The so-called "Barnwell Ring" was a grouping of influential Democratic

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

political leaders from Barnwell County. The group included

state Senator A state senator is a member of a state's senate in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature. Description A state senator is a member of an upper house in the bicameral legislatures of 49 U ...

Edgar A. Brown Edgar Allan Brown (July 11, 1888 – June 26, 1975) was a long time Democratic legislator of South Carolina from Barnwell County who served South Carolina from 1922-1972. He was a principal member of the so-called "Barnwell Ring". Early lif ...

state Representative A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Sta ...

Solomon Blatt, Sr. Solomon Blatt (February 27, 1895 – May 14, 1986) was a long time United States Democratic Party, Democratic legislator of South Carolina from Barnwell County, South Carolina, Barnwell County during the middle of the 20th century. He was a ...

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Joseph Emile Harley Joseph Emile Harley (September 14, 1880February 27, 1942) was the List of Governors of South Carolina, 100th governor of South Carolina from 1941 to 1942 and a member of the "Barnwell Ring." Early life and education Harley was born September 14, ...

, and state Representative Winchester Smith, Jr. Together, the four occupied the most powerful positions of South Carolina government in 1941.

Origins

Strom Thurmond James Strom Thurmond Sr. (December 5, 1902June 26, 2003) was an American politician who represented South Carolina in the United States Senate from 1954 to 2003. Prior to his 48 years as a senator, he served as the 103rd governor of South Caro ...

coined the term "Barnwell Ring" during his bid for governor in 1946. He campaigned on a progressive platform which put him squarely at odds with the conservative legislators of the Barnwell Ring. They threw their support to James C. McLeod of

Florence Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...

and they used every device at their disposal to prevent a victory by Thurmond in the Democratic

primary election Primary elections, or direct primary are a voting process by which voters can indicate their preference for their party's candidate, or a candidate in general, in an upcoming general election, local election, or by-election. Depending on the ...

. For instance, when the gubernatorial candidates stumped at Barnwell, Winchester Smith paid candidate Roger Scott $50 to raise Cain about the "Barnwell Ring" in order to lessen the impact of Thurmond's speech against the ring. The ring arose in the late 1930s and lasted into the 1970s. State Senator

and state Representative Solomon Blatt were the chief principals of the ring. Brown was the

president pro tempore A president pro tempore or speaker pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer. The phrase ''pro tempore'' is Latin "for the time being". ...

and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee from 1942 to 1972. Blatt was the

speaker of the house The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerf ...

from 1937 to 1946 and 1951 to 1973. Both men denied the existence of the ring until 1963 when Brown exclaimed "Long live the Barnwell Ring" at a dinner to honor Blatt.

References

* *{{cite news , first= Paul , last= Wachter , title= Ceremony honors 'Barnwell ring' , work= The State , date= 2003-10-06 , page= B8

External links

SCETV program on the Barnwell Ring''The State'' article on the Barnwell Ring
1930s establishments in South Carolina 1970s disestablishments in South Carolina Strom Thurmond History of South Carolina Politics of South Carolina Barnwell County, South Carolina