The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21

ton to order recount aud did exa't'
~ right in refusing to do so.
Mr.. Weston said tha. if the purity
of elections were to be impeached as
in this case. it would have a most
bapeful effect The managers of the
election of Sumter county were men
of integrity, and there was no evl
dence to show that the election was
either illegal or irregular After two
davs deliberation the committee de-
clded that Mr.. Manning was the
nominee for sepator, and it ia unjust
to remand this case to that commit
tee
Mr.. Abney, in reply, said that
only 384 votes we're cast tor senator
and there were 412 men on the poll
list Mr. Commander shows why
there were only 3S4 votes cast in the
election. Mr.. Dabbs moved in the
county meeting to receive the man
ayers report, despite the fact that
the chairman ruled otherwise and
others protested against Mr.. Dabb's
efforts to thwart all probability or
possibility of a recount The box is
brought into the presence OF the
chairman and there opened and the
result taken therefrom Consequent
ly, there was no possibility of fraud.
Mr. N B. Dial of Laurens intro
duced the following resolutions
Resolved, That it is the sense OF
this committee,
First. That it is the duty of the
county executive committee to IN
quire into and pass upon each and
every challenged ballot
Second. That county ballots in
State boxes and vice versa should not
be counted.
Third. That all ballots should be
counted when properly cast for any
one Office, although upon same ballot
with other votes improperly cast.
Therefore.
Resolved, That this contest be, and
the same is hereby recommitted to
the executive committee of Sumter
county to vote in accordance with
the views hereinbefore announced !.
Mr. Winkler offered the following
amendment:
Resolved by this committee in the
matter Of the contest OF Altamont
Moses and R. l Manning, contesting
the election for State senator from
Sumter county, that said contest be
sustained in the following particu-
lars
First, That the Democratic execu.
tive committee of Sumter county be
directed to recount the votes in any
box upon request of either the con,
testant or contestee, said recount t"
be had in the presence of contestant
and contestee and their counsel
Secoud, That all votes for county
officers cast in a State box be not
counted that ali votes impeEtectiy
scratched or not scrated at all for
certain county officers, but properly
sratched for State senator be counted
for State senator
Mr Applet said that in the pri-
mary election there is no rule pre-
scribing into what box or boxes the
votes shall be cast The Democratic
rules have no specifications Of
such nature and hence there was
no reason why the votes should be
rejected In the absence Of any rule
it is not right 10 say that the commit
tee should not recount the votes
again.
slr. Csroes said tazt the object Of
the primary election was 10 iosure fa''-
ness. iad it vas certaioiy step back.
ward 20 attempt TO pass such reso'u-
.ioD as jass proposed
hlr Williams os E1ge6e!d urged the
absodoumers OF techDlcaities when
i: prevents 'he honest expression of the
people at the ballot Il it is evident
that the people intend TO put their bal,
lots 10 tue right 5ox but ,oeiT irteli!,
gence is not sufficient to euabie them to
vote as they desire, theae votes should
be counted
Mr. Williams then offered the fol.
loving ameuduea which was TO De
added to the iass clause OF the Dial res
olutiou Except the totals agree "ith
the poll list, and without that 'ae State
or county ballots we're lgnora0sly or by
mistake deposited 10 the arong box.
Iu speaking of Mr. Williams ameua-
ueus Mr. Lee sad that 1t would evec-
tusiiy return to plasue tie inventor.
1.-THE people put 5cst: STATE aod county
tickets ID the same boz ,here is no
possible way to ascertain the true ex-
preston of thc people He thought if
sucn smsucmens sas adopted it would
De the beginning Of the col of the white
D Daunoratic urinary 10 Sumtcr county.