The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-05-27
SOUTH CAROLINA
REFORMS PRIMARY
STATE DEMOCRATIC .coNVEN.
TON ADOPTS MANY SWEEP
ING CHANGES.
DISPATCHES FROM COLUMBIA

Dolnss and Happenings That Mark
the Progress Of South Carolina Peo-
pie, Gathered Around the State
Capitol.
Columbia.
Several sweeping changes in the
rules and in the constitution to safe
guard and reform the primary cleo
tons were passed by the State Demo
cratic convention which adjourned
sine die after a session lasting two
days. The convention worked stead
lily throughout the day and all during
the afternoon refusing to recess for
dinner. The determination of the con-
vention to carry through the report
of the overwhelming majority Of the
committee on constitution and rules
was shown in the steady manner in
which it proceeded to reject amend
ment after amendment, which were
rained in following the tabling Of the
minority report Of the committee. 1t
was $50 o'clock when the motion to
adjourn was carried.
The main fight of the minority was
made on the report Of the majority
which called for, a personal enrolment
and providing for a residence Of two
years in the state. one year in the
county and go days in the voting pre-
cinct as qualifications to establish res
idence before being eligible to partici-
pate in the primaries. Strenuous ef-
forts of the minority to knock out the
personal enrolment were unsuccess-
full, heavy majorities being recorded
time and again in favor of the ma
jority reports. An amendment by Sen
ator Clifton allowing the voter to en-
roll by applying to the secretary Of
his club in person OF on written ap-
plication signed by a witness by re-
jected by a vote Of 256 to 5. .
The last fight of any note developed
on the substitute which former Gov
ernor John Gary Evans offered for
section IL of the majority report.
This substitute required the club
books Of enrolment to be closed on
the last Tuesday in July, and three
days thereafter each secretary is to
transmit his original roll to the coun-
ty chairman, who shall file a certifi-
ed copy with the clerk of court. Ten
days before the first primary the
county commission Is to have publish
ed in some newspaper of general cir
culation in the county a notice of the
meeting of the committee which shall
then purge the rolls, hearing and dis
posing Of protests, and contests which
may come up. No name shall be
stricken from the club rolls without
three days notice by mail to the per-
son concerned. The originals duly
certified to are to be returned to the
secretaries Of the respective clubs
and a list of all names added or drop
ped by the committee filed by the
chairman in the clerks Office, the rolls
and list to be at all times open to
public inspection. No person whose
name Is not on the roll shall be allow
ed to vote.
The managers Of election after they
have counted and declared the vote
shall return the rolls to the secretary
Of the club. II the original roll Is
lost a duplicate of the copy on file
in the clerks Office shall be furnished
the secretary of such club.
This section was finally adopted
overwhelmingly, and after some dis
cussion an additional section offered
by w N. Graydon, providing that in
Ease the managers find more votes in
the ballot box than there are names
on the club rolls one Of the managers
shall proceed to draw out the excess
votes, vas adopted.
A resolution of thanks to W. G..
Shrine Of GreenviDe, B. E. Nicholson
of Edgefield and Neils Christensen of
Beaufort for the time and work they
did in preparing the new rules was
adopted amid cheers.
Permanent organization: Presi-
dent, James A. Hoyt, Columbia; vice
presidents, Joseph W. Barnwell,
Charleston; R. B. Watson, Saluda;
M. l.. Bonhom, Anderson; H. H. Arm
old, Spartanburg; G.. E. Spencer,