The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-08-06
MANNING, s. c.. WEDN NESDAY. AUGUST 6. 1913
REFORM THE PRIMARY
DEFINITE SUGGESTIONS MADE
on IMPORTANT SUBJECT.

John j. McAIahan Points Out Clearly
the Correct Method of Primary
Elections.
To safeguard the primary election
the right to vote should be regulated
by the Democratic party constitution
as follows:
1. Only legal voters enrolled. No
name should be placed on the club
roll unless the man presents his reg
istration certificate and tax receipt
for the auditors certificate Of his
non-liability to taxes), showing that
he is legal voter of that county and
precinct, and thus able to fulfill his
pledge to support the nominees OF
the primary.
2. Registration certificates and
tax receipt. He should present to
the election managers the same evil
dences OF his qualification to vote in
the general election. There would be
no necessity for the repetition of
this proof If there were complete
new enrolment every two years, but
it is here proposed that no new en-
rollment be required except for the
men who changes his residence.
g. Appear in person. No name
should be put on the roll unless the
applicant appear in person and estab-
lish all the facts required. One such
enrolment should suffice as long as
the man remains at the same resi-
dence, but upon change Of resi-
dence he should appear again in per-
son and have the change recorded on
the club roll. He should take oath
as to all the facts required in these
rules.
4. On only one club roll. No name
~hc uld be allowed on more than one
club roll, and to join another club a
man should prove that his name has
been erased from his former club.
5. Resident of the club district.
Each club should be restricted to the
Democratic voters resident in a dis
tinct territory, no residents name be-
ing allowed on a club roll beyond ris
territory. Where two or more clubs
are allowed in one ward or country
precinct (because Of too many votes
to handle speedily at one box, or too
great distances in the country for
convenient attendance), the division
should be made by territory and
memberships not allowed to overlap
as now.
6. Rolls close sixty days. The en-
rollment should cease sixty days be-
fore the first regular primary elec-
ton, and in case Of special election
there should be supplementary en-
rollment up to a time fixed by the
executive committee in it's discretion
under the circumstances.
{. Club committee revise. The
club. or it's executive committee,
should be required to scrutinize the
club roll and see that all require
ments are complied with. It could
overrule decisions of it's enrolling Of
ficer and add names that had been
improperly rejected, or exclude
names that had been improperly en-
rolled. It would expunge the names
CT persons deceased, moved away or
otherwise no longer entitled to vote
at that club.
8. Roll filed and published. The
club executive committee and the
secretary should certify the club roll
in duplicate as meeting all these re-
quirements, and file one duplicate
with the clerk Of Court of the county
fifty days before the first primary,
and publish the same forthwith in
the newspaper Of most general circu-
lation in the precinct, for the 1nfor-
nation of all who might discover
errors.
9. County committee correct. The
counay executive committee should
between forty and thirty days before
the first primaryfi receive. investigate
and act upon all appeals, protests
and other complaint made by mem
bers of the party with regard to the
correctness Of the rolls, the commit
tee exercising original as well as ap'
pellate jurisdiction. 1t would thus
scrut;nize all the club. rolls, adding
names improperly rejected, and ex'
punging names Improperly enrolled
or no longer qualified. Thus the
county executive committee, like the
club committee, would seek to re-
move, both upon appeal and upon
original investigation, any enrolled
names or persons not then entitled
to vote in the primary at that club
as of persons deceased, not resldlne
within the club territory, convicted
Of disoualifying crimes, not register
ed or otherwise not qualified to vote
in the general election, and negroes
who did not vote for Hampton IN
1876 or 1878, and persons not Oemo'
Gratis.
10. State executive committee
The State executive committee would
be required to act at least 20 day:
before the first primary on any ap'
peals or information brought to III
attention by members of the party OF
upon facts discovered by it, correct
ing any errors in the rolls.
There should be legal provisions
for the enforcement of these rules
upon appeal to the Courts from tns
state executive committee, the Court:
q act at chambers or in special ses
sion. not to delay the election. W.
allow time for appeals to the Courts
when we close the rolls sixty day.
before the primary and complete the
party committee decisions at leas
twenty days before the primary.
| Further in the interest OF loca