The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-07-27
PLAN TO REGISTER
MEMBERS IN SOUTH
EACH DISTRICT MUST POLL 2500
VOTES TO BE ADMITTED TO
CONVENTION.

(By Lewis Wood, Washington Cor
respondent of The Columbia Record)
Washington, July 21.-In view of
the fact that next Tuesday is the
last day for registration in the South
Carolina primaries it may be inter-
esting to Democrats in the state to
learn that Republican leaders here
have sent word to their Southern
lieutenants to undertake an intensive
campaign for registration by the
members of their party.
Of course as it now stands, the
Republican party in South Carolina
is a pretty weak sister, but if the
Republicans get enough names on the
books, a disagreeable situation may
turn up some time in one Of the con-
gressional districts, something that
will mean more than the periodical
Aaron Prioleau contests.
Democrats here say that men and
women voters of their party, in South
Carolina as well as in other states,
should turn out in as large numbers
as possible to enroll for the primaries
and should also secure general cleo
ton registration certificates in order
to meet the increased Republican reg
istration.
The reason the Republicans have
been instructed to register their
faithful is patent. At the last meet
ing of the executive committee of
the republican national committee
here in Washington, it was decided
that there must be at least $500
votes cast In each congressional dis
trict if that district is to have seat
in the republican national convention.
For years there have been too many
delegates from the south in Repub-
lican national conventions and very
few votes to justify their presence.
Now, the Republicans, especially
Bascom Slemp, the Virginia congress
man, who knows the Southern situa-
ton vel, wishes to change this situa-
tion. Mr.. Slemp has declined to run
for reelection, and the belief is here
that he wishes to devote his whole
time to trying to build something
out of his party in the south.
He has been ambitious for some
time to have the party in the south
ern states deodorized. For instance
it is no secret that he would prefer
to see a man of character as Repub-
lican chairman in South Carolina.
Joseph w. Tolbert is not the type
of politician admired by Slemp, who
would probably like to see man
such as E. w. DuRant, of Charles
ton, at the head of the organization
in the state.
Tolbert, however, is not entirely
without friends in Republican circles
here. Some of the reactionary wing
of the old guard feel they are in
debted to him for his regularity in
delivering the votes at national con-
ventions and that he should be re-
warded by retaining his chairman
ship.
., In this connection it may be said
that some of the Republicans here
contend that Tolbert does not lack
endorsement even by South Carolina
Democrats. In support of this con-
tention, the Republicans point to a
letter written last year by former
Governor Cole L. Blease, in which
Mr.. Blease is quoted as telling Toll
bert he had been "tried and true"
and in which Mr.. Blease rejoiced at
the defeat of Woodrow Wilson and
the election of Warren G. Harding.
The letter, written to Tolbert in May,
1921, and published In Charleston,
scoffed at the leadership of reor-
ganized Republican party in South
Carolina, either by C. C. Campbell,
or John L. McLaurin, and continued:
I certainly can state that you
have been a lifelong Republican; that
you have gone through strenuous
times and that your life has often
been at stake, and that through it
all you have been tried and true,
and if, after all these years of serv-
ice and devotion to your party the
Republicans would now kick you out,
can hardly think that they would
have much of an opportunity to get
anyone here to follow them, because