Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-10
REFORM OF THE PRIMARY.
Senator TilInan Says the Legislature
Should Take the Matter Up,

SEtW VT
Senator Tillman Says the Legislature
Should Take the Matter Up.
Washington, January I've
must either reform the primary sys-
tenn by law or see it die" warns Sen
ator Benjamin Ryan Tillman, in an
open letter to the South Carolina
general assembly, soon to meet, In
which II Is urged that legislation be
enacted to safeguard the primary sys-
tenn Of election in this state. IF we
enacted to safeguard the primary sys-
tenn" writes Senator Tillman, "and
make 1t above suspicion, good gov
ernment in the state is doomed. The
senior senator again warns the peo-
pie against the negro being used In
politics under white leadership; If
the black population be thus mobiliz-
ed, he thinks, offices Of trust and pow
er will become mere "pawns In the
game Of politics, to be bought by the
highest bidders"
Following is the statement:
No Attempt to Dictate.
'T dislike to have the appearance
even of assuming the right to dictate
to the general assembly, and such is
not my purpose now. But for rea-
sons unnecessary to enumerate, 1eel
that I have a duty to perform In the
present instance.
White Supremacy Endangered.
"The angry passions aroused last
summer in the state campaign Tor
governor have in a measure subsided,
and the people have cooled on. TO
my mind there was great danger to
white supremacy and Democratic
unity which has now happily passed.
But unless every possible safeguard Is
thrown around the primary system
by law, rules and regulations made
so plain and Of such a just and rea-
sonable nature as to compel honesty
and fair play in the primary-the
system Is doomed and the people OF
the state will settle their political
differences at the polls in November
Just as they do now in all border and
northern states.
Two White Parties Impossible.
There are many people in South
Carolina who would be glad to see
two white parties in the state. Were
conditions different, I myself, would
like to have two white parties, but
as things are now 1t would mean the
mobilization Of the negro and his ac-
tive and aggressive return to state
politics under white leadership.
A Dire Calamity.
"I know of no calamity greater
than this that could overtake our peo-
pie. I speak advisedly, for I went
through the reconstruction period and
know the degradation to which our
people sank, the rottenness and cor
ruption that were in our politics, and
NJ hty- nd q n
a kissing, and I know how hard 1t
was to get the white men to lineup
shoulder to shoulder and throw off the
yoke. From 1858 to 1876 we had the
vilest and most corrupt government In
South Carolina that has ever existed
in any state Of the Union, except
Louisiana.
Offices as Pawns.
THE negroes outnumber us in
South Carolina by more than one
hundred and fifty thousand and a
large number Of them are either reg
istered or eligible for registration, II
they should ever be modified and led
to the polls by white men In the
struggle for mastery and control, then
we can never save the state from
repetition of even greater corruption
than we have already endured. The
state dllu VII,
to say nothing Of the railroads, would
use money lavishly, and the governor
ship and the United States senator
ship, to say nothing Of the congress
sional delegation, would become
pawns in the game Of politics to be
bought by the highest bidders.
Remedy by Legislation.
The Democratic party of South
Carolina, when 1t meets again in con-
vention. will no doubt deal with this
question, but the legislature ought to
deal with 1t now, at this coming ses-
sion, while the memory Is fresh and
knowledge Of intensity of feeling has
not faded away.
General Outline.
81 cannot and will not indicate just
what sort of law the legislature
ought to pass. The details must be
worked out in committee, but I can
and will outline the general policy
which should govern us in this crisis:
First: The primary ought to be
honest and fair and above all sus-
picion.
Second: No man ought to OBJ
ject to whatever expense and trouble
are necessary to secure such regis
tration and preparation Of the Demo-
cratic club rolls as will insure hon
esty and fair play. 1t must not be left
to hazard and guess work.
Third: Stringent rules and regu-
lations are required. No man should
participate in the primary to nomi-
nate, that is not willing and able to
stand the test of registration to par
ticipate in the general election.
1.-The rules should be few, plain and
simple, but they must be enacted in
to law in order to compel compliance
with them. Rigid punishment ought
to be provided for any man who neg
lects to comply with all conditions
and rules or he ought to lose his vote.
An honest and fairly conducted prf-
mary can and will command the en-
dorsement and support Of all right
thinking white people; dishonest one
will command the support Of nobody.
Reform or Death.
I'VE must either reform the pri-
mary system by law or see 1t die. No
decent man will object or resist the
rule of the majority fairly expressed.
Let us see to it that none but duly
qualified citizens vote at the Demo-
cratic primary, and danger OF trouble
will disappear. II we do not safe
guard the primary system and make
it above suspicion, good government
in the state is doomed. We want no
man in the Democratic primary who
votes the Republican or other nation
al ticket In the general election.
II write the above believing that I
will never ask the people to vote for
me in another primary, because be-
lieve l will be dead before another
senator to succeed me is elected.
Therefore, no charge of selfish or per-
sonal motive can be justly made
against me taking the position do. 1t
is solely because 1 know the danger,
having passed through the crisis once,
nlrn hol 70 This ~