The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-04-11
VOTERS TO CHOOSE
DELEGATES SOON
County Conventions Assemble
in Various County Seats MAY
to Elect Delegates
STATE CONVENTION MAY
Each County Entitled to Twice as
Many Delegates As 1t Has Repre-
sentatives i'm General Assembly.

Columbia. April 1O.-In accor-
dance with the direct primary law
passed by the general assembly at
its session in 1915 the democratic
voters of South Carolina will meet
in their respective club places on or
before the fourth Saturday in April
/ and elect delegates to the county
| conventions, which assemble in the
/ various county seats on the first
Monday in May. The clubs will elect
officers and one delegate to the coun-
~ convention for every twenty-five
voters or fraction thereof. based
upon the number Of votes polled in
the last primary Of 1914.
The clubs will also elect a member
to represent them on the county de
mocratic executive committed
The rules governing the democrat
ic party as drawn up at the state
convention in 1914 were enacted into
law at the session Of the general as
sembly in 1915. This puts It beyond
the power OF the coming state con
Ventior to amend or modify the ex-
listing provisions OF the present rules
and regulations of the party. How
ever, it does not preclude adopting
rules and regulations which are not
in conflict with the statute law.
Principal Features
The principal features OF the law
governing organization of the clubs
for the primaries every two years
provide that each voter must sign
his full name on the club rolls The
personal endorsement provision is
considered one of the strongest safe
guards of the primary, and although
its adoption created strong oposition.
/ it is now an accepted principle of tho
party and its wisdom was justified
in its workings two years ago.
The county conventions will meet
Mt noon on the first Monday in Nav
I at the various county seats and or
Sanize, elect the county chairman.
| choose delegates to the state conven-
tion and elect member of the state
democratic executive committee. The
county conventions will also transact
such other matters as might be OF
interest to the various counties
Each county is entitled to twice
as many delegates as it has repre-
{ sentatives in the general assembly.
The democratic state convention
will meet in the hall OF the house of
representatives at noon on Wednes-
day. May II. 1t will be called to
order by John Gary Evans. chairman
OF the state democratic executive
committee. The convention will be
Composed of 336 delegates.
Business of Convention
The main business before the con
vention Will be the election of four
| delegates at large to the national de-
mocratic convention in st. Louis, the
election of member of the national
democratic executive committee, a po-
sition now held by United States Sen
ator b. II. Tillman. the election OF
state chairman. now held by former
| Governor John Gary Evans, and the
making of such rules and regulations
! governing the party primaries and
: the conduct of the campaign as il
may see fit.
! The delegates from the various
/ congressional districts will caucus
during the day and elect two dele
gates from each district to the 81
, Louis convention. This will give
South Carolina Is votes in the ma
tional democratic gathering.
! The fight to abolish the county
to-county canvass of the candidates
will be one OF the main struggles
to come before the state convention.
II the canvass is not abolished there
is every reason that 1t will be safe
guarded and amended.
! Complexion OF "Big Four"
The complexion of the big Four"
to st. Louis is beginning to attract
some attention. 1t is customary 10
send the two United States sena-
tors and the governor. The names
OF Senator'S Tilman and Smith. Gov
ernor Manning. former Governor
John Gary Evans. State Warehouse
Commissioners John l.. McLaurin, for