Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-03-20
oRGA Sc THE CLUES

This years political campaign
has about begun, and those who pay
most attention to such things are now
giving thought to the question Of re-
organizing the clubs and the election
Of delegates to the county convention
AS a matter Of fact there is more OF
less rubber shoe work going on on
both sides, and the probability is that
the rubber shoeing will soon give way
to hob nails.
In the old days before the Tillmar
movement swept things, the various
precinct organizations were in the
hands Of single party which managed
matters very much as it pleased. One
Of the first moves Of the Tillman or
ganization was to get control Of the
precinct clubs. The main issues were
to do away with the old convention
plan of making nominations and sub
stitute primaries for state offices. The
party leaders then in control were cas-
lily able to nominate whom they would
in convention: but they feared the idea
Of primary, and for that reason
fought to the last.
When the Reform people finally got
control Of majority of the club or
ganizations, and through them a ma
jority of the county organizations, they
were able to elect a majority OF the
members Of the state executive COM
mittee, and shape up the policy OF the
state convention, which decided TO
have all elections by primary and for
mulated rules and regulations for vot-
ing.
AS time went on and party control
became all one way again as 1t had
been in the old days, vigilance was
relaxed, the lines became looser and
gradually the control Of the club or
ganizations became less rigid. Many
Of the former leaders drifted back into
the old places and things continued to
run smoothly.
There was but little agitation Of the
question OF club reorganization two
years ago, and not great deal Of in
quiry as to the political complexion of
the men who went to the county con-
vention. When the convention met 1t
developed that it was under the con-
troll Of the conservative" element; but
not a great deal Of concern was ex-
pressed for the reason that there ap-
peared to be very little at stake other
than who should be sent as delegates
to the national convention, and the
politicians on both sides felt that after
all the main question Of party strength
would be tested in the general pri-
mary.
But now there Is a rather keener
conception Of the Importance Of con-
trolling the county Democratic organi-
zation. More people understand that
control of a majority Of the county
conventions means control Of the state
convention, and the side that controls
the state convention will have the
power to change the primary rules as
it sees proper and to elect the new
state chairman who Is important In
directing the campaign and determin-
ing close questions.
1t developed in the last campaign
that the party machinery was in the
control Of the conservative element. The
election turned out to be very con-
siderable surprise especially to that
element, and when the charges of
fraud were hurled about over the state
it will be emembered that serious
situation developed. That situation
was far more critical than most people
realized at the time, for as a matter Of
fact it came dangerously near bringing
about a party split that might have
required a long time in healing.
The organization Of the precinct
clubs as Is well known, is a parlia-
mentary proposition Of quite doubtful
regularity. The club meetings should
be called by the local presidents, and
every Democrat whose name is on the
club roll o. the previous primary elec-
ton has the right to attend with the
privileges Of the floor. AS a common
thing. for a number Of years past the
attendance has been very limited. For
instance last year not as many as five
clubs in the county had an attendance
equal to the number Of delegates they
were entitled to send to the county
convention. In some cases there were
no meetings at all, and the delegates
who went to the convention. were vol
unteers with credentials prepared by
the chairmen and secretaries Of their
respective clubs after their arrival in
Yorkville. But where there are con-
tests for control Of the clubs many
things are likely to arise. Sometimes
the hold over officers when then find
they are in a. minority, hide the books
and claim they are lost. Frequently
are adjourned on one pretext