Evening star., 1954-12-09
A Victory in South CuroIinu

has been a remarkable victory to up
hold the constitutional provision Of the
right of the individual to vote.
On the day of the funeral of Senator
Maybank, the State Democratic Com
mittee met and by vote of 81 to 18
appointed Edgar A. Brown, the chair
man of the committee, as the Demo-
cratic nominee" for Senator. The
statement was made by the State
Committee that within the next 60
days it was not possible to hold
primary. despite contrary opinion by
those in favor of primary. 1t was
quite evident that Edgar A. Brown,
the most influential member Of the
State Legislature, influenced the deci-
sion of the committee and secured his
appointment as nominee"
Immediately there was a wave of
indignation throughout the State. The
News and Courier of Charleston and
many important daily as well as weekly
papers joined in an effort to secure
for the people their right to vote for
the Senator Of their choice and not
be forced to accept an "appointee"
selected by a group of professional
politicians.
The name Of the appointed
nominee" was placed on the printed
ballot and there was no opportunity
for the people to exercise their consti-
tutional right to vote except as directed
by this political group. The mark x
in the square on the printed ballot
meant a vote for all named on the
ballot.
Because of this political scheme. the
indignation of the people grew and
there developed a plan for a write-in
candidate. This was difficult under
taking. Many were not optimistic for
success, but felt that it would stand
as a protest against dictatorial con-
troll. The press throughout the State
gave wonderful support to the write-in
plan and published daily instructions,
with drawings of ballots, to inform the
people how to write in the vote. Two
candidates offered to oppose Brown:
Strom Thurmond, who had been Gov
ernor and circuit judge, and Marcus A.
Stone of Dillon and Florence. Thur
mond had no organization to back him,
while Brown had not only the support
of the State organization but also sup
port from some lawyers and bankers
and many others who. for some reason
or other, favored his candidacy.
In Charleston County and in Rich
land County (Columbia) voting ma
chimes were in use. The write-in vote
was made very difficult. In the upper
left-hand corner of the voting machine
there was slot about a half inch deep
and not very wide, with metal hood
over the slot, making it necessary for
some voters to tiptoe in order to raise
the metal hood with one hand and
write the name of Strom Thurmond
with the other hand, before releasing
the hood. In the towns and rural dis
tricts, instructions were constantly
given to write the name of Strom
Thurmond and under no circumstances
either to scratch the name of Brown
or to put mark in the square with his
name. In spite of all the handicaps.
Thurmond received 143,144 votes and
Brown 83,525 voters.
This election had demonstrated that
there are still many people who be-
lleve that the Individual mas con-
stitutional right to vote as he pleases
and he resentS the domination of
political machine. It was a raw deal
that the State Democratic Committee
undertook to foist on the people of
South Carolina This victory. the first
of its kind in the history of the United
States; demonstrates that when the
people are informed of the injustice
and dictatorship of professional
politicians, they will rise up to defend
their constitutional rights.
All honor to the press Of South
Carolina for It's magnificent support in
the cause of justice, freedom and
truth.
The Constitution, apart from political
considerations. must be preserved.
Rev. James H. Taylor,
Charleston, S. c.