- Barnwell Ring
The so-called "Barnwell Ring" was a grouping of influential Democratic
South Carolina political leaders from Barnwell County. The group included state SenatorEdgar A. Brown , state RepresentativeSolomon Blatt, Sr. , GovernorJoseph Emile Harley , and state RepresentativeWinchester Smith, Jr. Together, the four occupied the most powerful positions of South Carolina government in 1941.Origins
Strom Thurmond invented the term "Barnwell Ring" during his run 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 toJames C. McLeod of Florence and they used every device at their disposal to prevent a victory by Thurmond in the Democraticprimary election . 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 Edgar A. Brown and state Representative Solomon Blatt were the chief principals of the ring. Brown was the
president pro tempore and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee from 1942 to 1972. Blatt was the speaker of the house 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 book | first = Ernest McPherson | last = Lander, Jr. | title = A History of South Carolina, 1865-1960 | year = 1970 | publisher = University of South Carolina Press | id = ISBN 0872491692 | pages = pp. 193
*cite news |first= Paul |last= Wachter |title= Ceremony honors 'Barnwell ring' |work= The State |date= 2003-10-06 |page= B8External links
* [http://www.myetv.org/about_etv/pressroom/releases/etv_road_show/archive/Horse_Country/Barnwell_Ring.cfm SCETV program on the Barnwell Ring]
* [http://www.thestateonline.com/history/files/20031006_B8.pdf "The State" article on the Barnwell Ring]
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