The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-22
PRIMARY BILL IN THE SENATE.
Debate Resumed Today - Other Mat
ters Under Consideration.

Columbia, Feb. 18.-"I can con-
ceive of no more important measure
than this one to restore the unity oc
the Democracy" said Senator Alan
Johnson this morning in the Senate
in a strong speech in favor of the
| Nicholson bill to tighten up the regu-
lations governing primary elections
| The Newberry Senator thought some
action was needed to restore the con-
hdence of the people in the primary
and assure every man that his vote
would be protected. He urged the
Legislature to take some action at
this session and that the people were
demanding that something be done
to safeguard the primary. THE soon
er the confidence Of the people is re-
stored and they feel that their votes
are protected the better" he urged.
Senator Carlisle thought the meas
ure had better go over until next ses-
sion and referred to the investigation
into the Spartanburg election last sum-
mer, which disclosed only minor ir-
regularities, which, in his opinion,
disclosed nothing to endanger the
primary. He favored throwing some
safeguards around the primary, but
didn't think the Nicholson bill was
practical
Action was demanded by the people
at this time in the matter of regulat-
ing the primary in the opinion of Sem
ator Christensen.
Senator Laney, while he favored
some regulation, thought the provision
in the bill requiring club registration
certificates was too stringent and that
the bill was too full of technicalities
and details He thought the only re-
quiremert should be, Are you a free
white, 21 and a Democrat" He fa-
vored every white man voting and ac-
counted for the big vote Of last sum-
mer by the unusual interest
Senator Strait launched a terrific at
tack on what he termed the money
power" and the so-called better ele-
ment," for their work in the cam
paign of last summer. He said the
trouble was that the money interests
the poor man Of his rights. He ad-
vocated some regulations in the man
ner OF selecting delegates to conven-
tions, and he denounced the alleged
conduct of the campaign of one Of the
State candidates last summe-. He
said there had been cries of fraud and
corruption and yet not a single sre.i-
fic instant had been brought for
ward.
Senator Stuckey did not think there
was any demand from the people for
primary regulation and thought it
came from those who were sore over
their defeat. He urged slowness in the
matter. "Tillman laid down the prop
osition in 1890, a white mans primary
| stand right there now. l favor no
change that will deprive any white
man in South Carolina now entitled
to his vote from voting" said Sena-
tor McLaurin, who said this was the
only way to avoid a division of the
white people, which rupture was i'm
mi nf in -.
campaign. He thought it was too
soon after the election to try and get
any law which would be favorable to
all the people and he favored post,
poning the bill until next session.
Senator Nicholson had opened the
debate in favor Of the bill and the
Senate voted down a motion to con-
tine it until the next session, which
had been offered by Senator Laney
enacting words.
Senator d. B. Johnson went on rec
ord as opposing the bill.
Senator Clifton favored some regu-
lation and saying that he desired to
meet the suggestions advanced by
Governor Blease in his inaugural adj
dress so as not to give him any eX-
cuse for vetOing the measure, and to
meet Gov. Blease on his own bat
tie ground" offered an amendment
providing that books Of registration
be opened at the Court House at ev-
cry county seat in the State during
the months of June, July and Aug
ust of this year, the registration board
to spend at least two days at every
voting precinct registering voters,
and for tie books to be opened two