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

that ,he vote was 90. cooo,ed correctly, that
the returns sen, n 30 not show the correct
result and ,hst re soua, Of the votes 10 the
box would be necessary TO give correct re-
sui, And recount was therefore demsoaed.
Mr. Noise suggested that all charges be
beard .aj TIE committee then taks them up
seristin ani dispose Of Their. No otjectios
was made.
Mr Stuckey made clear end comprehensive
srsumen, 10 support OF tae charges and spec
;6cations ade in the protest filed by him.
Mr. DAoo, replied opposing the requests
made in .he protest, reitesatiog the argument
previously advanced in favor of declaring the
result ss taoulated.
Mr. Noise spoke 10 favor Of taking 10 the
charges made, Investigating them fully and
feac!ess.y. st whatever expense of time ans
trouble, without regarding the personal inter-
es,s of this or that candidate, but solely for
the purpose OF arriving st the expressed will
of the people aud to Go exact justice to all
parties oy the correcsios of errors and mis-
takes il the cours and tsbulation. Such
mistakes occur in al business concerns and
there are grounds for belief that mistakes
baye occurred in this count. Further tho
sealed ballots should oe opened and disposed
of before the result is declared. IL reference
to the ballots that were improperly scratched
in reference to certain candidates for county
officers, bu, properly scratched as to all Others,
he said that no one would deny that the
managers erred IN not counting them for the
candidates for such Offices as were properly
scratched ard that, a. It was withio the
power of the committee to remedy the error
by opening the boxes and counting them, be
felt that it was the duty of the committee to
recouot the vote and taoalste these ballots.
Mr. Williamson opposed the recount Of the
ballots IN soy box and favored the declara-
ton of the result as tsbulated. BE wanted
only justice to be doue. but did not think q
recount would do jcstics, for in the condition
Of the boxes after three days had elapsed
such an attempt to recount the vote and
go behind the managers returns would be an
Injustice in itself asd wocld make greater
confusion and tsoubls.
Mr.. Noise asked and obtained permission
to see the returns Of the managers Of Sumter
club precinct. he discussed the discrepancy
between the total number of votes polled and
the total number counted FOR the candidates
aud urged the committee to make recount
Of the vote, as this in itself, was sufficient
ground for the req cest, showing as it did
that there was reason to believe that errors
had been made.
Mr.. Stackhouse stated that be had never
served on the committee before and was DOT
familiar with the rules and precedeuts, and
that be wished to ask for information what
the boxes with all the ballots in them were
sen, % TO ,he committee for. unless it was 10
recouat the nsilots to verify the returns of
the managers in case demand was Eade for
a recount? he wanred to koow if the COM
mi;tee did not have this power, and i 80
Why could they not exercise it? Why were
the challenged ballots sent up to the commit
tee 10 sealed envelopes unless they were 10 be
opened and disposed Of? (This was poser
and dead silence pervaded the committee
Chairman Purdy called Mr.. Ratheld to the
chair aud took the floor. BE brify on. timed
the duty and power Of the committee in the
premises he counseled the committee to
proceed to take up the charges and to coosid-
er them fairly and dispassona,ely and to act
upon them each in torn as the facts warrant
ed. In a1 election 80 closely contested as
this, where there was so great probability of
unintentionsl error, clerical or otherwise,
having been made, it would be unwiss and
ined7is 10 brush aside protests ano con-
tests, without full consideration aod de6a,te
action. BE said that as county chairman he
knew 10 man or candidate, and had endeav-
ored to do his duty and no more than his
duty, and be had taken the.Aoor only 10 ad-
wise the committee as seemed to him best for
all parties and the democracy of Sumter
County.
NJ. Manning atated that he went into this
election with the determination to abide by
the resul, as expressed ct the polls and if de-
featei 10 have no more TO say about it.
W ben be left the city on Wednesday evening
i, was with The conviction that be had been
defeated and he never contemplated any pso-
test ur contest OF other effort to 60 behind
the returns sent ur BY the managers +; when
be came to this chg on Thursday morning it
was with the same belief and determination.
Fe did not want the cfice ror would be ac-
cept it unless be was fairly aud undoubtedly
the choice of the people, and be did not be-
,e7e any ooe would accuse dim Of desire
to profit BY unfarness asd iljastice. Il ce-
faaled be would continue 10 be found work
lug iD the ranks of the party as be Dad II
the past He wss, however, unwilling 10 go
behind the returns OF the managers aod 10
make recount for the reports q circulation
caused Que 10 doubt that y recount would
enable tie COMMITTEES 10 arrive al correct