The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-01-15
AN HONEST PRIMARY.
How to Get It.-Read and Ponder
Carefully.


ton managers knew each voter as he
came to the ballot box. and when
bribery was resented, it was easy u
detect the dishonest voter, and the
temptation to vote dishonesty was
not so strong.
The problem now is to change the
law so as to carry out the same prl-
mary idea under new conditions. It
Is the same old ship but sailing
stormier seas, and needing stouter
keel and tighter calking.
When you come down to it the
necessary changes are simple and
few, but they are as necessary as the
keel is to ship.
Some say the constitution and
rules of the party are all right, and
that it is in the execution of them
that the fault lies.
Both need reform. But execution
is a broken reed unless it is sup
ported by sound laws.
When Factionalism Rages.
The very foundation stone of our
State Democratic organization rests
en- sand. As long as all is quiet no
harm is done. But as soon as the
storms and torrents of factionalisIn
and of bribery and greed begin to
heat upon the foundation, it crum-
bles. =
The club meetings held in April
are the foundation stones. They
rest on the party constitution and
rules. These are as sand because
they do not safeguard the member
ship rolls of the clubs.
Any one, without regard TO nation
aiity or residence can vote in a club
meeting. You can vote in those cllb
n eetings even if vou are noS quail
fed to vote in the primary.
Designing men can pack club rolls,
and thereby control club meetings,
county conventions and the State
convention, county executive commit
tees and the State executive commit
tee and name the managers at the
ballot box
Here are two instances, the first
occurred in one of the largest voting
counties in the State, and the Sec
ond In one of the smallest.
Rushing a Club Meeting.
The chairman, one of the best
known and highly esteemed citizens
of South Carolina, and an able law
yer, was calling his club, meeting 20
order. 1t was the night of the re-
gular biennial reorganization. Par.
tisanship was running high, but this
particular club had always been 50
largely unit that it was presumed
that there would be no contest in the
meeting. But the opposition was
fighting for every advantage no mat
ter how desperate the chance Of sue
cess. A crowd of men entered the
room claiming the night of member
ship. CONSERVATION reigned among
the old members. There was no use
to appeal to the party rules and con-
stitution, or to the State laws. They
required only that man be white,
twenty-one and Democrat. Under
the party rules he might be for
eigner, resident of Georgia. or of
another part of the State, or a new
conner of one days residence in the
precinct and yet be a qualified club
member
This crowd included number Of
men who appeared to be utter
strangers in the precinct: Their de-
mand to be recognized as members
was accompanied with threats.
While some of the members delay
ed proceedings by motions and dis
cussion, others left the hall and hast
lily gathered up stay-at-home mem
bers from all over the precinct.
These rushed to the meeting and
when the vote on organization was
taken they saved the day by small
margin.
The men who were used in the at
tempt to rush the meeting were af-
terward found to be largely tenn
porary residents and some were
foreigners. But under the party
rules they had right to participate
with all the privileges of the Oldest
club member.
Where the attempt failed in this
instance, it has often succeeded IN
that county.
Capturing County.
More than two years ago a mem
ber of the State executive committee
owed his high position in the party
-oI5.S oI,,h roll This