The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-06-10
MANNING FOR PRIMARY RE.
FORM.

Among those who favor primary
reform In South Carolina none has
more consistently advocated a safe
and sane reviAon Of the constitution
and rules of the Democratic party
than Richard /. Manning, of Sumter.
Two years ago. when many Of the
leaders. who in 1914 at the state
convention. were loud in their de-
mands for radical changes. were
afraid to tackle the proposition, Mr..
Manning fearlessly stood forth for
such action by the party as should
safeguard the primary elections in
this state. At no time. however. has
he advocated any changes that would
deprive voter qualified under the
party rules Of the right Of suffrage.
Fair elections In which the will OF the
people shall be independently ex-
pressed are desired by all who wish
that the integrity of the party shall
be upheld and In the fight to main.
tain honest primaries In South Cur
olina Mr.. Manning has been i'm the
foreground.
Mr.. Manning's position in the State
convention was line with the views
that he had heretofore expressed
with regard to primary reform. The
framing Of the rules had been re-
ferred to committee Of which Mr..
Manning was not q member; in fact,
the rules had been practically agreed
upon the night before at q caucus.
Mr.. Manning had favored the coun-
ty residence period being six months
instead Of making 1t q year because
many tenant farmers change their
rentings about January 1st and the
requirement Of the year in u county
would have cut these men out of
their vote. This view was adopted
and incorporated into the rules.
He thought the personal enroll.
ment plan would work hardship In
sparsely settled country communities
and wherever the voter lived far
away from his secretary. He saw,
too. that the adoption of any drastic
rule would give a powerful weapon
to any who wished to stir up the pre-
judices OF the people for their own
personal advancement. For these
reasons he was opposed to this
change but when the majority of the
committee Incorporated this provis-
Ion into the rules the committee re-
ported. Mr.. Manning did not fight the
matter on the floor of the conven.
tion. and stated on the floor that he
would vote for the majority report.
He explained his position when ne
addressed tho convention saying:
Tho question OF supreme i'm
portance before the state Is the mat
ter OF primay reform. 1t Is abso-
iutely necessary that when an cleo
ton Is held among the white peo-
pic Of tho state the result. as declar-
ed. must carry with 1t the conviction
that the will OF the people has been
Independently expressed and honestly
counted.
We arc In a dangerous position,
for if such effective reform Is not
made. thousands Of our people will
not participate In the primary cleo
tion. On the other hand. IL drastic
action Is taken. I fear q split in the
party may result.
II do not favor the change in the
time OF residence required In the ma
jority report. but favor reducing the
time for residence I'm tho county from
one year to six months.
"On the matter OF personal enroll
ment. I do not personally favor the
majority plan. but. recognizing the
fact that differences of opinion exist
on what should be done. and that
We all here to accomplish a definite
result and that we have to give and
take. will vote for the majority
plan for primary reform"
Mr.. Manning voted outright for the
majority plan as adopted. while
pointing out to the convention the
respects I'm which he thought the
committee had gone a step too far.
As In 1912. so In 1914. Mr.. Manning
called upon the people OF the state
to reform the primary. He worked
with those who battled with the de-
tails and mado the suggestions that
occurred to him as just and right {;
but when the convention had agreed
upon a plan no stood by 1t as a Dem
ocrat should. and placed the wishes
OF the majority Of his party. as ex-