Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-10-03
THE END
TO REFORM PRIMARY.

Special Convention Of State Executive
Committee to Take Matter UP.
News and Courier.
Columbia, September 30.-According
to the terms Of a resolution passed by
the state Democratic executive COM
mittee last summer. following the in
vestigation into the charges Of irregu-
larities at the primary. a committee OF
seven was to be named by State Chair
man John Gary Evans to suggest
needed changes in the primary rules
and constitution of the party and to
| report to the meeting Of the entire
committee, to be called some time prior
to January /. 1914. Whatever action
the committee takes, or any modifica-
tions or amendments, they agree on
looking to safeguarding the primary,
will be reported to the next Democratic
state convention. which will assemble
in Columbia on the third Wednesday
In May 1914.
While no announcement has been
made by Chairman Evans as to the ap-
pointment Of the subcommittee OF
seven, there is every reason to believe
/ they have been selected and are at
work. 1t was not stipulated that their
names should be made public and the
fact that no announcement has been
made does not mean that the resolu-
ton to draw up changes through a
II h haQn Ignored.
Rather, 1t Is safe to presume that the
resolution is being carried out and that
| the sub committee Is now at work.
| Obviously they could do better and
more effective working out OF details
than were their names to be made pub
/ lie, for then they would be harassed
and hampered by all kinds OF sugges-
tions and opinions thrust upon them.
The proposed radical changes to be
made to safeguard and prepetuate the
white primary Is a herculean task, re-
quiring the undivided attention and
brain work Of the ablest members Of
| the state executive committee. 1t Is
confidently believed in political circles
/ that the sub committee will report to
/ the full state committee to be called
together by Chairman Evans some time
before the first of the year, In pursu-
ance of the resolution.
Reform of the primary will be the
issue before the Democratic clubs,
the various county conventions and the
next state convention. The clubs meet
on the fourth Saturday In next April
| to organize and elect delegates to the
county conventions and they in turn
gather the first Monday In May. 1t Is
apparent, therefore, that the winning
of the battle depends on the control
Of the club meetings. Advocates OF
primary reform will be bitterly
fought, for there are men who will
bitterly oppose any change in the pres
ent rules of the party. The doctrine
of letting every man who has a white
skin vote has predominated In South
Carolina from the inception Of the pri-
mary plan of selecting the candidates
of the Democratic party.
Restriction Of the right to partici-
pate in the Democratic primaries to
Registered voters will have it's back
ers, but the main fight will be to adopt
some plan and some method which VIII
put an end to Irregularities and do
laway with the present wide-open sys-
tenn, which is conductive to repeaters,
fioaters, and other forms Of irregulari-
ties creeping in, not to mention the
opportunity Of systematic working oil
such resources.
The next legislature will be given
the opportunity to pass on bill re-
forming the primaries. but those In
touch with the situation look for lit
tie from the lawmakers at the next
session along this line. The Nicholson
bill tightening the primary could not
get through at the last session, and
as the coming meeting of the general
assembly will be the last Of the pres
ent body and on the eve of another
election, those advocating and wanting
primary reform, count on very little
being done. Any reform will come
they believe, from the next state con-
yention, or If 1t fails there, then the
present wide-open system will remain
as heretofore. The fight begins in the
club meetings next April and those
wanting the reform may as we'll pre-
pare for action then, or else give up
} the fight.