The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, May 27, 1914, Image 1
atchmnn mfo
mtbtm.
WATCHMAN, Established April, 1M0.
"De Jost and Fear not?Let all the ends Thon Atmat at be thj Country's, Thr God's and Troth's.'
THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jone,
consolidated Auk. 3,1881.
SUMTER, S. 0., WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1914.
Vol. XXXVIII. No. 27.
1P Uli ROLLS n 1
iE m u wm\t
Former Rolls Are Declared Void By
New Registration Rules
A MODIFIED FORM OF GREENVILLE PLAN IS ADOPTED BY STATE
COM V KW'IIOW?REPORT OF MAJORITY FAVORED BY VOTE OF
MS TO 5d?VOTERS MUST SIGN ROLL FOR THEMSELVES
Columbia. May II?The State
Democratic convention which conven?
es at noon Wednesday ended yester?
day afternoon at I.II o'clock, after
a new constitution and rules for the
governance of the party had bean
adopted Except for minor changes,
list eeeneituUon and rules were agreed
%m\ my the convention ae they were re
perftas by a majority of the commit?
tee em rnlee yesterday afternoon at
Utt o'clock. After its champions
had aeon heard in ite defense, the re
peri of the minority of the committee
on constitution end rules was tabled.
The new constitution and rules recom?
mended by the majority of the coi.i
mittse were adopted with' amend
MWpV Wtfth only two roll calls, both
of which were so overwhemllngly In
fewer of the majority report that the
opposition apparently lost heart.
The new constitution and rules ere
the result of conferences of advocates
of primary reform In the convention
and represent many hours of labor on
the part of the committee on constitu?
tion and rnlee. In the main the new
?sjn.ctlnnc *f the Democratic party
ft regard to safeguarding the primary
emotione follow what Is known aa the
"?reenvrte plan." drawn up by W.
#*? aw i lei of Greenville and others.
Taw nhnagu In the regulations of the
_j4|M? fsclginil to prevent fraud
*t^EHMfmWrttlee be primary elections;
Tnw nsmsf task* sweeping new provn
pje? fal Charleston county.
# It win notable that not a single
sflMceh wee made la the convention
A xtave? of leaving the rules of the
fhrty M eland ae adopted in ltll.
%%4 questions raised were simply whit
efsahfes ehojld be made to safeguard
jgrtiaar? elections effectively.
Tbare was a sharp division between
the reports of the majority and ml
herity of the committee on constitu?
tive) and rules, the latter insisting on
' tsiefer terms of residence In State and
eounty as one qualification for voting
and opposing the rule presented that
veters should ugn the club rolls In
'A number of stirring speeches were
Sende on the floor of the convention
gfe the questions raised by the two
Igpjlts of the comm'ttee on constitu?
tion and rules. There was some Indica?
tion that the advocates of the adop?
ting) of the minority report wanted to
?Ueuster, but In the face of certain
defeat this soon ended.
The State convention met r. big task
manfully in the adoption of new
miss intended to safeguard the pri?
mary elections. There were widely di?
verging opinions to be reconciled as
te) how this should be done. The rules
committee waged a battle royal from
the time of its appointment Wednes?
day nlfht until It submtted Its report
yeeterday afternoon. The basic dif?
ferences between the reports of the
majority and the minority of tho com
esftttee Indicated Just how large was
the task which the commltlee on Con?
stitution and rules solved. -
The convention was a most repre?
sentative body, determined from the
start to do something to carry out
the mandate of the people that the
primary elections, should be made
above suspicion.
The majority report was read by
W. O. Sirrins of Greenville
The minority report was a series
of amendments to tho majority re?
port.
Mr. Tmmerman said he believed
all the delegates favored an honcxt
primary. He said that the minority
of the committee was opposed to re?
quiring voters to present thomsel\<<*
In psrson to the secretaries of clubs
to sign the rolls. He said that It
would be hard on the voters and
the secretaries In rural communities
to carry out this provision in the
majority report. He declared that
the majority rules put the whole ma?
chinery of the party in the hands of
the men who happened to he in
newer.
"If you put dishonest men in
charge of the primary you are going
ts hhve a dishonest election," said
Mr. tlmmerman.
Th? speaker declared that the resi?
dence qnallflcaiona of the majority
report would work a hardship on
J
,men who "lived by the sweat of their
brows with a Job here today and
there tomorrow."
John #H. Clifton, minority leader,
said that he was not a supporter of
the present administration, but want?
ed to be fair to everybody whether
or not he agreed with them person?
ally or politically.
"St. Bartholomew's massacre will
be a merry making compared to the
i uprising of the poor white man if
you try to deprive him of his rights
in the primary for whose laxity you
are to blame," declared Mr. Clifton.
"For 2ft or 30 years white cltisens
21 years of age have been permitted
to vote In the primary." said Mr.
Clifton. "Yet at this late day be?
fore the next primary you propose
to change all this. Do you under?
stand thin absolute effort to disfran?
chise 20,000 white men? I would not
have an office at this place. We are
all, or we ought all to be, in favor of
Jefferson democracy, but we are all
not in favor of 'hotel Jefferson de?
mocracy.' "
"Section 0 of the majority report
propones to require residence in tht>
State for two years. In the county for
one year and in the precinct for 60
days," said Mr. Clifton. "The minor?
ity proposes to make the residence
requirement in the State one year.
Mr. Clifton said that the general
election registration certificates were
far easier to procure than It would be
for, the voters to meet the require?
ments of the majorty report He ridi?
culed the special provisions for Char?
leston.
"Publicity is the beet remedy for
rottenness In elections," said Mr. Clif?
ton. "I am in favor of filing the rolls
60 days before tho election where they
can be seen by everybody and require
lng a reenrollment.."
The SO minutes allotted to the mi?
nority having expired, the chair an?
nounced that other speeches must
come within the five minutes rule.
W. N. Qraydon ot Abbeville, speak?
ing for the majority, declared that the
minority of the committee on constitu?
tion and rules did not have all the
brains.
"What hardship Is it for a man to
sign the club roll?" asked Mr. Qray?
don. "Opposition to this is dema?
gogic claptrap. The rural people of
this country are not foots. There are
men between the plowshares who are
the peers of the two lawyers who are
so lolieitous for their welfare."
Mr. Qraydon was vigorously ap?
plauded.
"Let the voters sign tho roll," urged
Mr. Qraydcn. "Then wo will be sure
to have the names of men of flesh and
blood on the rolls and not names from
tombstones."
Alan Johnstone of Newberry. advo?
cating the adoption of the majority
report, said that the Democracy of
the State had charged the convention
with the solemn duty to reform the
primary.
"The rules we have been operating
under tho primaries have been brok?
en," said Mr. Jonhstone. "The people
aro asking us to mend them. This
convention as truly represents the
righteous poverty of this State as It
does the wealth of this State. The
convention Is charged to preserve the
vote and the voice of Democracy."
Mr. Johnstone said that the party's
requirements as to residence should
conform to those of tho statute gov?
erning citizenship in the State."
"This is what tho majority had In
view and what I believe tho majority
has accomplished," said Mr. John?
stons.
L. D. Jennings of Sumter said ho
wanted to say something In behalf of
.armors who had been pictured to the
convention as ignorant people.
"I believe that the farmers are in
favor of the provision requiring voters
to sign the rolls." said Mr. Jennings.
That provision is put in the rules of
protect the farmer from tho 'tfngo
and dishonest voters imported from'
Oeorgia."
Mr. Jennings said that signing the
rolls would eliminate impersonation
of voters. Ho said that the commit
tee had practically adopted the old
constitution and rules except this pro
Vision which would provide for "pure
rolls" and if this provision was cut
out at the request of the minority it
would be just as well to let the old
constitution and rules stand.
Leon J. Williams of Aiken denied
that as a member of the majority of
the committee he had done anything
to disfranchise poor white men.
"Look how far we have gone In be?
half of Charleston to insure honest
elections there," said Mr. Williams in
defending the majority report. He
said that it was possible that unless
something was done the elections
might be placed in control of the
United States government.
R. A. Cooper of Laurens said that
the residence requirements of the ma?
jority report would disfranchise mem?
bers of the Methodist conference.
"Why require a man to go up and
sign the roll when you will accomplish
nothing by it." said Mr. Cooper. "If
you have an honest secretary he will
not put fraudulent names on the roll."
George B. Cromer of Newberry said
that as a representative of Jefferson
Democracy and of "Jefferson hotel
Democracy" he knew that the first was
open to all men and the lost to all
men who were in favor of honest elec?
tions.
"The farmers of this State have said
that they must have some protection
from padded club rolls and from
fraud/ dsclared Mr. Cromer. "Go>
back to the farmers and tell them that
you have safeguarded the primary
elections by putting them on the same
footing for voting as millionaires and
college professors."
Mr. Cromer explained the pro
visions of the majority report and the
Intentions of the committee in writ?
ing them.
W. C. Irby of Laurens made a
speech. A reference by him to "the
nigger-loving State newspaper" was
hissed by many members of the con?
vention.
K. K. Osborue of Spartanburg
moved that the.report of the mlonrlty
of'the committee he tabled. He with-'
drew the motion at the request oi rt.
I. Manning of Sumter.
Mr. Manning said that the State
must have primary elections in whose
fairness the people had confidence. He
said that unless the State were in?
sured of a fair election thousands of
men would not participate in the pri?
mary. He said he was in favor of the
term of residence required by the mi?
nority report and, while personally in
fnvor of the minority enrollment re?
quirements, he would yield personal
convictions and vote for the majority
report on this point
J. Olin Sawyer of Georgetown spoke
in opposition to the residence require?
ments of the majority report and
other of its features.
B. W. Crouch of Saluda said the
minority and majority of the com?
mittee were about to agree on chang
iu? the residence requirements to two
years in the State, six months in the
county and 60 days in the precinct.
J. J. McMahan of Richland said in
conference the residence requirements
in the majority report had been al?
most unanimously agi d upon. He
Enounced a compromise at the last
moment between the majority and
the minority.
At 2.45 o'clock T. M. Raysor of
Orangeburg moved to lay upon the
table the report of the minority of
the committee.
G. B. Timmerman of Lexington de?
manded the ayes and nays.
Mj. Raysor withdrew his motion at
Mr. Clifton's request.
Mr. Clifton made certain proposals
in the nature of a compromise, offer?
ing an amendment to the majority
' report.
Mr. Raysor moved to lay on the
table the report of the minority.
Mr. Timmerman again demanded
the ayes and nays. His demand was
seconded byUen members.
Tho convention began to ballot at
2.55 o'clock on tho question of tabling
the minority report.
The ballot follows by counties:
Ayes. Nayes.
Abbevlllo. 8
A Ikon .., . . 8 . ?
Anderson. 14 . ?
Bamberg. C
Harnwcll. 7 1
Beaufort. C
Berkeley. 5 1
Calhoun. 2
Charleston. 15
Cherokeo. G
Chestet. G
Chesterfield. 3 3
Clarendon. 8
Colloton. G
Darlington. 8
Dillon. 5
Dorchester. 1
Rdgefield. fl .. j
Palrfleld. 4 I I
Florence. 8 ..
Greenville. i
Greenwood. 8 ..
Georgetown. 3 3
EXECUTION BY WHOLESALE.
HUERTA SAID TO BE SLAUGHTER?
ING IMPRISONED ENEMIES.
Mexican Dictator, in Prcpalrng for]
Downfall, Will not Let His Enemies!
Live to Sec His Humiliation. Villa
Already Boasts of Future Acts in
Mexico City.
Vera Cruz, May 22.?In preparation
for his downfall, Gen. Huerta is re-!
ported to be executing all his politi?
cal enemies who are held in prison
at Mexico City. The dictator has de?
termined his enemies will not have
the satisfaction of living to see his
destruction, if he is doomed to fall.
That Huerta is determined to fight
and will make a last stand in the cap?
ital is indicated by the fact that he
has mobilized 40,000 men in and
around the city.
Gen. Villa, who is already boast?
ing of what he will do when he takes
Mexico has sent word to the capital
that he will open all jails and free
all prisoners as one of his first acts.
General Gustave Maas is said to be
preparing to elaborate the official re?
port to exonerate his federal soldiers
from the charges of murdering Private
Samuel Parks.
Hampton. 4
Horry... 6 ??
Jasper. 4
Kershaw. 6
Lancaster. 5
Laurens. 8
Lee (not voting, in?
structed).
Marion. 6
Lexington. 8
Marlboro. 8
Newberry., .. 8
Orangeburg ...... 12
Oconee. 6
Piokens. 6
Rtchland..,. 12
Saluda. 6
Spartanburg. 16
?Sjumter. 3 4
Union.. .. ..." .. .'. , 8 4
Williamsburg. 6 2
York. 10
Totals.2C8 60
Ihe minority report with accom?
panying amendments was tabled by
[a vote of 268 to 50. The result of
tho ballot was not announced until
3.10 o'clock.
A. J. Bethea moved that the re?
port of the majority be taken up
section by section. Mr. Bethea's mo?
tion was carrisd .
Sections .1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were
adopted without opposition.
Section 6, containing the residence
requirements, was amended to ex?
empt school teachers and ministers of
the gospel from it, provided they were
otherwise qualified to vote.
The residence in the county was
reduced from one year to six months.
The amendment was offered by B. W.
Crouch.
Amendment reducing residence in
the State from two years to one year
was overwhelmingly tabled.
Section 6 was adopted as amended.
Section 7 was adopted after the
convention refused to strike It out on
an amendment offered by G. B. Tim
merman. Ten members did not sec?
ond his call for the ayes and nays.
Sections 8, 9 and 10 were adopted
without amendments.
J. H. Clifton offered an amend?
ment to section 11 permitting the en?
rollment to be made upon written re?
quest of an applicant, witnessed and
giving his age and residence. Mr.
Clifton demanded a call of tho ayes
and noes on the motion to table his
amendment. Ten members seconded
hl.3 demand and the roll of counties
was called.
By an aye and nay vote of 256
to 55, the Clifton resolution was
tabled.
L. T. Mills of Camden offered an
amendment making books of primary
enrollment uniform throughout the
State, which was agreed to.
Section 11 was adopted as amended.
Alan Johnstone moved to recon?
sider the vote whereby the convention
agreed to consider the constitution
section by section. The convention
agreed to this motion in the interests
of tho dispatch of business. Mr.
Johnstone's motion for the previous
question prevailed. He said he was
acting in the interest of the dispatch
of business. Later he moved to re?
consider the vote whereby the pre?
vious question was ordered.
John Gary Evans offered an amend?
ment striking out the provision in
section 12 requiring secretaries to file
a copy of the roll with the clerks of
court. Ills amendment required the
filing of the original rolls with the
clerkn of court as well as copies.
Section \2 was passed over tempo?
rarily to allow Mr. Evans to draft his
MAY RESIGN TOO UTE,
HUERTA'S REPRESENTATIVES
HOPING FOR RESIGNATION
OF DICTATOR.
Unless He Acts Pomptly and So In
forms His Representatives They
May Be Unable to Save Anything
from the Wreck?Carranza's Rep?
resentatives Waiting in Hotel With
Mediators.
Niagara Falls, Ont., May 22.?The
spectre of defeat is to sit at the coun?
cil table with the Huerta delegates
in the mediation conferences from
this day onward.
The crowning humiliation has been
thrust upon them by word from
Washington that the spokesman for
Carranza and Villa will wait in the
hotel where conference is taking place
and while denying the tottering dic?
tator's delegates, the dignity of rec?
ognition will give to medators the
messages of the conquerors.
Today the official representatives o
Huerta are imploring their chef in
Mexico City to allow them to save
something honorable from the wreck.
They wait his word that he will re?
sign and pray that he may not resign
too late.
This Morning's Session.
Niagara Falls, Ont., May 22.?The
morning conference of Melxcan rep?
resentatives and the mediators began
at 10.45 and lasted but a few min?
utes. The Mexicans were prepared to
make a brief statement only. Mem?
bers of their party intimated that
they had receved no further instruc?
tion from Huerta, upon which they
could proceed. The afternoon ses?
sion begins at 3 o'clock.
SUFFERING SUFFRAGETTES!
Avenge Themselves for Arrest of
Leader by Calling out Official House
Burning Corps.
Leicester, Eng., May 21.?The arson
squad joined today into reprisals
which the militant suffragettes are
making for the arrest of Emmeline
Pankhurst and her daughter, Sylvia.
Stoughton Grange, an untenanted
mansion, was set on fire today, but
the flames were extinguished by a
game keeper before great damage
was done.
LAD OF SIXTEEN DROWNED. ,
Louis Hicks Dies While Swimming
Near Granby.
Columbia, May 22.?Louis Hicks,
16-year-old son of Mr .and Mrs. James
Hicks, of 1324 Berkley avenue,
Olympia mill village, was drowned
yesterday afternoon in what is known
as the "blue hole" below the old
Stuart rock quarry, near the Granby
boat landing. ,
Louis Hicks was employed at the
Olympia mill and was there until
about noon. About 3 o'clock J. A.?
Scott, coroner for Richland county,
was notified that the boy had been
drowned. The coroner went to the
hole and with the assistance of others
! recovered the body about 5 o'clock
j from ten feet of water. The body was
naked and it is thought that young
Hicks had gone In swimming.
No Hope for Famous Writer.
Barre, Mass., May 22.?Slightly
weaker, was the doctor's report today
on the condition of Jacob Riis, writer
and social worker. Hope for Riis' re?
covery has been abandoned.
important amendment correctly.
Amendments proposed to various
sections were voted down except one
providing for filing the place of the
State chairman in case of death, an?
other providing for the public count?
ing of votes and other amendments
amounting merely to changes in
verbiage.
A now section was added providing
for drawing excess ballots out of the
ballot boxes.
A substitute for section 12, offered
by Mr. Evans of Spartanburg, was
then adopted.
At 5.30, on the motion of Mr.
Rhett, the previous question was or?
dered. A moment later the consti?
tution and rules as amended were
adopted amid applause.
John Gary Evans, nominated by
T. M. Raysor of Orangeburg, was
unanimously reelected chairman of
the State Democratic executive com- i
mlttee.
B. E. Nicholson. W. G. Sirrine and .:
X. Christensen were thanked by res- \
olution for their work in drawing upn
the constitution and rules. The pres- <
ident and clerks were thanked for:?
services. i
L. L, Rice of Anderson moved that'l
tho convention adjourn, which was it
ilone at ft.Sflt o'clock. 11
EVANS BEADS COMMITTEE,
WILIE JONES TREASURER,
CHRISTIE BEN ET SECRE?
TARY.
State and Senatorial Parties Begin
Tours June 17 at Sumter and St.
Matthew??Assessments of Candi?
dates Fixed.
Columbia, May 22. ?Immediately
after the convention adjourned, the
State Democratic executive commit?
tee met, with John Gary Evans of
Spartanburg, re-elected chairman,
presiding. Alan Johnstone of New?
berry was nominated for vice chair?
man, but decline -V w. F. Stevenson
of Chesterfield jhen elected vice
chairman. Wi jne? of Columbia
was elected V rer, Christie Benet
oi Columbia unanimously elected
secretary. 9
A commi wa* ^pointed to take
up the ma of can aign Itineraries
land asses ^ its. C. M. Eftrd of Lex?
ington, ^ . Watkins of Anderson,
Thos G ic Lcod and B. H. McGhee
were s ^ ated members of this com?
mittee *y
A committee was appointed to pro?
vide the form of the new club rolls. N.
Christensen, Wille Jones and Christie
Benet were appointed on this com*
mittee. ??? <7*|J|
It was provided that a majority of
the State executive committee should
constitute a quorum.
The campaign for State officers
/ill begin at Surrter, June 17. The
senatorial campaign will begin at St.
Matthews June 17.
Following assessments for candi?
dates were fixed by the committee:
United States senate, $300; national
bouse of representatives, $250; gov?
en,or, $100; railroad commissioner,
$75; all other State offices, including
solicitors, $50.
The assessments must be paid to
Wille Jones, treasurer, by noon of
June 16. The time for filing pledges
with the State chairman will close
Jane 16 at noor *
JURY HAS BECKER'S FATE.
Crowds Clamor for Admission to
Courtroom, Where Former PoUco
Lieutenant Has Life in the Balance.
New York, May 22.?A great throng
besieged Justice Seabury's court today
to witness the final act in the legal
drama that had been played about
the former head of the "strong arm
squad," Lieut. Chas. Becker for the
killing of Herman Rosenthal. Tickets
of admission to the court room where
at a premium. Justice Saebury con?
cluded his charge to the jury at
12.28.
- f 4
LIFE MEN TO MEET.
South Carolina Life Underwriters' As?
sociation to Hold Session in Colum
bia. June 12.
Columbia, May 22.?Life insurance
men composing the South Carol! ia
Life Underwriters' association will
meet in Columbia on j.,ne 12 for their
annual banquet at the Jefferson hotel.
An elaborate banquet will be prepar?
ed and the program will include a
number of prominent speakers.
Applications for membership will
be received until June 10 and life in?
surance men interested in the work
should communicate with W. S. Hend
ley, secretary-treasurer. Columbia, S.
C, or with Carroll H. Jones, chair?
man executive committee, Columbia.
ANOTHER AMERICAN KILLED.
Snipers Shoot Dick Urhain near
Nacozaii, Consul Reports.
Washington, May 22.?The murder
of Dick Urbain, an American, 18
miles west of Nacozari in Sonora was
reported to the State department to?
day by Consul Montague, at Cana
nea. Urbain and his partner, Geo.
Cooper, were fired on from house tops.
Cooper escaped unhurt. He inform?
ed Montague that the attack was wit^ ?
out provocation.
SUFFR AG ETl'ES OX RAMPAGE.
Invade National Gallery and Destroy
Works of Art.
London, May 22.?Militant suffra?
gettes today made costly reprisals for
the arrest of Mrs. Emmellne Pank
hurst, her daughter, Sylvia and other
suffragettes in the rioting around
Buckingham Palace. A young woman
slipped by the guards at the National
nailery and unnshr - five priceless
ivorks of art before she could be
overpowered and taker, to the police
station. It is expected that a parlia?
mentary inquiry will be asked into the
?rutallty of the police yesterday while
lispersing the mobs around Bucking?
ham Palace.