Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-05-17
STATE CONVENTION.
South Carolina Democrats Get In
Shape for Campaign.

Shape for Campaign.
The state Democratic convention met
in the hall Of the house Of representa-
tives Wednesday at noon, organized,
got down to business and after a ses-
sion that was interrupted only by nec-
essary committee work, especially the
committee on credentials, adjourned
yesterday morning at 2.07 o'clock.
The convention, as was naturally to
be expected, very one-sided af-
fair, the Jones side being so largely in
the majority, and about the only fric-
tion that developed was among the
members Of the majority faction In the
preliminary caucuses over the question
as to who should go as delegates at
large to the Baltimore convention; but
this matter was eventually settled in
a way to the apparent satisfaction OF
all concerned.
The convention was called to order
by State Chairman Willie Jones, and a
preliminary organization was effected
with M. L. Smith of Kershaw in the
chair. There were contesting delega-
tions from two counties-Charlesto
and Georgetown-andt the issues Of the
contests were referred to a committee
on credentials, consisting Of one men,
Der from each county. except the coun-
ties from which there were contests,
with Hon. ]. E. Mcdonald Of Winns-
boro, as chairman. After a long and
patient hearing, during which the COM
mittee went as thoroughly into the
whole matter as possible, decisions
were finally arrived at and the conven-
tion then effected permanent organ
ization by the election Of Hon. Thos. G..
Mcleod as chairman.
a~1, % o q,
convention was on the question Of in
convention, and next on the question
Of endorsing candidate. 1t had been
evident from the beginning that the
Woodrow Wilson men were in an over
whelming majority and there was NO
possibility Of endorsing any other cam
didate; but the politicians who, for va
rious reasons, were opposed to Wilson,
hung tenaciously on to their purpose
and finally succeeded in killing all ef-
forts to instruct for the New Jersey
man.
After quite a lot Of parliamentary
skirmishing, which included q good
deal Of speech making, the convention
voted against instructions 17S to 1872
but later passed the following by q
vote Of 241 to 81:
ISCooifCbB 4hut lhio SohSChtioh
dorse Woodrow Wilson, without in
struction."
The bone Of contention in the pre-
liminary caucus In the Jones head
quarters the night before was who
should go as delegates-at-large to the
Baltimore convention. There were only
four places to be filled and at least a
dozen candidates. These included F,
H. Weston, Lowndes ]. Browning, John
Gary Evans, w. F. Stevenson, Richard
I. Manning. M. F. Ansel, H. C.. Folk, l.
w. Parker and several others. About
the only proposition upon which there
was a unanimous agreement was that
Governor Blease should not go. 1t was
deemed inadvisable to send Judge
Jones, because, according to precedent
1t had been customary to elect the
two United States senators, the gover-
nor and the chairman Of the executive
committee, and II was thought that II
Judge Jones should not be put forward
then there should be less criticism for
not voting for the governor. That was
one suggestion; but since there was a
lot Of talk about the firing line," the
shaking Of the plum tree" and the
preemption Of all honors for members
of our "own faith and order" there
was reason to suspect that the Judg-
ment of some of the speakers was In
fluenced by a desire to eliminate the
logical delegates so as to increase the
chances Of others who desired to go
Indeed there was some little protest
against the selection Of Tillman and
Smith on the ground that they had been
sitting far away from the smoke OF
battle and had been doing nothing to
save the state, while others were bear
ing the heat and burden of the fight In
the smoke of battle "along the firing
line" There being no other way to
settle 1t, there was a final agreement
that Tillman and Smith be elected by
reclamation, as usual and that the 9TH
|er candidates take their chances be-
fore the convention, with the caution
however, to be careful lest anything de-
velop that cause division. In case II
looked like there was danger Of toe
much Of a struggle 1t was urged the
candidates receiving the smaller num-
Der Of votes drop out and leave the field
to stronger opponents with a longer
lead. Another alarm was raised lest
Governor Blease should have some one
to object to election of the senators by
acclamation, basing the objection on
Tillman's recent newspaper proclaim
alton favoring the elimination OF
stacked cards through the election OF
all delegates, including the senators, by
ballot. 1t was urged that II this should
be done many Of the former anti Till
NANTES, who are anti Tillmanites still
to the extent that they continue to
boast of never having voted for Till
man, would take advantage Of the op-
portunity to cast their ballots against
the senator. Should the vote, as II
probably would, show the defeat OF
Tillman, or his election by very small
majority, then Tillman would get mad
come out in another newspaper proc
lamation in which he would denounce
the present lineup and throw such in
fluence as he still has to Blease. But
as subsequent events showed, these
alarms proved groundless. Evidently
realizing the hopelessness of his mi
nority, Governor Blease pursued con-
sistent policy Of nom on-antagonism. He
declined the honor Of being one Of the
four delegates to escort the temporary
chairman to his seat. He failed to an
swer when his name was called in the
roll Of delegates, and only few of his
friends had a word to say during the
entire proceedings.
When the time came to go into the
election Of delegates, Senators B. r.
Tillman and E. D. Smith were elected
by acclamation. They were nominated
by ]. w. Thurmond, manager for Judge
Jones and elected separately, the vote
in both cases being unanimous. This
left two other delegates to be elected.
and nominations were made as follows:
H. B. Carlisle nominated John Gary
Evans.
F. H. McMaster nominated F. H.
Weston.
C. j. Haynesworth nominated M. F..
Ansel
F. H. Dominick nominated Cole L.
Blease.
]. H. Clifton nominated Richard 1.
Manning.
M. L. Smith nominated L. J. Brown
ing.
The vote was taken by counties and
resulted as follows:
Counties. . Ii . !. i