The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-08-19
A STARTLING DISCLOSURE.
A Charge Made Against Gov. Evans
Which He Denies.

Which He Denies.
COLUMBIA, 8. G., Aug. 14.-Since
the campaign began, newspaper COR
respondents who have been going
around with the aggregation have
heard a variety OF more or less startl-
ing reports. In many instan ces they
have been assured that some compe-
tent witness would present himself at
an oppertune moment to present facts
in such shape as to exclude the posi-
bility OF successful denial or evasion.
But this evidence, whether it did not
exist, cr because a dishrag was doing
the part ofa backbone for the witnesses
or that the disease known as moral
coWardice has become alarmingly cpl
demic in South Carolina, these contir-
nations have failed to materialize.
The newspaper correspondents have
been furnished with the following
statement of alleged facts2
"On Saturday night of the Marion
meeting, Governor Evans returned
home. arriving in Columbia about ~,
and went directly 10 the mansion,
yhere, at II o'clociss, he he was Joined by
delegation of five German Citizens
of Charleston, viz: Wehman, kroeg,
Roesler and Stelling-the fifth, don't
know. This committee remained with
him till 2 o'clock and took the early
morning train back to Charleston.
They went to Columbia on written
invitation from the governor, who
made this proposition: you organize
a German club in the city of Charles
ton of 500 members who will vote for
me for the United States senate. l
will guarantee the Germans of Char
lesion private dispen.aries. In evi'
dence Of this Stelling has been can
vassing the city in that interest, and
none Of these gentlemen will deny
these facts, as it is too well known in
the city to admit of denial. Web.
man particularly, will admit it ALL"
Gov. Evans was given an opportunl-
ty to affirm or deny this report stimuli
taneousIy with its publication. He
said:
THAT is a lie. 1 have not seen
those men since the opening OF the
campaign. They did come to see me
some days before the campaign opened
and met me at my otfice-they never
were at my house. They asked me
what I was going 10 do about Charles
ton. I told them-as l said at The
time of putting on the metropolitan
police-that if by that method was
unable to enforce the law, l would
take it off and recommend to the leg
islature some special law for Charles
ton. It would be foolish TO continue
attempting to enforce the law with
present machinery if it is impossible to
do So" 1.-The had desired to trade for
Charleston's votes, said the governor,
he would have done so long ago, with
men who offered to deliver the goods
and were able to do So and the COVER
nor named two old line Charleston
ringsters who had made him a PROPOSE
ton to deal.
So it seems that whether or not
Charleston has been recently bought
or sold her votes have been on the
market --otferded by her bosses for a
stated consideration, just as the suf
frage of ignorant laborers, who can
hardly make their wishes Ineligible
in English, are disposed of by their
foremen in the north, or as the votes
of communities of negroes used 10 be
highest bidders in Radical days. 1t is
certainly time for a new deal in Char
lesion. State.