Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-09-18

When DIR. Black surrendered his former plu-
raility, and proposed new election in the inter-
est Of harmony, neither himself nor his friends
supposed that new conditions would be imposed
three days before the election, calculated to Sc
cure his defeat The voters Of York county will
no doubt resent this action in the proper manner.
It is now too late for any unregistered friends
who previously voted for him. to register. Let
them 60 to the polls and have their places sup
piled by registered voters. FAIR PLAY.
The statements in the above circular, charging
the Committe with having changed the rules or
with acting in the interest Of either candidate
for Senator, were denounced in vigorous terms
by members of the Committee as being utterly
false.
The following circular, in reply to the charges
made by "Fair Play" and which was distribu-
ted at a number of the precincts in the county on
the day of the election, was then read by the
Secretary:
TO THE DEMOCRACY OF YORK.
A certain hand-bil signed "Fair Play" is
being circulated among the people which, if un-
corrected, is calculated to mislead them, and to
grossly misrepresent the Executive Committee
political tribunal in the county, must be vindi-
Gated from partisanship. the Executive Com
mittee champions the cause of no individual, but
all of its acts are prompted by the paramount
allegiance that each and every member thereon
owes to the Democracy.
On Monday last, the Executive Committee met
at Yorkville, and petition was presented to
them by the Spencer Club, of Rock Hill, asking
that the Committee construe rule of the rules
for conducting the primary elections of York
county.
Thepetition did not ask as is alleged by "Fair
Play that the Committee change the rules un,
der which the previous primary election had
been held, but simply asked Il construction of
an existing rule to wit:
"All persons kaoaom to be in full sympathy
with the Democratic party, who will be entitled
TO- of }l,aa ,i,,rr o1antinn
entitled to vote at the primary election"
The Committee, by resolution, construed the
said rule5 to mean that only those persons who
bear the general reputation Of Democrats in the
neighborhoods in which they live are entitled
to vote in the primary elections, and that all
residents, all persons convicted OF any OF
the disqualifying crimes against the peace and
dignity of the State. and all persons who have
failed or refused to take out registration certlh-
Gates, except those persons known to be Demo-
Gratis, who are to become Of age before the day OF
the general election, and provide themselves
with registration certificates, are disqualified to
vote in the primary elections.
The above resolution was passed, not, as is u
legged by "Fair Play" bya vote Of to 6, but by
to 3, and one of these three voting with the mi
nority promptly moved that the resolution be
made unanimous. The motion was put and
promptly adopted.
In thus constituting rule 5, the Committee did
not change the rule, but simply made clearer
what was already clear upon the face of the rule
itself Neither did they manufacture any new
law imposing new conditions, but simply gave
utterance to the State law governing general eec-
tions it is set forth in Sections &c. so and 81 Of
the Revised Statutes of South Carolina.
Rule 8, for orconducting the primaries, provides
that the State law governing general elections
shall apply in all cases not covered by the pre-
scribed rules for conducting the primary elec-
tions. Respectfully, w. B. McCAw,
Secretary Democratic Executive Committee.
YoRKvILLE, S. c., September II, 1884.
Each maTnhe of the Committee present
requested to furnish any information he might
have with regard to the Circular signed "Fair
Play" Nearly all the members stated that they
had no personal knowledge as to the origin ofthe
circular, but some of them had seen and read it
on the day Of the election.
When Joseph Black was interrogated OH the
subject, he admitted that he knew something of
the circular; that he had seen copies of it, and
had circulated number Of copies, but disavow-
ed all responsibility in connection withit. When
asked by member of the Committee as to the
authorship Of the circular, he gave evasive re-
plies to the questions propounded to him, and
signifed an unwillingness to give adefnite reply
to the question.
Inquiry was then made of the proprietor Of the
ENQUIRER office, who was present, as to his
knowledge Of the circular He replied that he
would give whatever information he possessed
with regard to the printing Of the circular, but
would do so only upon vote ofthe Committee re-
questing the information. A motion was made,
seconded and adopted, requesting him to give
the information indicated. He then stated in
substance that at about noon on Wednesday, the
10th instant, he contracted with Joseph Black to
print one thousand copies of the 'Fair Play cir
cular and that Mr.. Black furnished the manu-
script copy from whichthe circular was printed.
On the same afternoon the circulars were print
ed, and part Of them were delivered to stran-
ger, who stated that he was authorized by Mr..
Black to call for them. The stranger paid the
amount agreed upon for the printing of the cir
culars. A second lot of the circulars was deliv-
cred the same afternoon to the stranger referred
to, and the remainder Of them were delivered on
the next morning to Mr.. Holler.
He was then interrogated with regard to the
identity of the manuscript from which the circu-
lar was printed, but declined to give any infor-
nation on that point on the ground that the in
formation sought was printing office secret,
which he would not divulge under the circum-
stances.
A statement was made by member of the
Committee that a rumor was in circulation to the
effect that Major Hart was the writer of the "Far
Play circular.
Dr. Campbell then moved that committee of
three be appointed to. wait on Major Hart and
hear what he might have to say in reference to
the matter. The motion was seconded and adopt
ed, when the Chairman appointed as the COM
mittee, DR.. Campbell and Messrs. Adams and
Chambers.
When the committee retired for the purpose
of seeking an interview with Major Hart, Mr..
Black withdrew also and did not return while
the committee was in session.
The committee appointed to wait on Major
Hart soon returned and made the following re-
port.
To the Chairman aud members at the Erecutive
Committee: GENTLEMEN: Your committee ap-
pointed to wait on Major Hart in order to ascer-
tain whether or not he knew the author OF a
hand-bill signed Fair Play" beg leave to report
that Major Hart avowed the authorship OF sald
hand bill and asserted that it trehected his senti-
ments. W. ". CAMfbELl
j. G.. CHAMBERS,
J. L. ADAMS.
Before any action was taken on the report,
Iredell Jones announced that Major Hart had
asked permission to appear before the Commit
tee and be heard on the matter in which he was
concerned. On motion, the request was granted.
Major Hart then came into the room and was
accorded the floor for any statement he had to
make. Being informed that the Committee was
condsidering certain circular signed "Fair
Play." which was construed to be reflection on
the Committee, he said 80
wrote that circular. Its sentiments and the
arguments are mine. Its publication was by
other persons. The rules for conducting the
primary elections in this county were adopted
in $780, Three primary elections and one special
election have been held under these rules, AT
none of the previous elections had the rules been
so construed as to exclude unregistered voters
if thew were Democrats. The construction acted
upon had been just the reverse of this. AT the
general primary election, on the 25th Of August,