The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-05-07
Wednesday, May 7. 1884.
The Elections.

WedneSOay, May I, Aoo3'
The Elections.
The election Of County Chairman las
Monday was the n~ll-ahsnrling topic II
the morning, and the friends Of each can
I,iaate worked with II hearty good will fol
the success of their favorite. Whcr
Colonel Eugene B. Gary called Tho
house to order the Court Room was filled
t. its capacity. As will be seen Ivy the
brief synopsis of tho meeting which wt
give elsewhere, the preliminary business
OF the meeting was soon dispensed with
when Colonel Gary requested Capt. ". z
McGhee, the first Tice-President, to TAKE
the Chair and preside during the election
Thos. p. Cochran. Esq, was requested tf
act as teller for Mr.. Beno., and f. G
Graydon. Esq, was requested to act n
like manner for Col. Gary. The Score
tnrv called the roll Of Clubs, when dele
gates walked forward and deposited the
lml.otS for the Clubs which they repro
scented. During the balloting perfect 81
,ence was maintaineo in the audience, IN
order that they might hear tho votes ms
they were called. but in spite Of tho at
trntion. with eyes and ears, the %nnounre-
1nent of the votes of soine Of the delegates
was unhcard by even those most favora-
bly, seated.
When all the ballots hnd been dcpos-
itci, and after the tellcrs went into the
Jury room to make up q statement Of the
vote nearly everybody speculated as to
the result. Enough had been heard,
while tho ballots were being deposited
to leave n hope in the minds Of the
friends of each candidate that his favor.
ito had been elected, though we think II
would he Just to state that none Of them
felt entirely assurtd as to the result.
The grca: aSscmblage were much interest
ed and all waited with anxiety for the re-
turn Of the Secretary and tellers. On the
opening Of the door the faces Of those
whose duty it had been to ascertain the
result, were scanned, VIC may sey. by
every eye. Their appearance tod tho
tile, as by electricity. Tic next ques'
ton now was. what was the difference in
the vote. The delay of a minute cnsucd
the Vire- President received the official
report in writing from the Secretary, 10y
which it was announced that the whole
vote was 3.477, of which Mr.. Benct re.
ce:ved 2,0i2, and that Colonel Gary re-
ccived I,434-a majority of Cos for Mr.
Bcnct. This announcement was recciv'
eli by Mr.. Benet's friends with some de-
monstrations of pleasure while Colonc
Gnry's host Of friends received the an
nouncement i'll a manner entirely be-
roming honorable men who had earnest
lv supported a worthy leader, and who
had stood by him through every emcr
gcnry--throush god report and through
evil report.
Colonel II. T. Wardlaw and Mr.. G. a
G. Waller escorted the newly elected
County Chairman to the presiding Of
fcer's desk.
The other officers was then elected by
Reclamation and elected very little inter.
est.
The election of County Chairman fur
nished the topic Of conversation yester
day, and every conceivable opinion has
been expressed as TO the reasons which
brought about tho result. A majority
We believe, think that the old party fac
ton, as such, had little to do with it
Ss,1 H,to,.a ftof f1,a COUNTY nt1ncfinr
was an influence. Others believe tha
the editorial in tho Press and Banner o
last week was unfair to one Of the candi
dates and may have contributed to thu
result. Others again, believe that thu
election was mainly a choice between the
candidates, irrespective Of surroundings
The question of rotation in office may
have entered. hut we hardly think so
While all the alleged influence may
have had something to do with the cleo
ton, yet, in our own opinion, the result
was chiefly 4 choice between the candi
date.
We give retSans for this belief. Be
sides making up our mihthfrom a per-
sonal knowledge Of the sentimental 2
least a portion of our people, we have
substantial facts in the election of dele
gates to the State Convention which
we think, prove beyond n doubt
that the spirit of the old party fac
ton had little D: nothing at all to do witt
t.. For instance: Mr.. Isaac II. McCau
lay in 1882 took General Hemphill's sidt
of the issue; on Monday he voted fol
Col. Gary for County Chairman. Thu
election for delegates to the State Conyen
ton came on Immediately after the cleo
ton for County officers, and it will b,
seen that he diStanrcd all other nomi
noes, and re .eivcd III votes Of l42, sup
posing every delegate was in the house a
the time of the election, which is not at al
probable. Party faction certainly did no
elect him. Mr.. c. a. G.. Waller in 1885,
was a champion of the Maxwell side
Last year he took active and prominent
part against the new county movement
and last Monday he voted for Mr.. Benct
Party faction could not have given him
the large vote which he received. Col
II. T. Wardlaw, always 4 Maxwell mar
and a prominent opponent Of the new
county was third on the ticket. Party
faction could not have given him that
vote. Mr.. r. p. Thomson is a Maxwell
man, and received the next largest vote
Col. o. Il. Calhoun, i pronounced ant
active Eemphiil man in 1882, came next
on tho ticket. Capt. NJ. J.. Bonham':
election, in our opinion, furnished thu
best evidence that the county question
county. and was n friend to the projcc
and a believer in the justice Of the move
merit. Mr.. J. c. Ellis was a Hemphil
man in 1882, and voted for Colonel Gar!
on Monday. Mr.. Benet's personal friend:
voted for him for delegate to the State
Convention. DR.. J. w. Wideman was s
Maxwell adhcrent in 1852 No faction
here. Ir. j. II. Bell is a fast fricnd anc
supporter of Doctor Maxwell. No fac
ton in his election. Mr.. L. W. Perrin
was a supporter Of Maxwell. Capt. w
D. Mars was opposed to the now county
Mr.. ]. 2. Phillips, we believe, has been
from the first, n steady and consisten'
advocate OF the new county and voted f0I
Colone, Gary on Monday. There certain
~ could be no new county business in hi
election.
The Convention on Salcdav was one O
the most intelligent bodies Of the kint
which has ever assembled ut Ahbevill,
Court House, and embraced some of tn
best men of Abbeviile County.
= Senator Hampt0n'S Letter.