The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-11-25
NO NEW COUNTY WANTED.
The Scheme to Establish Salem County
Defeated.

on, appears TO have failed. The coun-
ty proposed to take portions of the ter.
ritories OF Kershaw, Darlington and
Sumter Counties with Bishopville as
the center and county seat. The elec-
ton was held on Tuesday but no rell-
able returns could be learned until
yesterday, when Mr.. J. S. Parrot and
Mr.. W. <. Crosswell broughtthe tab.
ulated result to Columbia. The town
ships in Darlington and Sumter gave
the necessary two thirds vote, but
those in kershaw killed the scheme
on the face of the returns. The pro-
moters Of the new county claim that
in these townships there we're num-
Der OF irregularities in conduct ng the
election, among which is mentioned
the failure Of the managers to require
the production of registration certl6-
Gates on the part of the voters. On
this and other grounds they propose
to contest, claiming that in some in
stances the managers were not sworn
and some boxes were not opened at
all. They propose to make a contest
and should those irregularities be
proven there will have to be another
election in those townships. But as
the vote has been counted Salem has
been defeated. II is county that
has been fought for veral years in the
Legislature and the general impress
sion in the State was that it would go
throughout with trouble. But one town
ship in the proposed new territory by
by not giving the eqlired two thirds
vote can nulify the whole scheme and
10 other election can tc held for
four years for the same county"
Commenting on the above subject
the State saws: "Messrs. w. X. Cross
well and j. l.. Parrott OF Sumter
called at the attorney generals office
yesterday in the interest OF the new
county Of Salem, the election for
which was held Tuesday. With
them they brought the election returns
from which there seems but little
doubt that the vote OF kershaw has
defeated the formation of the county.
They wished to find out before whom
they would have to protest against
kershaw's vote on account OF It's lille
gality, claiming that noresistratlon or
poll tax receipts We're shown by the
voters and that even the registration
books were not at the polls as reqnlre1
by law. They were informed that
the commissioners Of election for
kershaw county were the proper per
sons to receive and act on the protest.
In speaking Of the matter the gentle
men said the voters took very slight
interest in the result, many OF them
not voting. In the proposeu county
there were 1,500 or 1000 voters and
but very little over half that number
Of votes were cast. It would be I'M.
possible to 60 ahead and form the
county without that section OF ker.
shaw that voted againstit. This area
value, but for the territory. Il was
very similar to ;he section OF R:chlard
county known IS the sandhillS, they
said. The gentlemen did not fear but
that another election would be order
ed in Kersnaw. II the commissioners
of election dismiss the protest and de-
eide 10 let the election stand, it will be
four years before another election can
be held for Salem. Thisresult is inter
esting on account of its being the first
to form new Constitution.
a BAD OUTLOOK.
The Columbia Register, OF Sunday,
says: "a telegram was received by
Governor Evans yesterday announc-
ing that the vote in Darlington Coun,
ty on the Salem County question had
gone against it by II votes. On the
face of the returns as first reported
Darlington had voted in favor, but
the complete count reversed the result.
1t is understood that the Salemites
are going 10 enter protest as to this
election, also. It has already beeE
stated that they intend to contest the
election in the Kershaw townships
which voted against them. The elec-
ton commissioners will meet on Tues
day and the Salemites have secured
Mr.. II. c.. Patton of this city as their
attorney. He will leave tomorrow
for Camden. 1t is charged that there
were many Irregularities IN the ballots,
which legally were wrong and ought
to have been thrown out, it's contend.
ed. But as matter of fact even If
the ballots were not techn ically correct
they probably expressed the senti-
ments OF voters and should another
election be ordered their ballots would
probably be cast the same way again,
but in correct shape. That is the
opinion of those who claim to under
stand the situation and from all ap-
pearances Salem County is doomed to
defeat. Officials who are familiar
with conditions in the State say that
it is going to be almost impossible to
form any new counties at present,
under the stringent provisions OF the
constitution. 1t is no easy matter to
get two-thirds vote on any question:
especially where several thousand
votes are TO be cast, and the general
opinion here seems to be that none OF
the new county schemes will succeed,
with the possible exception of Green
wood, which from present indications
will succeed. The onl y two counties
interested in this county are Abbevllle
and Edgefeld and the people of the
territory seem to be practically unan-
imcus except some opposition that
may arise in Ninety Six. The Regis
ter has always favored smaller coun-
ties and gives this information not to
discourage anybody. but to state the
facts as they are seen here.
How the Vote Stands.
New YORK, Nov. 13.-The latest re-
turns from Kentucky, Wyoming the
DakOtas and other close States gives