The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, August 16, 1913, Image 7
km mum in,, lilt; rillMAKV.
Text of the Hill Now Pcmllng In the
Hiatr NrtMtv ?ml Amendment*
which c Hern Proposed.
To the Editor of The News and
Courier; The welcome political breath
Inir spell suggests a fit time to turn
Miblle attention to our election laws,
sad especially, the bill now pending in
h? eenate with amendments thereto
Irawn and designed to safeguard the
oallot box. The amendments were
offeied by various senators and print?
ed In the Senate Journal.
ft is a trite truth, that however per?
fect m law may bo the benefit there?
from depends not only upon its execu?
tion by conrtltuted authority, but by
public sentiment and the resolute de?
termination of the electorate to uphold
It Public sentiment cannot be de?
fined to be as the will and wish of
this or that political faction, but can
only be standardised by the cltlsens
whose efforts and energies are de?
voted to the upbuilding of a com?
munity. Industrially, socially and po?
litically. While the enforcement of
all law la the mainspring of public
safety the present primary law has
many loopholes for loose and danger?
ous practices which wise and practical
legislation may remedy, and to that
?nd the co-operation of thoughtful
cltlsens is asked. Surely there la no
fight one should so Jealously guard,
and affecting so vitally the welfare
and Ideale of a community, nay, lib?
erty Itself than that the voter should
have his ballot counted, the election
conducted fairly and results declared
pursuant to law. If we do not have
soch an election, then the depositing
of an honest ballot is an idle cere,
mony. and the boasted government
by democracy Is but a rr.ore mono?
cracy.
From time immemorial, men have
etruggled and fought for freedom and
the maintenance of their rights, and
it Is not necessary to recall now, but
to give one brief glance only at the
picture of the past, dark with despot?
ism and its tragic results, but also
bright with heroism and martyrdom
for the establishment of human rights.
If fraud and debauchery Is triumphant
at the ballot box. then it Is not only
Idle to talk of representative govern?
ment, but a futile and foolish thin*4
for an honest man to run for office ?
the cards are "stacked" and he plays
against "loaded dice." If the right of
a eitisen to run for office is dependent
upon the length and depth of his
pocketbook. then the eligibility for
holding office Is, Indeed, limited to the
favored few.
This proposition Is patent and real?
ised tv every cltlsen. There Is no
particular profit In discussing past
events, except by way of Illustration;
what we have to do is to seek not an
altralstic but practical remedy for the
future. "You cannot turn the mill
wheel with the water that has passed
by."
There Is much adverse comment as
to the legislature not passing an elec?
tion law last year, but very few cltl?
sens realised that there was serious
attention given by the senate at this
last session to an election law remedy?
ing existing conditions, and the dis?
cussion was prolonged for several
daya The bill which I request I hat
you print was Introduced and discuss?
ed with the view of calling attention to
it. and the postponement of the meas?
ure was for the people of every com?
munity In this State to examine It
before final action was takon there?
on 1 venture the assertion that the
members of the senate almost to a
man feel a deep int rest in our pres?
ent political conditions and do not
need a public whip and spur, but only
the co-operaMon and thought of the
men of ev*ry community in this
state. Naturally, there will be va?
rious suggestions. some good, and
others defective, but the measure
should be given attention now, for It
Is the proputy ( I the people and does j
not belong to .iny political faction
Kemedles wlfl Ik> gladly received, irre- |
spevtlve of their ?ource. A good eloc
lion law must >enetlt all. Irrespcc
tlve of class, crued or condltl ?n.
The truest llbeial is he
. Who values men In their degree,
Who virtue In a churl can prise
And baseness In an earl despise
Tet censures baseness in a churl
And dares find virtue in an earl."
respectfully.
linger Slnkler.
Charleston. I C. July 31, 1913.
ItofomiliMc the l*rtmary.
Nsaa and OsSJM gsj
The letter from Senator lluger
Htnkler whe h v*print thl* morn?
ing takes hold of the problem of re?
forming the primary at the right end.
The bill to vAh?-b he < all* attention
(known ?X the MlehelsoW bill) is now
pendln? in the State senate It ha
already been debated there i?? some
length and when the legislature re
SjSjSjeSJSJSjg next JgatSgfJ I Ml t'? be .x
pggttd that It will be mi le the i .
for ativ aetbm whh h that ?> td) m,i
tske -although It Is entirely possible.
, r our?e, for It |0 be amended and
.hanged until if will bear no reetta
blan?e to the from in wlu.h it was
introduced by its author. A number
of amendments, Home of them radical,
are alrrady pending. These, togem
er with the bill Itself, are printed
along with Mr. Sinklcr's letter, and
they merit investigation by all who
are interestd in this supremely im?
portant quest! >n. What do the pe o?
ple think of the bill? What do they
think of the amendments? LHspus
sionate stutly and discuss.on of both
should be of value and will he wel?
comed. It Is most earnestly to be de?
sired that the legislature shall take
some action before the next election
and this action ought to be of a kind
which will Invite public conlldence.
The present, therefore, is the time for
the public to cxpicfs itself. To wait
until the legislature reconvenes will
bo to throw uway an opportunity.
The most opend-minded of senators or
representatives lacks the time after
the session begins to read and digest
arguments to which he would gladly
give his whole attention now.
The Primary Elections Hill.
Calendar No. 15.
Printer's No. 404?Z. Senate
8. B. No. 15. In the Senate. Head
the first timo January 16, 1913.
A Bill to Amend Chapter XIII of
Volume 1, Code of Laws of South
Carolina, 1912, Relating to Primary
Elections by adding thereto Addi?
tional Sections to bo known as Sec?
tions 282a, 282b, 282c, 282d, 282e
282f. 282g, 282h and 2821.
Be It enacted by the General As?
sembly of the State of South Caro?
lina:
Section 1. That Chapter XIII of
Volume 1, Code of Laws of South
Carolina, 1912, relating to primary
elections be amended by adding there?
to additional aections, to be known
as Sections 282a, 282b, 282c, 282d,
282e. 282f, 282g. 282h and 2821. The
additional sections to read as follows:
Section 282a- In each year, six
months before the first primary of any
primary election held by any political
party, organization or association for
the purpose of choosing candidates
for office, or the election of delegates
to conventions, it shall be the duty of
the members und officers of each club
to provide a board of registration for
the enrolment of all persons who are
entitled to vote at such club in the
primary elections of such political
party organization or association, and
all persons who are qualified to vote
in such primary elections under the
constitution and rules of such poli?
tical party, organization or associa?
tion, and who are bona fide citizens
of this State and of the United States,
and who have been residents of this
State for one year, and of the county
six months, and of the township or
ward three months before the first
primary election of such party, or?
ganization or association of any years
in which an election shall be held,
shall be entitled to be enrolled on
such club roll: Provided, that each
voter applying for enrolment on any]
such club roll shall take an oath
that he is duly qualified to vote in said
election under the constitution and
rules of such party, organization or
association and under the provisions
of this chapter, and that he has not
enrolled as a member of any other
club, and state his age und place of
residence, and if in a city where the
houses are numbered, the number of
the residence in which he resides, and
if the houses are not numbered, he
shall state street and block on which
he resides, and shall, on comply?
ing with said terms, be enrolled and
receive a certificate thereof, which
shall state the precinct, the name and
number of the voter and his place of
residence, and the name shall be en?
tered on the (dub roll, numbered as it
is numbeed on the certificate, the
names at each precinct to be number?
ed consecutively from one (1) up?as
en*, oiled ? and it shall be the duty of
every board of registration to ascer?
tain If the voter proposing to enroll
has boen enrolled at any other pre?
cinct, ar. 1 If it shall appear that he
has, he cannot enroll again until his
name is stricken from the list where
he has already enrolled. j
Section 282b. In each year, thirty
days before the first primary election
of any political party, organization or
association, it shall be the duty of the
board of registration having ( barge of
the enrolment of the voters at each of
tho clubs or precinct* to make out a
copy of the club roll of such precinct
and to certltA under oath before a no?
tary public, or other officer author
Ised to administer oaths under the
laws of this State, that the Hatne is a
true and correct cop) ??f the club roll
? >f such club, and shall llle stu b cer?
tified copy with the clerk of court of
the county In which such precinct is
located, and the same shall be kept
of record In his otl'n e.
Section II to. No person shall lie
allowed to vote at any primary riet
tlon whose name Is not enrolled on the
lull roll of the pre< ne t where he i*
. ntltled to rote under the constitu?
tion ami rules ??f such political party,
organisation or association, in accord?
ance with the provisions of this ( ban?
ter, at least thirty dayg before the first
primar) eleetinn of euch party, or?
ganisation "i association In each year
, in which an election shall be held,
Beet Injj i?XLM. Any person applying
Cor enrolment on the club roll of any
club or paaclnct ol any political party,
organisation or association, who shall
he refused enrolment* shall have the
right to appeal to any Circuit Judge
in the circuit where sueh voter re?
sides, or to any Justice of the Su?
preme court from the action of the
officers of auch club: Provided, that
the notice and grounds of appeal be
served on one of the oflleers of such
club within live days after the action
of said club in refusing to enrol such
voter, and this uppcal shall be heard
within ten days from the date of tho
service of such notice, and the time
and Place for the hearing of said ap?
peal shall be Axed and designated in
such notice; and such person, or the
oflleers or members of such club shall
have thet right to appeal to the Su-1
preme Court of South Carolina from
th decision of the Judge or Justice
who hears the same: Provided, that
In the event the action of the club or
precinct in refusing to enroll such
person be reversed by the Judge or
Justice who hears the appeal, then
the name of such perrssii shall be plac?
ed on the roll of such club and he
shall be entitled to vote as a member
of such club pending the final decis?
ion of the Supreme Court.
Section 28 2e. All persons enrolled
at any club or precinct under the con?
stitution and rules of such party, or?
ganisation or association, and the pro?
visions of this chapter shall be en?
titled to vote at all of the primary
elections of such party, organization
or association upon presenting him?
self at the precinct or club at which
he is enrolled and taking the oath
and complying with the rules of such
party organization or association, and
presenting the certificate of his en?
rolment as a member of such precinct
or club.
Section 282f. This Act is not in?
tended and shall not be construed to
prevent any political party, organiza?
tion or association from prescribing
and requiring any additional require?
ments and safeguards for the conduct
of its primary elections, and shall not
be deemed or construed to repeal or
affect the provisions of Sections 283,
284 and 285 of Chapter XIII of Vol?
ume 1 of Code of Laws of South Car?
olina. 1912.
Section 282g. The said board of
primary registration' shall consist of
three mmbers for each precinct, and
the said board of primary registra?
tion shall receive as compensation for
their services the sum of ten ($10)
dollars each, except in the counties of
-, where the said board of
primary registration shall receive the
sum of-each, the same to be
paid by the county board of commis?
sioners, on the claims presented to
them, and sworn to as provided by
law: Provided, that no claim shall
be paid to any member of the said
boa id of primary registration, unless
it shall appear that they have com?
plied with the requirements of this
Chapter, and have tiled certified copies
of the club rolls as provided in this
Chapter, The said claims shall be pre?
sented to the said county com mission
era at their regular meeting in Au?
gust of each election year.
Section 282h. That an executive
committee of every such political
party, organization or association,
shall be provided by such political
party, organization or association, for
each county of the State, to be com?
posed of one inembor for each club
or precinct, and a chairman to be se?
lected under the constitution and rules
of such party, organization or asso?
ciation; and it shall be the duty of the
executive committee to meet at the
court house in the respective counties
on the first Monday of August In each
election year. And tlu' said commit?
tee shall have access to the club
rolls tiled in the office of the clerk
of court, and shall have power to
hear objections on the part of any
citizen to any of Bald club rolls, and
if there shall be found on said club
ioils the names of any persons not en?
titled to vote In any of the precincts,
the said committee shall have the
power to purge the club rolls, and to
strlko from them all such names:
Provided, the committee shall notify
the persons affected and the oflleers
of any club or precinct of any ? hange
made in the club roll, within live days
thereafter and the persons stricken
from said club rolls shall have the
I same right and method of appeal from
the action of the executive committee
as is provided in Section 282d of this
Act. j
Section USL'i. Any person violating
the provisions of this Ac! other than
?Wearing falsely shall bo guilty of a
j misdemeanor, and fined not over live
hundred ($600) dollars, or impglsoned
nol over six (8) months, or both, at
the discretion of the court Any per?
son swearing falsely in any of the
matters pertaining t<> primary elec?
tions simii be guilty of perjury, and
punished as now provided by law f<?r
perjury. The board of primary res,
Istratlon and managers ami members
of the state and count) executive com?
mittees of political parties, organiza?
tions or associations, are hereby ati
thorlzed lo administer oaths in nil
Imatter* relating to such primary eler
[lions, and t<> swear felsclj before any
of them touching .such matters shall
be perjury. The laid manager! shall
be sworn to conduct the election
fairly and legally, and each voter shall
be sworn as to his right to vote and
that he has not voted before at said
election.
Section 2. This Act shall take effect
upon its approval.
The following amendments were of
fared to tin- foregoing measure:
Amend the title by striking out Sec?
tion 282, on line 1, and by adding Sec?
tion 282g.
Amend Section 1, line 1, by striking
out the same words.
Amend further, by striking out the
word "two" after the words "State
for," on line 13 page 2, and inserting
in lieu thereof the word "one." Also
by striking out the same line the
words "one year," after the word
"county," and inserting in lieu thereof
the words "six months."
Amend, further, by adding at the
end of Section 28 2a the following:
"and state his age and place of resi?
dence, and if in a city where the
houses are numbered, the number of
the residence in which he resides, and
if the houses are not numbered, he
shall state the street and block on
which he resides, und shall, on comply?
ing with said terms, be enrolled and
receive a certificate thereof, which
shall state the precinct, the name and
number of the voter and his place of
residence, and the name shall be en?
tered on the club roll, numbered as
it is numbered on the certificate, the
names at each precinct to be number?
ed consecutively from (1) up?as en?
rolled?and it shall be the duty of
every board of registration to ascer?
tain if the voter proposing to enrol
has been enrolled at any other pre?
cinct, and if it shall appear that he
has, he cannot enroll again until his
name is stricken from the list where
he has already enrolled."
Amend, further, by adding the fol?
lowing as Section 282g:
"Section 282g. Any person violat?
ing the provisions of this Act other
than swearing falsely shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor, and fined not over
five hundred ($100) dollars, or im?
prisoned not over six (6) months, or
both, at the discretion of the court.
Any person swearing falsely in any of
the matters pertaining to primary
elections shall be guilty of perjury,
and punished as now provided by law
for being guilty of perjury. The
board of primary registration and
managers and members of the State
and county executive committees of ?
political parties, organizations or as?
sociations, are hereby authorized to ;
administer oaths in all matters re- i
luting to such primary elections, and
to swear falsely before any of them |
touching such matters shall be per- j
jury. The said managers shall be j
sworn to conduct the election fairly |
and legally, and each voter shall be j j
sworn as to his right to vote, and ' j
that he has not voted before at said j
i
election."
Amend Section 282a by inserting be?
tween the word "provide" and "for"
on line 8, the words "a board of reg
istration."
Amend, further, by inserting after
the word "county," on line 13, page 2,
Section 282a, the following: "and of
the township or ward."
Amend, further, by striking out, tin
line 20, page 2, Section 28 2b, the
words "members and officers," and in?
serting in lieu thereof the words
"board of registration."
Amend, further, by adding to Sec?
tion 282e the following: "and pre?
senting the certificate of his enrol?
ment as a member of such precinct or
clubs."
Amend, further, by adding another
section, to be known as Section 282h,
as follows:
"Section 282h. The said board of
primary registration shall consist of t
three members for each precinct, and
the said board of primary registra?
tion shall receive as compensation for
their services the sum of ten ($Hi)
dollars each, except in the counties of
-, where the said board of pri
mary registration shall receive the
sum of - ea( h, the same to be
paid by the county board of commis?
sioners, on the claims presented to
them, and sworn to as provided by
law: Provided that no claim shall
be paid to any member of the said
board of primary registration, unless
it shall appear that they have com?
plied with the requirements of this;
chapter, and have died certified copies
of the club rolls as provided In thin
chapter. The said claims shall be
presented to the said county commis?
si oners at their regular meeting in Au?
gust of each election year."
Amend title by striking out all after
j the words "282c."
i Strike out all after the words
"282c" and insert the following,
?only qualified electors shall be per?
mitted to \ote In any political pri
maty hereafter held in this state or
any counts of the State. Provided, it
shall not he necessary tu produce as
a prerequisite to participation in
such primaries u registration receipt
or tax receipt, but it shall he sulli
dent for each person claiming the
tight to vote to take an oath that he
'is a duly qualified eh .tot and that he
is entitled t<? Vote lltlder the tub's and
I
constitution ?*t* the party in wii?.. . pri
mary he seeks to participate.
"Thai ample opportunity shall i e
made for the registration of all per?
sons entitled thereto and to tins end
the boards of supervisors <?f registra?
tion shall keep their unices open rtui
ing the months of June, July and Au?
gust of the y?ar 1913 and shall also
? luring said year attend in a public
place in each voting precinct of their
Counties for the purpose of registra?
tion for at least two days, of which
due notice shall be given*
"That during any year in which a
State primary is to h? held the books
of registration shall he kept open at
the cowl houne for at h ast one month
an.I tin- board shall also attend fa?r
at h a-t one day in each township in
tin ir counties for registration, of
Which due public BOtice shall be giv?
en. The hooks of registration shall
be closed thirty days bjsfora any pri?
mary li to be held.
for the services heroin required of
them the said hoards of supervisors
of registration shall he* paid one hun?
dred dollars ea< h in addition to their
! regular compensation.*'
Amend by adding at end of Sec
j tion 1: "The said registration shall
1 he deemed to he the) onlj true und
correct registry of qualified electors
in South Carolina,"
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