The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-07

understood and .eread TO, The Secretary was
directed TO ascertain The total vote caae for
e,ch of the candidates tor county omces
When this WAS done the resolt was read TO
the committee
Mr. Dabbs Immediately moved that the
committee now proceed TO declare the result
ss ,abulated.
Mr.. Noise raised the point Of order that
the motion could not be entertained as Its
passage would cut off the hearing of the con-
tests.
Mr.. Manning, speaking on the point OF
order, declared tsa, the point did not hold,
that the comuttee had the result as sent up
by the masagers, before it and could proceed
to declare the election.
Mr.. Dabbs' molten received second.
Mr.. Scarborough opposed the passage OF
Mr. Dabbs' motion, for to DO a, the motion
den anded would have the appearance of in
Justice and would be unfair to the people and
unfai, to the candidates interested, iaasmuch
as i, would cut off the hearing Of contests and
protests and leave the contestants without
relief or remedy. he appealed to the commit
tee to act considerably and fairly.
Nj. Dabbs disclsimed the wish to do injus-
;ice to any one or to prevent the fullest and
most exact justice to all parties He offered
bis motion az the best means OF settling the
matte, for it would be impossible to go be-
hind the returns of the sworn managers. ap-
pointed by the committee, without leadiog TO
endless trouble and confusion az neing the
means of doing greater injustice than the
acceptance of the returns on their face would
entail
Mr. Noise sustained his point of order by
stating that .he adoption Of Nr. Dabos' mo-
,ion would settle the matter 6oaly; and that
it was the clear duty, under the rules and IN
accordance with precedent, TO hear and de-
te:mioe the protests and contests
Chairman Purdy ruled /: That the duty OF
the committee is to tabuate the returns, hear
protests and contests, if aoy, act on the game,
and then to declare the election. Protests and
contests must come before the committee be.
fore the result is declared. If there are no
protests or contests the result vii! BE de-
c!ared.
Protests and contests were called for.
Mr.. A B. Stnckey, attorney for Mr.. Alta
mont Noses, read the following protests aud
contests:
Gentlemen of the Executive Committee:
hereby enter my protest against the tab
uation of the votes ss tabulated by the mao
ayers for he Senator from the voting pre-
cincts below enumerated, on the grounds
stated az follows:
Against Atkos-
On the grounds that the ballots were cast
is pssteooard box without lock or key. u-
stead of in a proper box, and that the ballots
for State, County AID Federal officers were
cast in one COX aud for the further reason
that the oox, poll lst, ballots and the alleged
returns of the managers were sent oy mali
and not sent by memoer OF the board or
By an executive committeeman. That The
.ota! vote at Atkins precinct to wit, ii votes,
were against this contestant and by throwing
out said entire vote the result OF the election
in Sumter County is in favor Of this con-
testant.
Against Taylors-
Because neither the COX ballots, poll lists,
nor returns of the managers were received
oy the Executive Committee within forty
eight hours of the closing of the polls roF
had they been received or beard from Up 10
the time of the recess taken by the Commit.
tee at about the bour of p. m. on Thurs
day, Sept. lst, 1898 That by disregarding
the alleged vote at Tsyors and throwiog
cut the same the result of the election will
be changed in favor Of the contestant. That
if said box DE not disregarded that then there
should be recount of said box because the
total vote cast az shown oy the alleged re-
,uro of the managers is 81 and the total vote
for Senator is s5, one vote in excess of the
total vote cast. That if said box be not re.
counted then that one vote must be taken OF
the total vote of the highest candidate as
shown by the report of the managers, TO
wit: from the vote of Mr. R. l Manning
Against Sumter
Because the managers erred IN returning
the 7o,e of contestant as 235, whereas II
should have been 243, as recount of the box
will prove. That said board Of managers
further erred in no: counting II or more oal-
lots cas-, for County officers in favor OF this
contestant in the State box that wheo said
ballots are counted they will change the re-
sui. of the e:ecti:u In favor of this contest
ant. Because there were eight ballots 10 the
comfy box at Sumter which bad been i'm.
properly scratched as TO the candidates Tor
certain Offices, bu; properly scratched as re.
lates to the Office OF Seuator that said bal
lots we're in favor OF this CONTESTANT, but the
entire ballots were placed to ore side, and
after the count placed back INTO the box
where ,iey pow are, that said ballots nsye