Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-08-19
A Startling
Disclosure.
a CHARGE MADE AGAINST
GOV. EVANS WHICH HE
DENIES,
Bur INCIDENTALLY FURNISHES
OTHER GROUND FOR BELIEVING
THAT CHARLEsToN's VoTE is FOR
SALE TO A RESPONSIBLE BIDDER
FILTHY PoLITIcs.

Since the campaign began, news
paper correspondents who have
been going around with the aggre-
CATION have heard a variety of more
or less startling reports. In many
instances they have been assured
that some competent witness would
present himself at an opportune
moment to present facts in such
shape as to exclude the possibility
of successful denial or evasion
But this evidence, whether it did
not exist, or because a dishrag was
doing the part of a backbone for
the witnesses, or that the disease
known as moral cowardice has be-
come alarmingly epidemic in South
Carolina, these combinations have
failed to materlalize.
The newspaper correspondents
have been furnished with the fol-
lowing statement of alleged facts
For one of the three causes given
above I do not expect confirma.
tion from the witnesses named
it would be against precedent
Here is the statement:
A DEAL ALLEGED.
"On Saturday night of the Ma.
rion meeting, Governor Evans re,
turned home, arriving in Colum,
bia about 10, and wont directly tc
the mansion, where, at II o'clock
he was joined by a delegation Of
five German citizens of Charleston
viz: Wehman, Kroeg, Roesler, anc
Stelling--the fifth, don't know
This committee remained with hin
till 2 O'Clock and took the early
morning train back to Charleston
They went to Columbia on writ
ten invitation from the governor
who made this proposition: 'Yor
organize German club in the
city of Charleston Of 500 mem
bers who will vote for me Tor the
United States Senate. l will guar
antee the Germans of Charleston
private dlspensaries. In evidence
of this Stelling has been canvass
ing the city in that interest, ant
none of these gentlemen will deny
these facts, as it is too we'll know
in the city to admit of !. den :al
Wehman, particularly, will adml
it all"
Gov. EVANS DENIAL.
Gov. Evans was given an op
portunity to affirm or deny thi
report simultaneously with 1T
publication. He said:
"That is lie. / have not .seel
those men since the opening of tn
campaign. They did come to Sc
me some days before the campaign
opened and met me at my Office
they never were at my house. The.
asked me what / was going to- d
about Charleston. / told them
as / said az the time of putting OF
the metropolitan police--that i
by that method I was unable 10 Ell
force the law, 1 would take it OF
and recommend to the legislator
some special law for Charleston
1t would be foolish to continue at
tempting to enforce the law witt
present machinery if it is impossi
BILE to do So"
If.he had desired to trade fc
Charleston'ts votes, said the cover
nor, he would have done SO Ion!
ago, with men who offered to de
liver the goods and we're able L
do so-and the governor namee
two old line Charleston ringster
who had made him q proposition
to deal.
NEEDS ovERHAULING.
So it seems that WI her or no
Charleston has been recent,
bought or sold, her votes have beel
Oh the market Offered by he
bosses for a stated consideration
just as the suffrage of ignorant la
borers, who can hardly make thei
wishes ineligible in English, ar
disposed of by their foremen in tn
north, or as the votes of communi
ties of negroes used to be sold b.
their leaders to the highest bidder
in Radical days.
1t is certainly time for a nev
deal in Charleston.
w. E. GONZALES.