Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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It * - Y\~V. * V. \(t , VOL XLV -NO, 4,1 NEWBERRY. S. O.. FRIDAY. MAY '22 1908. TWICE A WEEK. $1.50 A YEAR I South Carol in For Wm. Je ' STATE CONVENTION WAS HARMONIOUS TILLMAN, GARY, WATKINS AND JONES DELEGATES AT LARGE. ? The Delegates Prom The S;ven Districts? I Platform Adopted?Ex-Speaker hf Smith Presided. Kt ll,c State Democratic conven wh;ch met in Columbia on u ednesday, instructed the South H Carolina delegates to the national! X convention to vote as a unit for the > '^nnnation of William Jennings I H ff,3arn,, Un.tl1 t,le samc is secured," i H the followmg resolution presented! K at the night session by the commit-! jB re.c 011 P'atform and resolutions be- i ] ln? unanimously adopted: B "We heartily'endorse, as the canEK (1|date of the Democratic party for president of the United States,' WilH am Jennings Bryan and hereby instruck and direct that the vote of Hi 'til Carolina in the national conire vention at Denver be cast as a unit *or ?>s nomination until the same is Bs Pol lowing are the delegates chosa| en to the national convention in Denver: K Delegates at large?B. R. Tilli 5SS' K- 11 C,arv' H- H< Watkins, Ig Wine Jones. Alternates at large? W. F. Stevenson, Dr. R. F. Smith, H Jno. P. Grace, T. B. Crews. United States Senators Tillman and Gary were elected by acclamaj tion, Senator 1 illman being made chairman of the delegation, lie will not be able to attend the convention, and his place will be taken by Mr! W. F. Stevenson, who received the highest vote as an alternate. , I'irst district?Thomas R. Waring of Charleston and Dr. F. Julian Carroll of Summerville. Alternates, A. K. McCoy of Berkeley and [ Dr. W. A. Kirby of Colleton. Second district?J. E. Ilarley of Barnwell and L. J. Williams of Aiken. Alternates, Neils Christensen, JrThird district?Kenneth Raker of Greenwood and W. J. Stribling of Oconee. Alternates, H. C. Tillman and Rev. Coke D Mann. Fourth district?R. F. Townsend of Union and Dr. W. C. Black of Greenville. Alternates, S. J. Nichols of Spartanburg and Clarence Cunningham of Laurens. I4 ifth district?John G. Richards of Kershaw and J. M. Cherry or Rock I Till. Alternates, W. W. Dix*>n of Winnsboro and N. W. Harden of Rlacksburg. k ^ Sixth district?D. II. Traxler of I / Timmonsville and J. H. Manning k i of ^a**a- Alternates, W. IT. Andrews of'(Georgetown and Col. D. ||rag A. Spivey of Conway. HV Seventh district?Thomas F. ^Hr Brantley of Orangeburg and Hon. John II. Clifton of Sumter. Alternate, J. S. Wannamaker of St. MatW thews. I Following is the platform which [ was adopted: We, the Democratic party of South Carolina, in convention assembled, reaffirm our faith in the fundamental and historic principles of the party of Thomas Jefferson and call to the nation to again put its trust in the party of individual liberty and of "equal rights to all and special privileges to none." We favor the exercise by the general government of all its constitutional authority for the prevention of monopoly and for the regulation of interstate commerce; we insist that federal remedies shall be added to, and not substituted for State remedies. We denounce as revolutionary tji'e policy of the Republican party, that the powers of the generaf government should be extended by judicial constructions. A private monopoly is indefensible "and intolerable. We, I/here fore, - / a Instructs nnings Bryat iu\oi the vigorous enforcement < the criminal law against trusts an trust magnates. a;.u demand the ei actment of such additional legisls tion as may he msvrssary to malit impossible tor a private monopt ly to exist in the United States, j We favor an immediate revisie ot '.he tariff by the reduc.ion of in portduties, and we denounce as In pocrithal the- promise of Mie Repul lican party to enact such legislatie after the elections. Articles ente ing into competition with artich controlled by trusts should be pla< ed upon the free h.s?: material r< duetions should be made in the tai iff upon the neccsnsarie, of lif Our present financial conditioi show the urgent necessity for more elastic currency system. The Democratic party of the n; tion should pledge the'people th; if placed in power rt will ena< prompt but conservative legislatio to relieve present conditions. We favor the enactment of a fa and just employers' liability law. We sympathize with tlie effor put forth for the reclamation of tli [arid hands of the West and use c irrigation in the development of tl [country, and upon the same princ pie we also favor the reclamation <: j swamp lands. We favor the presei vation of the forests still remaining and the replanting of the denude districts in all our mountain range as well as the forestation of tli Western plains. | We urge liberal appropriatioi for the improvement and develoj [ ment of the interior waterways, b< lieving that such expenditures wi return a large dividend in lessene cost of transportation. \\ e favor the election of L'nitc States senators by direct vote t the people, and regard this refori as the gateway to other national n forms. We favor a federal law compel ing the fullest publicity in the ma ter of contributions to the nation; campaign funds of all the parti< and we woufcl call the attention ( the nation to the failure of the R< publican party to enact such legisls tion as proof of the correctness < the charges made on the eve of tl last election by the Democrat nominee for president that the R< publican party had received assis ance from corporations desiring I control the policies of the nation; government in their own interest. We welcome Oklahoma to tl sisterhood of Slates and hearti congratulate her upon the auspii ious beginning of a great caree We favor separate statehood fc Arizona and New Mexico and d< mand for the people of Puerto Ric the full enjovment of the rights an privileges of a territorial form < government. The convention was called to o der on Wednesday in the hall < the house of representatives by Ge Wilie Jones, chairman of the Sta Democratic executive committee, ; 12.06, which is very nearly on tin for such a large body. After prayer by Rev. K. G. Fii lay, rector of Trinity church, tl roll was called and a quorum pj*< nounccd present. 1 he Bryan sentiment w; brought out as soon as the chairnu stated that it would be necessary elect a temporary chairman. M W. A. James of Lee nominated M C. A. Smith of rinmionsvillc. M J. P. Derham wanted to know ho Mr. Smith stood 011 lb-van. Chai man Jones ruled this out of order this time and in the confusion th followed Air. W. \V. Dixon 11011 nated Mr. Mendel I*. Smith Camden for temporary chairma Mr Mendel I,. Smith was not ; aspirant for tin's position, but h; been .i.inr unc a imlidate fi presides of the oonvetnion. The came verv near bttng a vote b tween the two Smiths before M Mendel L. Smith retired the fb, :?;? ! ;?iuomced that lie \vihi u.'.m ? 'tclrawn. Ti<? nominatio! of Mr. C. A. Smith was then place* Jj before the convention and he \va elected unanimously, 'ilthough .Mi Derlyun again protested against th >f election of any man until his viewid on l?ryan could he obtained, i- Chairman Jones then appointe v Messrs. W". A. James. F. 1). Sniitl :e IX (_. 1 ley ward. (ico. Johnstone aiv -)_ J no. (?ary Kvans to escort Mi Smith to the chair. All of this com ,n niitlee. except Mr. Tames, arc can i. didates for the Tinted States sen > - ;ltc- M C. A. Smith is a capabl )_ pi e -?i< 1 iill*- officer. h-ving been pro si id drill of the State I'aptist coiiven r tion for several years, s As soon as Mr. C. A. Smith as sumed the chair and had lhanke< > the convention for his election Mi r- J. Win. Thurmond of Fdgfield plac e. cd in nomination as president Mi is Mendel 1.. Smith of Camden, at th a same lime paving a compliment t his ability as a presiding officer an< his fairness n all rulings during hi U term as speaker of the house. 'Y\\ :t nomination was seconded b >n Messrs. Mayfield. Sawyer, Mc Sweeney, the Barnwell delegatioi ir and a number of others and Mi Simth was unanimously electee is president and escorted to the eliai ie 1?y Gov. Ansel and Senator Clifto if of Sumter. ie Mr. Smith briefly thanked th i_ convention for the honor bestowe )f upon him. r- President Smith then called fo r. nominations for the other offices t (1 be filled. The three temporar' s, secretaries, Tom C. I lamer, G. R iC Koester and J. Wilson Gibbes, wer elected and J. S. Wilso:: *;f Lan is caster was elected, sergeant-at-arms Senator Clifton of Sumter wa > elected treasurer, and the followinj II vice presidents were unatiiniousl (1 elected. hirst district?C. M. Wiggins o 1(j Berkeley. )f See ' '^1 district?I) S. 1 lender n son of Aiken. r>_ ' !i'i*d i]i; riot?R A I bompsoi of Oconee. !_ Fourth dis'r.n?ITowrd II. Car lisle of Spartanburg. nl Trifth district?J. Harry Foster o js Lancaster. )f Sixth district- -Olin Sawyer r> c- Georgetown. i- Seventh district?Richard 1 >f Manning of Sumter. !e Mr. W. A. James then move* ,c that an or !er ot business b ^ outlined with the appointment of committee on platform and resolu ? tions and a committee on constitu a tion, the election of the nations and district delegates to the conven i- tion and the report from the com ly mittee. This suggestion was tablec c- however, by a vote of 179 to 25 an< r. the convention finally adopted th >r rules of the house of representative e- with a few minor changes. On the call made for resolution '(f ^ Pollock offered a propo 3 sition urging the convention to g on record as opposed to the presen rules of the railroads in this Stat r requiring holders of mileage book " to exchange r.'.ileage with statioi ? agents for regular tickets befor boarding the train. Fx-Gov. Jno. C. Sheppard sug gested that all resolutions be refer red to the committee 011 resolution l1" and thus save time. Mr. D. ? 1C Henderson thought the suggestio r>- a good one, except any resolutio favoring or opposed to instructio a> of the delegates to the nation? III convention. 1 his, he cousidercf to the most important matter befor r. the convention, lie offered this a r. an amendment to Mr. Sheppard' r. motion. Mr. G. W. Ragsdale u w I ?iii field moved to table the amend r- incnt. 'l he motion was lost and th at convention decided to refer all c\ at ccpt the Bryan resolutions to th ii- committee. of Mr. I). I.. Sinkler of Cliarlestoi n. then oflered a resolution that th in Democrats of South Carolina ex id press to Senator Tillman their svm I)r pathv and regrets 011 account of I.; re absence and the lack of his abl e- leadership and wise counsel am r. that it is the earnest wish of th i>r; Democrats of the State that he b S soon restored to health. The reso- 1 ii lutions were agreed to Dy a rising I :1 vote of the entire convention. \ s The proposing of resolutions on I \ William J. Hryan then began. Air. e \\ illiain K. Gonzales of Richlatul < s sent up the first one to the effect that, owing to the ;?1 ?le leadership of | i> William Jennings Uryan tins eon- 1 i, vert ion I'lidorse his eandidaev for il president ajid instruct the delegates : . to vote for him as nominee of the i - Democratic part v. < Mr. 1). A. \\ ilhams ot Lancaster ? - and Senator Kelly of Lee had simi- t e lar resolutions as did Mr. 1\ ! '. t I lerudon ot ()couec. \ Mr. (i race ot Charleston, in a speeeh favoring liryan instructions, : - slated that he wanted only men se- 1 I leeted who were llrvan men all the t time, not only by outward assertion, - but in their hearts. 11 is remarks 1 . were received with applause. e Mr. \\ . A. James suggested that the live authors ot the Urvau reso- 1 lutions be appointed a committee to > get together and draw up one sat- 1 isfactory to them all. All of the 1 resolutions were for instruction, but ( they (littered in wording. < Senator Clifton moved that all : action upon these resolutions be de- ' ferred until the evening session. * Ibis was tabled on motion of Mr. * Mavfield. Mr. May field moved that ' the convention take a direct vote on ' the question of instruction for the ' delegates and that the Denver del- < egation vote as a unit for Hi van. ' Mr. R. 1. Manning offered a sub- ' stitute to the resoution adopted at I the Sumter county convention in- < .. dorsing Hryan, but not pledging the 1 s delegates to vote instructed. It was I compromise measure and was < table<l on motion of Mr. Kelly of 1 s Lee. * Mr. Pollock then moved as a J ^ substitute for the Mayticd resolu- * lion, which was for a direct vote on [ instruction, the following: ! "Resolved, That it is the sense of this convention that the delegates \ n to be elected to the Democratic na- ' tional convention bv this convention 1 and by the district conventions, be 1 instructed to vote first, last and all the time for the nomination of Wilf liam J. Hryan for piesident and that the committee on platform and res- 1 f olutions be requested to present suitable resolutions for this pur[, pose." With almost no discussion the resolution was adopted first as a e substitute and then, as is customary a m parliamentary procedure, was , - voted on directly by the convention, - there being no dissenting votes. il Mr. Grace of Charleston again - pointed out his views on Hryan in structions, insisting that the clistricr I, delegates, after the adoption of this d resolution, should be only Bryan e men. A delegate thought the cons vention should not at this time take any action on the attitude of the s district delegates, although he fav i- ored Hryan strongly. It would be 0 a reflection upon some of the delit egates, perhaps. Mis view wa? e adopted by the convention and after s the announcement of the appointti mcnt of the two important commite tees by the convention a recess was taken until 8.30 in the evening. Cole. L. I'lease, of Xewberrv. ' - was appointed a member of the s committee on constitution and by- 1 >. laws, and George Johnstone, of n Newberry, was appointed a member 1 II of the committee on platform and I 11 resolutions. l' When the convention was called 1. to order 011 Wednesday night the * c' first business was the report of the s ] committee on constitution. The < s | convention decided to lay upon the l f; tabk* the prohibition resolution : I-1 from the Marlboro delegates. There I * I was very little discussion on this. < "1 The proposition Mibmitted bv ( j Delegate Hlease to change the time < ; for holding the primaries from the 1 ? | fourth Tuesday to the last Satur (>|day in August was defeated, al- 1 j though the author argued for it at 1 * length, fie claimed that the mill < ? | employes wish it. <' I Mr. W. C. Pcarmati of fVlzer d?'1 J fended the mill employes. They < e are nr>t cattle and had never asked < c for any change as suggested by ? Ulease. The latter replied that lie Knew of eases in Richland where he mill bosses controlled the votes he way they were paid to do it. Mi. Lewis \V. Barker is president >f the larger mills in Columbia and Mr. IVannan showed that the mill >residcnts supported candidates for tvliom the men did not vote. Air. J. J. (i en try ot Spartanburg>aid the change would put a prenium on violation of the Sabbath lay and create political gatherings >u Sunday, for (hat is the dav when lie reports would be published in he newspapers. The resolution a as rejected by a large majority. A lavorable report was made and idoptcd on the proposition for two -ampaign meetings in each countv his year. Dr. J. t . Mace's resolution on en"oUinent was adopted. I here was some' discussion on Mr. R. B. Watson's resolution rce>mineuding that the countv chairnan or member of the countv execit ivc committee be not a candidate For any political office. Senator -lillon saw no reason for this Miange now. It would affect severd men who now were either office lolders or candidates. Mr. Watson xplained the advantages of the .liange. Mr. Rhett moved to indefinitely postpone the whole matter, which was rejected by a vole of 171 to 104. Mr. Clifton suggested that t go into effect later. Mr. (Jadsden >f Charleston proposed as a substitute that every candidate for the egi.slature pledge himself not to Ik:omc a candidate for any ollicc Aithin the gift of that body. The Ragsdale substitute, for a slight hange 111 the present rule was finri!y adopted. \ei\ few alterations in the constitution were proposed. ( )ne of hese was adopted and there will be wo political campaign parties. The )lat form is brief but explicit. 1 lie proceedings of the day ses>ion weiv limited to organization ind to receiving resolutions. The :ommittecs met in the afternoon md passed upon these resolutions. 1 lie 1 eal tinesse of the convention was Wednesday night. The election of lelegates to the national convention then came up. Mr. J. C. ()tts brought in a resolution that the two United States seta tors be elected by acclamation: that the district delegates be elected by the districts; that two delegates at large be elected by ballot, and that one of the alternates receiving the highest number of votes be named in place of Senator Tillman, who will not be present. There was objection to this pi in by several, but it was finally adopted with slight changes. fhe reoort relating tc the election of the two United States senators. B. R. Tillman and Frank B. Gary, by acclamation, was unanimously adopted ind carried out. I hen came the nomination of ;he other two delegates at large. Cien. J no. D. h rost placed in nomination William IC. Gonzales of Columbia. J110. (:. Moblcy placed in nomination Gen. \Vd:e jor.es of Columbia. M. L. Hon ham placed in nomination II. !. WatkiKj of Anderson J. B. YVingard nominated J. P. rirace ol Charleston. All of these nominafions received numerous seconds. Messrs. Wat kins and Jones were eiected, the vote resulting as follows: Watkins iO<S; Jones 180; (ion/ales 153; iraee 111. lie fore the ballots were taken the candidates were asked to express their preferences for Bryan. All stated that they advocated the flection of William |. Br van for nresilent. The election r?f alternates then -ame 111?. I). S. Ilenderson nominated \V. I*'. Stevenson of Cheraw ; f. B. Winard nominated J. ]:, I race of Charleston; J. I \ Carey lominated Dr. R. I\ Smith of Pick ns; Dr. Olin Sawyer iu>minate(l W illiam K. Ganzales; Mr. R. f. Manning nominated Col. Thos B rews of I,aureus and moved his lection by acclamation. This was opposed by several and the ballot I was ordered. All nominations received a second and the result of the ballot is given below. The votes on the alternates at large was as follows: W. 1\ Stevenson 287; l)r, r p Smith 270; John l\ Cree 265; T. I?. Clews 2.15: \\ . |?., (ion/ales 201. This practically ended the interest in the convention. The election of district delegates was a matter of form. 1 here was no opposition to the report of the committee on platform in any particular and the resolution instructing tor l?rvan went tinougli without a dissenting vote. I 1km e was some little discussion on one or two oi the resolutions sent hack by the committee but this practically closed the convention. Just before adjournment Senator H. R. I illnian was nominated to succeed hiniselI 011 the national executive committee. I?\ resolution <>1 die convention. Hon. \\ . K. Stevenson, having received the highest number of votes cast tor any candidate for alternate I at laigc, will Jill the vacancy on the delegation caused by the absence of Senator Tillman, who was elected by acclamation and made chairman o? the delegation, not withstanding the fact that he is now on the high seas en route to Kurope and will not: return to America until long after the Denver convention. Mr. 1 Mease's amendment to the constitution providing for two camp?ugn parties was adopted. ( I.KM SO.\ M ATTKK I.KT At.ONK. I here was quite a light in the committee room on the matter of adopting a resolution requesting the trustees and facultv of Clemson college to reinstate the ^00 voun<?men who were expelled. The'intcir tion of the author, Mr. W. A. James was not to interfere in anv way with the discipline or inanagemeiit at C I em son college, but as the largest political body in the Stale to advise the faculty of the sentiment of the people of the State. The resolutions were filially rejected after several ballots, including tie votes etc. I he gentlemen on the other side of the question. Mr. I0I111 ). McMalian. Mr. Richard 1. Manninjr ( apt. \V\ W. Smoalv and others, argued with force that resolutions, even if merely in sympathy with the dismissed cadets, might be construed to be more farreaching than intended. 1 he faculty and management could be made to understand that the resolution was merely the appeal for pardon submitted by a lawyer for his client, but the young men themselves might think that as there had been some kind of issue their side was sustained. I he resolutions were not in the nature of an implied command, but vet it was considered the part of wisdom '0 let the college alone, for it was stated by several members of the committee that they had heard of eftorts now being made by the faculty to have the men reinstated, and if some political body should step in and influence them the action of the faculty might not appear to be voluntary, and for that reason the good work might be spoiled. t apt. Smoak recalled a similar case. A few years ago 65 men were dismissed from the South Carolina Military academy, lie had never heard of any political convention asking for the reinstatement of these men. And yet the faculty of the institution made it possible for nil of the men with the exception of '>ne to go back and get. the education of which thev would have been deprived. I I the facultv of Clemson college is contemplating such a step, aigued ( apt. Sinoak, it would be so much better for them to proceed unhampered. One 01 the delegates got verv much excited and inveighed bitter1 Iv against the "aliens" who are in charge ot ( lemsou college, but this speech made no effect upon members "I tin- committee. There were I several . iToru to patch up a resolution which would not be offensive . .uid could not possibly be construed ; ,l,at manner, but the resolution I > was finally killed by a vote of 22 to : '7i