The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-02-11

i'oiei i ihS W lHe laSt electlOn, MI.
Stevenson said that 1t had been stated
that in certain town of Chesterfield
County on election day, when the train
stopped for an hour, every passenger
got off and voted.
Mr.. G. C. Wyche spoke In favor Of
his amendment, which provided a
more lenicnt system OF laws than
the committee bill. Mr. Micy thought
there should be only one registrar,
RS when there are three each will
likely shirk his duty, he said. He
was opposed to closing the rcgistra-
tion books thirty days before the cleo
ton.
lrby Opposes Reform.
Mr.. Irby. in speech in which he de-
nounced the newspapers, fought
against any reformation OF the pres
ent primary rules.
The amendment by Mr.. Stanley and
Mr.. GasQuc for the committee OH priv
ilcgcs and elections provided presenta-
tion Of the poll tax receipt for the pre-
ious year, though tho lame and halt
might be excused from payment upon
sufficient excuse The registration
certificate must be stamped with the
name Of the voter, the date OF rcgistra-
ton ana the voting precinct. Mr..
Stanley spoke briefly for the amend
mcnt.
On motion Of Mr.. Bricc further dis
cussion was postponed unt' .tS1HIlght.
There was a. decjIud change in the
prin"EE' regulation situation at the
night session, when the discussion
was resumed. Before going to the SEN
ate to ratify the first batch of new
acts. Mr.. Irby and Mr. Moore rompcd
al over the proposition Of changing
the primary laws or accepting any
bait.
At the night session Mr. Irby. speak
ing on the primary regulation, de-
clarcd that the bill gave an opportun-
ity for favoritism to election officers.
He asked how the election officials
could afford more involved machin-
cry when they failed to enforce the
machinery as it now stood. The enc
mics Of the governor were in control
Of the polls. he stated, and if there
was corruption they were responsible.
He compared tho present movement
with the political uphcaval OF the
ninctics.
| Mr.. Stevenson declared there was no
comparison between the two move
mcnts and that this bill disfranchiscd
nobody lie stated that he started the
FIRST primary system in 1888. He told
Mir. lrby that his father. together with
Senator Tillman. was responsible for
ihc Constitutional Convention of 1896
.i'at required an educational test and
| property qualification for voting.
| Mr.. lrby denied in strong language
tlat his father signed the Constitu-
| ton as framed at that Convention, and
declared that he refused only because
o these qualifications: He favored a
I"idc-opcn election and said he bclicv-
/ e in the work OF all classes Of white
IncOplc in the State. He received ap-
pause and argued that the white pcO-
pie were now, and have always been,
honest in their primaries. lie was
utterly opposed to restriction built
up by the plutocracy.
Governor Starts Cheering.
and handed Mr.. Irby copy of the Con
stitution to show that his fathcr-Sen-
ator Irby-had refused 10 sign the
Constitution because it provided too
severe restrictions on the poor man
This was Mr.. Irby's view, which was
applaudcd Governor Blcasc starting
the demonstration.
Mr.. Moore, Of Abbcvillc, said that ii
the last election was fraudulent the
members Of the present House held
their Offices by fraud He stated the
turn to the old convention system
which means boss rule and ring rule
This Is the underlying reason behind
cthc whole movement he said. He de-
clarcd that there was no necessity for
the bill and that the majority of the
people did not wish the change. Mr..
Moore was utterly opposed TO any
change on tho ground that 1t was use
less.
Mr.. Lilies. Of Crangcburg, spoke for