The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-05-28
DEMOCRATS IN SESSION
HARMONIOUS CONVENTION HELD
IN COLUMBIA.
Rigid Constitution and Rules Adopt
ed.-Hoyt Made President;
JIG. Evans, State Chairman.

Columbia, May 21.-Sweeplng
changes in the rules and constltu-
ton to safeguard and reform the
primary elections we're passed by
the State Democratic convention,
which adjourned sine die late this
afternoon, after a session lasting
two days.
The convention worked steadily
throughout the day and all during
the afternoon, refusing to recess for
dinner. The determination Of the
convention to carry through the re-
port of the overwhelming majority
of the committee on constitution and
rules was shown in the steady man
ner which it proceeded to reject
amendments after amendments
which we're rained in following the
tabling of the minority report of the
committee. 1t was $50 o'clock when
the motion to adjourn was carried.
The main fight of the minority was
made on the report of the majority
of the committee, which called for
personal enrolment and providing for
a residence of two years in the State,
six months in the county and sixty
days in the voting precinct as quail
fications to establish residence be-
fore being eligible to participate in
the primaries.
Personal Enrolment.
Strenuous efforts of the minority
to knock out the personal enrolment
were unsuccessful, as heavy maJorl-
ties we're recorded time and again IN
favor of the majority report. An
amendment by Senator Clifton, allow
ing the voter to enroll by either ap-
plying to the secretary of his CLUB
in person or on written application,
signed by a witness, was rejected by
a vote of 256 to 55.
The last fight of any note develop
ed on the substitute which former
Governor John Gary Evans offered
for section y of the minority re-
port.
This substitute required the club
books of enrolment to be closed on
the last Tuesday in July, and three
DAYS thereafter each secretary is to
transmit his original roll to the coun-
ty chairman, who shall file certl-
fed copy with the clerk of court.
Ten days before the first primary the
county committee is to have publish
ed in some newspaper of general cir
cuIation in the county "a notice OF
the meeting of the committee, which
shall then purge the rolls, hearing
and disposing of protests and con-
tests which may come up. No name
shall be stricken from the club rolls
without three days notice by mail to
the person to be purged. The origl-
nails, duly certified to, are to be re-
turned to the secretaries Of the re-
spective clubs, and list of all names
added or dropped by the committee
filed with the chairman in the clerks
Office, the rolls and list to be at all
times open to public inspection. No
person whose name is not on the roll
shall be allowed to vote.
The managers of election, after
thew have counted and declared the
vote. shall return the rolls to the
secretary Of the club. If the original
roll is lost duplicate of the copy on
file in the clerks Office shall be fur
nished the secretary of such club.
This section was finally adopted
overwhelmingly, and after some dis
cussion an additional section, offer
ed by W. N. Graydon, providing that
in case the managers find more votes
in the ballot-box than there are
names on the club rolls, one of the
managers shall proceed 10 draW out
the excess votes, was adopted.
A resolution of thanks to W. G.
Shrine. of Greenville; Senator B. E.
Nicholson, of Edgefeld, and Senator
Nells Christensen, of Beaufort, for
the time and work they did in pre-
pairing the new rules, was adopted,
amid cheers.
To Be Conducted by Convention.
The new rules provided for the
convention to elect the chairman OF
the State executive committee in
stead of leaving it to the executive
committee as had been the custom.
Mr.. J. J. McSwain, Of Greenville,
nominated Ex-Governor John Gary
Evans for this position, speaking OF
his splendid service to the party
Governor Evans was elected by accla-
nation, after which the convention
Sio