Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-07-17
STATE COMMITTEES WARNING.
Critical Period I'm 8. G. Democratic
Party-Rules Not Changed.


Democratic Executive Committee in
session here to-day issued a solemn
warning to the Democratic voters OF
South Carolina against insidious
agencies that have been working in
the party during the past few years.
and told them that the party Is fac
ing a crisis in South Carolina. Dur
ing the meeting OF the committee
former Governor Blcasc, q candidate
for the United States Senate, was
most bitterly cxcoriated, as was
John l.. McLaurin. and two resolu-
tions looking to their expulsion from
the Democratic party were offered.
The first resolution was by Yancy
Williams, Of Lancaster, former State
Senator, who moved that Cole l..
Blease and John l.. McLaurin be
given five days In which to show
cause before the committee why
their names should not be stricken
from the tickets. The second resolu-
tion was offered by Senator Ketchin.
of Fairfield, and provided for the ap-
pointment Of 4 committee Of five to
Investigate the charges brought
against Blease and McLaurin. and If
found true, to expel them. Neither
resolution was brought to a vote, the
committee deciding after a lengthy
discussion Of the matter to take no
action save the issuance Of warn
ing to the voters, this warning being
contained in the speech delivered by
Chairman John Gary Evans, which
the committee ordered published.
Dlease was openly and bitterly de-
nounced on the floor. Members Of
the committee referred to him as a
traitor and declared that he had con-
nived with others to disrupt the par
ty in this State.
The committee elected John Gary
Evans as National Executive Com
mitteeman to succeed the late Sena-
tor Tillman and ordered primary
for tho uneXpired term Of United
States Senator, to be held tho same
day as the primary for the long term
Nothing was said about re-openipg
the entries.
Address Of Chairman Evans,
which the committee has requested
the press Of the State to publish as
an official document from the com
mittee, follows:
''To the Democracy OF South Caro-
lima: A crisis confronts the Demo-
cratic party in this State heretofore
unparalleled in it's history. Your
executive committee is powerless to
deal with 1t, but as guardians of the
party it is our duty to call to your
attention existing conditions.
AT the last State convention Of
the party Il rule was passed denying
to any citizen who voted against the
regular nominees Of the primary in
1916, as declared by the State or the
county executive committee, the
right to participate in Democratic
party elections subsequent thereto.
At the last general election an inde-
pendent movement was organized
against the nominees OF your party
over zoo votes being polleI at the
said election against them. These
electors cannot participate in the
coming primary election unless de-
liberately perjuring themselves.
"A defeated candidate for the Uni
ted States Senate, and prominent
candidate now for the same Office in
the approaching primary election,
openly, by word of mouth, through
the public press of the State and pri-
vately, advised his followers that
they were not bound to support the
nominees of the party In the gene
raj election. The instigator Of the
crime, under the written and moral
law, Is as guilty as the real criminal,
and his punishment should be as
great.
"A former e-holder in the
party and now candidate for the
highest Office in the gift Of the peo-
rle, in the public press, over his own
signature and on the stump, has
openly charged a candidate for the
United States Senate with conspiracy
to organize an independent move
ment for the purpose Of hetraying,
defeating and destroying the Demo-
cratic party OF this State; and to
that end funds to the amount OF
$4,000 We're solicited from for
nc no Nn