The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-28

i voted to coun. asd seven to shrow out 80 8
scratched ballot, one member, ar. Rhodes,
! asked to be excused from voting as be could
not see we'll enough to be satisfied Mr. Mao
ming did not vote The ballot was accord
iogly counted for Ar. Msnoing.
The vote 10 detail was:
To couot the bsllot-Peter Thomas. J E
DuPre. WI Dinkina, E B Colclough, d &
McKaeeu, ] S Dwight, B Raf6eld, E W
Dasbs, ] T Friersor and Frean Mellett.
Not to count-R P Stackhouse, W L
Os,een, " D Scarborough, Marion Noise, W
s Dinkios, e D Smith and N N Wilder.
Mr., Moses catered o protest agsinst the
counting Of the ballot and asked that 1t %
sealed up in an envelope, properly endorsed,
and the circumstances be made q part OF the
record.
The sealed ballet Of J. J. Dixon, chal-
legged at the primary on August 3oto on sas
ground that be was sn inmate Of the Poor
House. was taken up. 1t was admitted oy
both sides that be was an inmate Of the Poor
House on August 3oth and had been for a
considerable leogth of time prior 70 that
date. Mr. Manning stated that on August
3oth, the day of the primary, Mr.. Dixon bad
come to him, ss member Of the county
hoard of commissioners, to ask bis assistance
in securing discharge from the Poor House,
and that at the next meeting Of the county
board Mr.. Dixon will be discharged from the
Poor House.
Mir. Ste ckey was heard 10 reference to the
law prohibiting paupers to vote. be quoted
from the State election law, which declares
10 explicit terms that no pauper may vote 10
State election, and from the rules of the
party, which declare that only white demo.
cratic voters may vote in primary election.
Mr.. Sasud in reply quoted from the rules
Of the party stating that the vote of no white
man shall be rejected at democratic pri-
mary. BE argued at length on this point
and declared that it was the duty Of the
committee to count the vote of Mr. Dixon
because be is white man and democrat.
Mr. Reynolds also spoke in favor Of count
ing Mr. Dixon's vote ae claimed that the
democratic party should not disfranchise
man because of bis misfortune.
Chairman Purdy ruled that pauper, in-
sane person, or criminal is not legal voter
under the laws of the State. BE decided that
the vote of J. J. Dixoo could not be counted.
Mr.. Dabbs moved that the vote of j.
Dixon be counted BY the committee. Sec
onded by Mr.. a G. McKagen.
Col. Scarborough and Msj. Noise favored
40 adherence to the rule and argued that tbe
ruling of the chairman was strictly in accord
with the rules and the State law sud should
be sustained. Mr.. Noise asked the pertinent
question if the committee proposed to disre.
gard the law 10 this case would they also
disregard it iu an analogous case and accept
the vote of q convict, who happened to be a
white man?
Mr. sbsnd spoke in reply arguing in favor
of counting the vote OF J. J. Dixon
Mr. Reynolds stated that several other pau
pers bad voted at the ssme primary their
votes bad not been challenged aud we're
therefore counted. he read statement from
Col T. v. Walsh, clerk Of the county board
of commissioners, that j. D. Mckellsr was
and is 40 inmate of the Poo. House. Mr..
Reyuolds asserted that the said McKeilar
voted in the primary and his vote was not
challenged.
Mr.. Stackhouse asked for information as to
the number of paupe-s who had voted in the
primary. Ii other paurers had voted and
their votes bad DOT been challenged, be could
not vote TO throw out the vote of Dixon
The motion to count Dixon's vote was car
ried. The envelope was opened and found to
be for Manning for Senator and it was
counted for him.
Mr.. Moses made objection to the counting
of Dixon's vote asd requested that the ballot
be sealed in az envelope aud endorsed to
show what it was.
The sealed ballot of Heary David was