The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-08-09
THE REGISTRATION FIGHT.
Judge Gof's Latest Order and the
Outlook. What Attorney General
Rnrhnr

Barber Says.
The Columbia State, says: There
are some features of the new registra-
tion law test case, brought by Messrs.
Douglass & Obear before Jouge Goff,
which are liable to have quite an effect
upon the coming Constitutional Con-
vention, and the prediction is now
made that q good many of the super
Jisors, if not all, will be jailed for
contempt of court, assuming, of
course, that Judge Golf will grant his
injunction. If the Injunction is grant
ed, there will necessarily be more or
less of a cloud over the convention.
This fact stands out very clear-that if
Judge Goff grants the injunction re-
stralning the supervisors from turning
the registration books over to the man
ayers of election, there is no possible
way for the case to be gotten before
any higher tribunal before the general
election is held None of the higher
courts will be i'll session, and there is
no possible scheme by which the in
junction can be set aside. 1t might be
stated just here also that the State ex-
poets that the injunction will he grant.
ed
Now, this being so, there will be
nothing else to do but for the State
authorities to obey or refuse to obey
the order of Injunction. 1t is safe to
say that they will refuse. This being
done, the books being turned over to
the managers, the only way the cleo
ton can be conducted will be for the
order to be disobeyed, and then no
doubt the supervisors will be jerked
up and punished for contempt of court
in disobeying the order.
This once done the State can get the
case heard on its merits, before the
time for the assembling of the conven-
ton, before competent court, by in
shutting habeas corpus proceedings in
the cases of the imprisoned supcrvi-
sors.
Now, if the order of injunction is
of Appeals or the United States Su-
premc Court, then there can be no
cloud on the convention. But if the
injunction assuming that it will be
granted-is sustained by the higher
courts, then there will be pretty ket-
tic of fish, and it would appear that
the convention will be null and void
if it be held. 1t is a mooted question,
however, rs to what the exact condi-
ton of affairs would be under these
circumstances
1t is understood that the State is re-
lying on an ultimate dissolution of
Judge Gofrs Injunction, if he grants
il, because Chief Justice Fuller, in
handling the jurisdictional question in
the Mills case, declared several times
very emphatically that Il court of
chancery could only protect civil and
property rights and not political
rights.
On Monday Attorney General Bar
Der returned to Columbia and by np
pointment met Gen. McCrady here,
the two holding n consultation in re-
gard to this new case. The attorney
General would not have much to say
about the case. He said thnt he was
at work on the case and would fight it.
He woul" nsk for no postponement,
but would be in Richmond on Monday
morning. He will make but briei
argument.
He said, however, that 40 had been
icSFi\iHS IL STcuI NhHy IcIlcTS from
supervisors Of registration all over the
State asking him if they must open
their books for registration on Tn,
first Monday on August. He had IN
formed all that the law required them
TO do so.
''But are they not cnioined by judy,
Goff's order from doing so?" was
asked.
NO. said he, "Supcrvisor Greer.
is only restrained by Judge COTS or.
der from delivering to the boards OF
election managers their books. but not
from opening the books of registra-
ton. Hc has issued n rule to show
cause why they Shnll not be restrained
from exercising any Of the functions
Of supervisors of registration, but til,
restraining order goes only ~ far n
L have stated.
Mr.. Barber declined 20 speak of tn,
merits Of the case till he had seen til.
bill Of complaint
NJ