The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-04-03

The next State Democratic conven-
ton will meet May 20 in Columbia
in the hall of the house of repre-
sentatives. At present it seems likeN
that the chief issue before the con-
vention will be whether or not the
rules governing the Democratic pri-
mary elections in South Carolina are
to be amended to the end of pre-
cluding fraudulent voting such as "re-
peating" and it's variations. The con-
vention will provide the machinery
| necessary for conducting the primary
election next summer in which a
United States senator and State anu
county officials will be nominated. The
State Democratic executive commit
tee to be elected by the convention,
one member from each county, will
arrange the itineraries for the county
to county canvass of the candidates
for the United States senate and of
the candidates for congress and State
offices, unless the rules and constitu-
,on of the party are amended to
abolish the county to county tour.
The last State Democratic conven-
ton was held in Columbia Nav 10.
1912. The main question before the
convention was whether the SoutN
Carolina delegation to the nationai
Democratic convention in Baltimore
should go instructed to vote for
Woodrow Wilson as the Democratic
ominee for president or be allowed
to act on their own initiative. The
fight in the convention on this issue
was memorable one. The anti-in-
struction wing in the convention won
technical victory, which may have
caused the Wilson forces some en-
barrassment just at that time, but
worked them no serious harm.
Empty Victory.
Senator Bankhead of Alabama. I'm
lderwood's Is. campaign. manager, CANNED
In Columbia for some tirhe before the
convention of 1912, rallying every in
fiuence at his command to prevent
South Carolina from sending a dele
cation to Baltimore instructed to vote
for Wilson. What he wanted was ar
unlnstructed delegation despite the
strong sentiment of the people of the
State that Woodrow Wilson was the
logical candidate for the Democrats
to put in the field. Bankhead and
the anti-instructionists in the cor,
Ventlon won an empty victory. The
convention had before it strong pre-
cedent for sending an instructed del
egation, having done so twice for
fryan and once for Tilman in the
three conventions Immediately nre-
ceding that of 1912.
When the convention met on thu.
night of May Is, the Richland dele
cation led the fight for an instructed
delegation since it came from tha
county convention with ironclad or
Gers to work for this end. John p.
Thomas of Columbia offered a reso-
luton "that the delegation from this
S'Atc to the national convention m
baltimore advocate Gov. Wilson rs
the nominee of national Democracy.
and work and vote accordngly."
J.. ,. Henderson of Aiken Offered
as substitute for the Thomas reso-
!ntion one for an uninstructed dcI,-
canon. Mr.. Henderson said that h,
advocated Wilson but that the pa,+v
was above the candidate.
As substitute for the Thomas anr
Henderson resolutions Harry d. Cal
noun OF Barnwel offered one which
proposed that "the 18 delegates fevo,.
the candidacy of Woodrow Wilson for
president" and providing that if the
delegation should regard it expedient
they might change their vote for some
other candidate
w. F. Stevenson offered an amend
ment to the Calhoun resolution pro
vlding that the delegation could
change its vote from Wilson to an
other candidate only on two-thirds
vote of it's members.
Choice of the People.
Mr.. Stevenson made ringing
speech IN favor of sending a delega-
ton to Baltimore pledged to support
Woodrow Wilson.
. "Does anybody doubt that Wilson
Is the choice of the people for South
Carolina for president" asked Mr.
stevenson. IF you hitch colt he
VIII stand If you don't he may run
away. The delegation may be a colt"
one of the best speeches of the
convention of 1912 was made by Fl.
Is. Cook, delegate from Horny, who
showed a remarkably clear under
standing of the issues confrontinp
the Democratic party at this juno
ture. Mr.. Cook declared that the del
egate who was too big to receive in
structions from the convention was
too big to get his vote. He pointed
oui that an uninstructed delegation
offered unlimited opportunity for
Willy politicians to get in their wori;
and defeat the will of the people OF
South Carolina. Mr.. Cooks time was
extended by the convention and he
was vigorously applauded.
After the debate had lasted for two
hours, the Calhoun resolution for an
instructed delegation came to a vote.
1t was defeated by a vote of 218 20
122. The motion then recurred upon
the Henderson substitute resolution