The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-05-15
PRIMARY REFORM
TO BE MAIN FIGHT

TO BE MAIN FIGHT
Columbia, May 12.-Plans of those
adv coating the restriction of the Dri-
mary to registered voters are going
forward satisfactorily, according to
Information in political circles. By
the time the State Democratic conven-
tion meets everything will be mapped
out, all details perfected, and the
structure ready for presentation to
the 336 delegates who will make up
the convention.
The State Convention meets one
week from tomorrow at noon in the
hall of the House of Representatives
and the most important question to
come bofre that body will be the re-
form of the primary. There is sharp
division in the ranks of the Anti
Blease faction which will control the
convention over how far the suffrage
restriction should go. One section fa-
vors letting every white man vote,
| ing enrolment on only one club and
the closing of the lists some days be-
fore the first primary and the filing of
a certified copy with the clerk of
Court or some other responsible Off
Ger.
This plan includes also such regu-
lations as will provide a correct list
of all voters and some of them favor
re-enrolment while still others favor
purging of the rolls.
Would Go Whole Length.
Another wing of the Anti-Blease
forces are for going the whole length
and want the general election require
ments applied to the primary. They
say that anything less than this will
be makeshift and accomplish moth
ing and point out that there is very
little in the cry that to make registra,
tion certificates mandatory for the
primary will deprive any considerable
number of Democrats from voting.
they want every opportunity given
inr every white man qualified 10 reg
iSIer. This wing is headed by John
j. McMahan and the Richland county
delegation in the convention, they go
ing instructed to vote and work for
amendments to the rules and consti-
tuition of the party requiring each
voter to present regi .tration certifi-
cate before they can ole in the pri-
mary.
Just how mach strength this wing
will develop is uncertain, but they are
optimistic and will make a great fight
to carry through their point.
Nearly half of the county conven-
tions endorsed primary reform, but to
what length this will go is not yet ap-
parent. There is, for instance, specu-
lation as to what reform will meet
with the approval of leaders like Sen
ator Alan tombstone, of Newberry.
The Newberry senator is one of the
best posted men in the State, and his
course will carry great weight and in
fiuence in the convention. He is a
tower of strength to the Anti-Blease
side and one of the coming men in
South Carolina. The attitude which
nch leaders as Senator Johnstone,
former Governor John Gary Evans
and Judge Ira B. Jones will take will:
have a large weight in deciding what
reform of the primary will get
through.
Tillman and Smith.
United States Senator B. R. Till
man is delegate to the State con-
vention from his home county OF
Edgefield, and his attitude on the pri
nary reform will have great weight
here is general hope that Senator
I'ilman will attend the convention.
United States Senator E. d. Smith
iii>Siy W NC Iilc nominating person. =
ality in the convention, and his wish IS
will be referred to. He is a delegate
from his home county of Lee, but
has not indicated whether he will at
tend the convention. He and Senator
Iillman are both needed in Washing
tion right now in connection with
matters before Congress and lhey
may not be able to get off.
The Blease minority in the State
convention will oppose any change in
the present primary regulations if
they follow the wishes of their leader
as expressed by him on several public
occasions. Governor Blease is opposed
to both plans which have been talked
of and thinks that the primary is
good enough and ought to be let alone
The primary reform is attracting
much attention and is the absorbing
subject in political circles. Several
caucuses will likely be held by the
leaders to compose the differences
over the primary reform before the
convention is actually called to order
There is as yet no indication who
will be the temporary and permanent
presiding officers of the convention.
This matter will likely be selected at
conference before the convention
meets.
IN nav TICE LrrUC