The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-10
CURRENT COMMENT
Has Bleasssisrn Passed .

The Charleston News and coorfer,a rann-4s
from -tha- county
south Caroline on Monday indicate n sweeping
victory for the ant-Bease faction In the Pal
mefto State. The conventions were hela tn
name delegates 10 the State convention n he
held in Columbia in a few days. Practically
every county heard from in an official uav
and while the results may not be n surprteA
IN south Carolina II is an agreeable surprise
to about everybody in North Carolina IN SWIM
pathy with the sister State on account of the
political conditions which havs brought re-
proach upon South Carolina throughout ire
United States.
According 70 the News and CourIer's fahy
lated figures. the county conventions chose t,.o
hundred and ninety-oue anti- BIease delegates
70 forty-seven Blease delegates Tbie viii o4,o
Inc ant-Bease forces about six delegates n
every one for the Blease faction a surnriae
IN the overwhelming manner IN which the Dem
ocrattc party in South Carolina finally has 70
pudlated Blease and Bleaseism as political far
tors in that state The Columbia State sa,-a tho
opponents Of the governor were succession in
the first test Of strength" offered hv the holding
Of the county conventions That naper est
mates that at least two-thtrds Of the delegates
to the State convention are opposed 10 .ha
present State administration
The issue before the conventions concerned
the control Of the State convention by interests
friendly to United States Senator Smith n, by
those friendly to Governor Bleasp who ts
candidate for senator Senator Smith is a car
dtdate to succeed himself. hut as the selection
Is to he made by nominating primary later
on, II was vitality important whether the old nr-
mary rules .hould remain in force or whether
there should be chosen Stare convention
pledged TO reform the primary rules SO as 70
safeguard the election when II occurs
Under existing political conditions Governor
Blease and his faction held absolute SWAY over
the primary, election machinery, to such an
extent matter Of fact, as IL make tho nr
mary part Of the Biease machine II ID
wholesome sign that the peoples primary
heretofore dehauChed by faction is 10 he
rescued for the people they can have their
Will registered as 10 nominations That is the
only kind Of nominations primary that can be
held by the peoples party. and If the interests
which will control the forthcoming State con.
vention make the primary partisan institution
the faction opposed to Blease and the methods
Of Bleasesm viii have done more by the
people than the faction which has for wears
stfed the public will in the State by simply
controlling the primary election machinery or
rules which have made tho primary system a
travesty II not an abortion
IT Is curious how political affairs can get In
such shape that the people can't rule but south
Carolina has given us a demonstration Of the
fact that it is quite possible to ignore and even
defy the will of the people 1t Is for that
reason The Sar has always advocated pri-
mary system with every legal safeguard thrown
around the voting machinery. 1t has been
proven that party rules cannot he depended
upon 10 do H. for when rings cliques and fac
tons do not hesitate to take advantage of every
means to have such primary as will assure
their triumph they uncrupulousiy see to 1t that
the rules give them the power to do as they
please. The party which does not stand for
nominations primary system, hedged about by
every safeguard or the law Is not entitled to
the confidence OF the people There is no use
saying that It Is merely reactionarY. 1t simply
stands pat on, rejecting the right Of the people
to rule by selecting the who are delegated
to exercise the sovereignty of the people in
behalf of the people.
We resent the idea that any party ID pro-
gressive when it simply is reverting to bedrock
principles old the hills and only new be-
cause they have been so long in abeyance or been
Observation-Disclosures Star.