Evening star., 1928-05-17
SOUTH CAROLINA
TO SUPPORT DRY
Smith Opponents Lose Fight
for Instructions Against
Him by Name.
Rv the Associatei Press.

BY the Associated Press.
COLUMBIA, S. c., May i7.--Gov.
Smith may have opposition In the
Houston convention from South Caro-
lima Democrats but not the kind his
arch enemies in this State had mapped
out for him.
After a hectic day meeting. in which
the lie was passed and a brawl in
dulged in by former Gov. John Gary
Evans of Spartanburg, leader of the
bone-dry bloc, and Edgar A. Brown of
Barnwell. former speaker of the
South Carolina House, the Democratic
State convention last night elected Is
delegates to the national convention
and a national committeeman and
committeewoman
The delegates will go uninstructed as
to the presidential candidate, but with
directions TO work for dry nominee
and dry platform.
Smith Opponents Lose.
Anti-Smithites lost in their attempt
to instruct the delegates against Smith
"or other candidates of similar views, J"
their resolution being voted down at the
dav session by vote of 100 to lat.
Another resolution rejected. 1914 to
l47. and over which the fist fight oc-
Cured. would have abrogated the State
party rule binding those voting in the
South Carolina primary to support the
national and State nominees in Novem-
Der.
Proposals favoring retention of the
unit voting rule and the two-thirds
majority nominating rule were ap-
proved
'rhe fight between Evans and Brown
climaXed a period of tense debate.
Evans had argued for abrogation of the
State rule on the ground that 1t was
Illegal and was keeping potential Demo-
cratic voters out of the party. Brown
denounced the attempt as "a menace
and to white supremacy"
Two Roll on Floor.
When Evans broke into Browns
speech, shouting. You're in the Re-
publican party already" Brown shot
back:
"You are a liar"
The former governor jumped at the
speaker with clenched fists. The two
rolled over on the floor for several min
utes while kissing and cheering from
the floor and galleries mingled with
shouts of Prohibition. prohibition" !"
"Out with AL Smith" Let me at him.
I'll kill him.
The chairman, Judge Mendel Smith.
finally restored order with threat to
clear the galleries. Over several pro-
tests, he gave the floor TO Brown. who.
scratched and bruised. explained his side
of the affair and concluded:
"If any man says I'm Republican, If
he be as big as an elephant or ITO years
old, I'll call him liar"
Mrs. Jennings Named.
Gov John G. Richards was named
national committeeman at the night
session, succeeding Evans. retired. Mrs.
L. H. Jennings Of Columbia was named
national committeewoman In place of
Mrs. Leroy Springs of Lancaster. who
was not candidate for denomination.
Delegates at large chosen were Gov
Richards. Roach T. Stewart of f.ancas-
ter end United States Senator's Smith
and Blease.
Brown, Gov. Richards and Senator
Smith were among those voting for anti
Smith delegate instruction
While refusing TO abolish the State
party rule binding the primary voters
TO support the party nominees. the rule
was amended at the night session to re-
move the disqualification of primary
voting placed against those who parti-
cipated in the Blease independent
guhernatorial campaign Of 1915.