The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-01-13
.BLEASE STATES POSITION
ON THE PRIMARY SYSTEM
Stands By the Fridge That Carried and Says That Not
lie But His Enemies Would Have De-
bauched the Electorate.

ing STATE campaign may be the pro-
posed changes in the primary system
OF elections, Governor Blease's posi-
ton, as stated in his message to the
legislature, is OF interest. Follow
ing are his observations:
The Primary System.
Many years ago some of the uoun-
ties Of South Carolina adopted n
system of primary elections, which
system provided for the selection OF
candidates among the white people
FOR the Democratic nominees. for the
purpose OF avoiding @ division among
the white people in order to keep the
negro vote from becoming factor In
the politics OF this State. Many
years before that the eight-box law
had been in use, and it had been sue
cessful In depriying the negro Of
participation even in the general cleo
tions, except to O limited number.
To go through the entire history OF
this matter might be very interesting
to those whp know nothing or little of
1t, and yet it,might somewhat reveal
. condition OF Affairs which il might
be as well to let be forgotten. Later
the State Democracy adopted this
primary election. system for the pur-
pose Of nominating candidates for all
State and county Offices. Just q short
time afterwards the Democracy of
State adopted IT for the selection OF
candidates for Congress- and the Uni
s5u States Senate.
The last convention for the nomi-
nation OF Governor and State Off
cials was when Governor John Peter
Richardson was nominated for his
sec6Id term. Then came the struggle
OF the Reform party IN 1890. The
history OF this and campaigns from
then up to the present would 10 very
interesting reading, but I presume 1t
IS unnecessary to give II here. How
over, it seems that this system was
perfectly satisfactory when Governors
Tiilman, Evans, Ellerbe and Nc
Sweeney were elected, and 1t reached
its height In the eyes OF many people
especially certain newspaper editors
who are, Kpw condemning It, and
gave most splendid satisfaction to
these distinguished gentlemen, when
Governor Howard and Ansel were
Nothing WIS hoard OF its being un-
aatiafactnrR tn this Rrent element nf
our people y Sbh en- Gen. Joseph II.
Earle was elected to the United
States, Senate, and when many Con-
greesnien and many State officials
were chosen. tFSt@ 3sss
But. nlas, the campaign Of 1871
name on.
When that campaign came along
the then Governor Of South Carolina,
On the Sth day OF July. 1912, issued a
proclamation which read % Soi-
!csss.
(This proclamation offered re-
word OF 500 for tho flrst Ave convic-
fionB OF violation or che State law
making It q misdemeanor to secure
votes By threats, intimidation, or
payment, delivery or promise of
money or other articles OF value."9
And In hib opening speech ,at Sum-
ter, he said:
AFTER reading the sections OF the
statute "a regard 90 fraud In olec-
tibns, Governor Blease said:
And I call upon all OF my friends
so see that any person who attempts
TO buy votes In this primary, or who
intimi dates voters &by threats OIL
otherwiee. beGirnieii iiately prosecuted,
and II YOU need Atpy assistance In the
prosecution OF the case. 1 promise
you, as Gosefnor of iris state, TO
st,tnJah it, hecause IL believe ma fair,
antinrc cleetian and, ,proIose So fag
- N M nv nv fuVrr. 10 nee that il is haId
for all the Offices og our state. You.
my, ,,Saiinw citizena. watch these two
things. We now haYe a. majority; vel
have the n5ttle Won, md all TINT we
have got 10 do is to see that we get d