The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-05-06
EDGEFIELD. s. c. Nav

i
EDGEF1ELD, S. c., May l.
People outside of Edgefeld were as
tonished and somewhat bewildered by
the announcement made a few days ago
that Gen. NJ. w. Gary, candidate for the
Democratic nomination for the Cover
nor's seat, had been defeated here in his
own club in an election for delegates to
the County Convention, which will elect
delegates to the State Convention, which
will nominate the Governor. Inquiry
shows that the announcement was accu-
rate, and furthermore that it was the
avowed intention Of Gen. Gary's success
full opponents to elect delegates who
would oppose sending delegates to the
State Convention to support him. The
vote in the club meeting was 48 to %
more than two to one. As he has already
stated, he was absent at the time, and it
is certain that his opponents managed
we'll, having arranged to concentrate their
strength and employ it to the best advan-
tage. But it seems to be generally ad-
mitted that even in an open and pre-
arranged contest he would have been de-
feated here.
Further investigation shows that there
| is an opposition to him in various Sec
tions of the county that is apparently
strong, and may be characterized as Bit
ter. Whether its strength is sufficient
to send him into the rnce with the heavy
load of hostile delegation in his own
county, cannot be definitely ascertained
until the County Convention meets on
Monday. Those who oppose him are
apparently confident that they will have
strength enough in that Convention to
send delegation entirely or partially
composed of opposition delegates. His
supporters profess equal confidence of
the election of solid Gary delegation
without trouble, and claim that in an
open fight before the people, ~ he 9. could
IoYerwhelm any opposition. They state
that all of the strength Of the movement
against him consists in its thorough or
ganisation secretly made. They are
correct in their idea of the organization
of the party, which for lack of better
name is christened "Anti.Gary." 1t
seems to have taken the Gary party by
surprise, and to have done its work with
rapidity and ease that could only re-
suit from organization. In the township
! club here, for instance, its existence does
not seem to have been suspected Until its
candidates were nominated in the club
meeting and elected by vote of two to
one. There are thirty clubs in the coun.
ty entitled to from three to six delegates
in the County Convention each. The
following is the result of their elections
for. delegates as confidently stated to me
here, although / do not give it as being
strictly accurate:
Gary.....":..."...."... ....."...."."...26
Anti-Gary............ .............".......42
Doubtful. 4.
The truth of the report from Moss
Township Club is denied, and it is doubt.
full. The Meeting Street Club is report
ed to have instructed its delegates by
resolution to oppose Gen. Gary, and it is
stated here that two clubs on the saluda
side Of the county, in the neighborhood
of Gen. Hagood's plantation, have given
positive instructions to their delegates to
support that gentleman. I am told, also,
that the Ridge Spring Club held an elec-
ton on last Saturday and sent an equally
divided delegation, but had another elec-
ton to-day, an informality having )oc.
Cured in the previous one, the result of
which is unknown. The delegates from
the Denny's Cross Roads Club, elected
to-day, are also confidently claimed by
the anti-Gary men.
The above figures and statements were
collected from several persons, some of
whom were supporters and some opposers
Of Gen. Gary. 1t is exceedingly difficult
to form even an approximate idea of the
composition of the convention from these
figures, as, even if they are accurate,
changes and exchanges may occur that
will defeat al, calculations. Both sides
seem TO be equally confident and equally
in the dark as regards figures. But it
seems certain that there will be vigo.
rous fight in the convention against Gen.
Gary, and possible, to say the least, that
he may lose his own county.
His friends say that even in that event
the result will be of no general political
significance, the fight against him being
purely personal one. I am informed,
however, that almost all of the white
men who supported the boiling or indie.
pendent ticket in the recent municipal
election supported Gen. Gary in the elec-
tion in the Democratic club for delegate
to the convention, and that this state
ment was used against him, and has
doubtless injured him to some extent, it
being charged that he supported that
movement. His denial of connection
with, or countenance of it, may bring to
him some delegates who would have
opposed him.
But a considerable proportion of the
opposition to him is beyond doubt of
personal nature, and it is generally ad-
mitted. 4 man having an extensive law
practice, engaged in many criminal trials
and suits, and participating in local pol
tics, necessarily makes enemies. But
beyond this there is certainly sentiment
favoring Hampton and the Hampton
policy and a feeling expressed in the
frequently .avowed determination to
"teach Gary that Edgefeld don't belong
to him or any other man."
The Generals friends vigorously repel
the insinuation that he has any idea of
becoming an Independent candidate. l
do not think, from what I can see and
hear, that he or any other man on an in
dependent ticket could obtain hundred
white votes in Edgefeld County.
A. B. w.
The Latest from Edgefeld.
EpGEFIELD, May 3.-The Democratic
County Convention, which met here to-
day, was attended by large number of
delegates, thirty-three clubs in the coun-
ty being represented.
The anti Gary men seemed to become
demoralized, while their opponents appa-
rently had effected thorough organiza.
ton, and agreed on definite course ofac-
ton.
The first test vote was upon the chair
manship of the convention in which D.
R. Durisoe, the Gary candidate, was
elected over J. R. Carwile (anti-Gary) by
a vote of ninety to sixty. Mr.. Carwile