The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-05-20
WORKING FOR REFORM
BIG BATTLE OVER PRIMARY
COMES Up NEXT TUESDAY.
Two Distinct Plans Are to be Pre-
sented to Convention Looking To-
wards Primary Reform.

wards Urinary heform.
Plans Of those advocating the re-
striction Of the primary to registered
voters are going forward satistactor-
lily, according to information in polit-
ical circles. By the time the State
Democratic convention meets every
thing 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 next
Tuesday at noon In the hall Of the
House Of Representatives, and the
most important question to come be-
fore that body will be the reform 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 favors let
ting every white man vote, but stands
for such reforms as allowing enroll
ment on only one club and the clos
ing Of the lists some days before the
first primary and the fling of a certi-
fed copy with the clerk Of court or
some other responsible officer. This
plan includes also such regulations
as will provide a correct list Of all
voters and some Of them favor re-
enrolment while still others favor
purging Of the rolls.
Another wing OF the anti-Blease
forces are for going the whole length
and want the general election re-
ouirements applied to the primary.
They say that anything less than this
will be a makeshift and accomplish
nothing and point out that there IS
very little in the cry that to make
registration certificates mandatory
for the primary will deprive any con-
siderable number of Democrats from
voting. They want every opportunity
given for every white man qualified
to register.
This wing is headed by John ].
McMahan and the Richland county
delegation in the convention, they 60
| ing instructed to vote and work for
amendments to the rules and consti-
tuition Of the party requiring each
voter to present a registration certi-
fcate before they can vote in the pri-
mary. Just how much strength this
wing will develop is uncertain, but
they are optimistic and will make
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
apparent. United States Senator B
r. Tillman is a delegate to the State
convention from his home county OF
Edgefeld, and his attitude on the
primary reform will have great
weight. There Is general hope that
Senator Tillman will attend the con.
vention.
United States Senator E. D. Smith
is likely to be the dominating per-
sonality in the convention, and his
wishes will be referred to. He is a
delegate from his home county Of
Lee, but has not indicated whether
he will attend the convention. He
and Senator Tillman are both need
ed In Washington right now in con.
nection with matters before congress
and they may not be able to get Off
The Blease minority in the State
convention will oppose any change IN
the present primary regulations il
they follow the wishes Of their leader
as expressed by him on several pub
lie occasions. Governor Blease Is
opposed to both plans which have
been talked of and thinks that the
primary Is good enough and ought te
be left alone.
L