a resolution by the Lexington dele
cation making the rules more ex-
plicit and allowing the county execu-
tive committee to fix the dates for
county campaigns.
The committee also suggested that
the word president" apply to the
presiding officer of the convention.
1t also suggested that a candidate
In the primary must be a Democrat
before being allowed to run.
BY a vote of II to 16, the COM
mittee decided the rules should be
that he had voted in the previous
primary and his name had been ac-
cidentally left off the books, the voter
be allowed to cast ballot.
Privileges Of Voter.
The committee submitted an un-
favorable report on the resolution Of
fered by r. P. Hamer, Jr., amending
the constitution so as to allow a voter
to come in five days before the second
primary. This now applies to the
first primary.
The question of qualification of
voters upon which majority and mi
nority reports were made by the dele
cations started the fight. The various
resolutions in this matter were then
read and taken up separately.
The minority report by Mr.. McMa-
han recommended the amending Of
the constitution so that only regis
tered electors be allowed to vote.
Mr.. McMahan's Idea.
Mr.. McMahan, speaking on the mi
nority report, said that the interfer-
ence might be regarded as dangerous
by some to restrict the white mans
vote. The elimination of the negro
being aimed at, it might be regarded
by many that the white man should
be let alone. Mr.. McMahan reviewed
the history Of the constitutional re-
quirements. Two years In the state,
one year in the county and four
in precinct should be placed
into the party constitution also.
Mr.. McMahan claimed the person
voting should reside long enough be-
fore voting in place to learn the
issues. He referred to the recent
ton was strictly enforced.
Mr. MpMnhDn denied that raQiStra-
ton would harm the poor white man.
But it would be aimed at the floating
population in the larger towns.
Mr.. McMahan made an earnest plea
for primary restriction as set out in
the resolution.
The names signed to the minority
report are: r. B. Caldwell, for Ches-
ter; Jno. ]. McMahan, Richland; Jno.
II. Clifton, Sumter: ]. G. Elliott,
Lancaster; Thos. J. kirkland, Ker-
shaw; w. F. Stevenson. Chesterfield;
r. F. Smith, Pickens; ]. G. Mobley,
Fairfield.
c. L. Blease of Newberry, claimed
the effect of the adoption Of the
report would be to cut off
white people from voting. He thought
the rules strict enough.
Mr.. Blease said the benefit would be
lO HeBTOeS VI soOulI IdIOllld lclc
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.
G. r. Rembert took issue with Mr..
Blease in the matter. He did not think
the resolution would go into effect un-
til 1912, giving all time to prepare for
the new order.
F. B. Caldwell of Chester, called at
tention to the danger from votes Of
persons who have no interests in the
welfare of the government.
Upon a call for the previous question
debate was ended.
Senator Cliftons motion that the
vote be taken by counties passed.
The Vote.
By a vote of 21O to 70, the report Of
the committee which was unfavorable
was adopted.
Charleston county voted it's entire
delegation of II members for the
adoption of the report. Richland coun-
ty voted its ten members against the
adoption of the report and, consequent
ly, for the restriction Of the primary
system of voting. Nearly all the low
country counties voted for the adOp-
ton of the unfavorable report.
The vote by counties:
Yeas Nays.
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