The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-05-21
TIVE STATE CONVENTION.
FAVORS \ WIDE OPEN PRIMARY
OTHER MATTERS.
Voted by Overwhelming Majority
Against Restricting Vote i'm PVT
mary to- Registered VOtcs--Plat-
form Adopted Seminole Joues
Only Bone of Contention.

nlBnt killeu TWO important changes
suggested in the rules and constitu-
tion: These changes were:
l. Requiring that the same quail
fcations obtain in the primary as In
the general election.
2. That the convention hereafter
elect the chairman of the State DEM
ocratic Executive Committee instead
OF the committee, as at present.
There were other matters brought
up and discussed but 1t was around
these two propositions that members
worked for or against and discu ssed
in lobbies and on the streets. On the
first proposed change there was roll
call. On the second the vote was viva
voce.
Then there was resolution con-
demning the United States attorney
general for his recent action IN pro-
scouting certain cotton deolers and
also commencing United States Sem
ator Smith for his stand in the mat
ter.
Everything else was routine and
harmonious. In fact 1t could not have
been called anything but harmonious.
With the exception of some remarks
made last night on the Stevenson res
olution there was no feeling.
The fight as to the right of the
convention to elect a chairman of the
State Executive Committee is familiar
with those who have followed thu dis
cussion jat the meeting Of the State
Exective Committees. The Chester
field delegation was instructed to urge
a change and w. F. Stevenson of that
county fought for a change at the
meeting of the committee and on the
floor of the convention. 1t was on
the floor of the convention that there
was some discussions between Jas. A.
Hoyt of this city, editor of The Rec
ord. and Mr.. Stevenson. Mr.. Hoyt
having stated locally that the pro-
posed change was a fight on Gen.
Jones because of the latter's interest
In the Seminole Company, being a di-
rector in that concern. This cause
Mr.. Stevenson denied and Mr.. IIoyt
afterwards said that he was RESPONSE
bic for the article and thought that it
was a personal fight on Gen. Jones.
The defeat of the proposition ended
the incident
The fight was on article six of the
party constitution with relation to the
primary election.
The McMahan resolution upon
which the discussion was directed, in
part provided that after the words
''at this election" ETC., strike out
who have been residents of the State
IL months and the county 60 days
preceding the next general election" :"
and to insert thereof the words,
whose names shall appear on the
registration books of the county and
who when they offer to vote shall make
oath that they are registered electors
of said county," Mr.. McMahan's res
olution was the minority report Of
the committee. There were several
other resolutions along the same lines.
But the adoption Of the report meant
the defeat of all.
When the convention was called to
Or6ar G nieyh Mr 10
chairman. read the report on a num-
Der of matters submitted to his COM
mittee.
y resolution urging all Democrats
to vote not only in the primary but in
the general election was adopted
without discussion.
The resolution called attention to
the fact that there should be a lar6c
vote for Democratic congressman ~
do away with usual contests before
the congressional committee and also
tho fact that jury commissioners have
larger field 10 select jurors.
The unfavorable report on a pro-
posed resolution urging the general
t.s' mbly to pass stricter game laws
oas adopted without discussion, as
was the unfavcrable report urging
certain national aid for good roads.
y substitute for a resolution intro
duced by the Anderson delegation.
c"ndCmninS the efforts of Attorney
General Wickcrsham i'm prosecution
Of cotton bulls" was adopted.
The platform was then read and
adopted without discussion:
THE PLATFORN
THE Democrats Of South Carolina
i'm convention assembled, express their
qualification that the signs of the
times point TO general dissatisfaction