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

regard end throw out the entire vote OF one
precinct which would defeat the will of the
people and change the result OF the election,
that be demanded full aod exact justice and
would not consent to the adoption OF the mo.
ton
Mr. Noise. replying, stated that he had no
desire to defeat the will OF the people, but
SEEING from the trend OF the proceedings
that the committee was not disposed 10 act
on the protests and cou tests as right ard jus
lice TO All parties required, nor 10 take up
eod Investigate the irregularities in certain
boxes, nor TO order recount of the vote in
certain boxes, where irregularities or errors
were proven 10 have occurred by the returns
of the managers, which showed on their face
by discrepancies between the total vote polled
ard the total vote reported for the various
candidates for the several officers, that errors
in count or tabulaton had been made, be
deemed it best and tie only way TO avoid
worse confusion and greater trouble TO pro-
ceed 10 strict accordance with the rules. sit
will not do," said be "to disregard techni-
caIities and override the plain rules of the
party in one case, and const,ue them rgidly
10 another. If we are to follow and obey the
letter of the law in one instance we must
obey in all.
The cbairman called the attention of the
committee to the rule requiring the county
committees to tabulate the returns for State
officers at ouce and to forward the retarn
Immediately to the State Executive Conn.,.
les. This mist be done before recess is
taken, for the return must be sent TO Colum
bla tonight.
To meet the difficulty motion was offered
that returns for State officers oe tabulated at
once without waiting for the return of the
vote al Taylors, and the return be made and
forwarded to Columbia, but that the vote for
county officers DE not tabulated until the
Taylors vote should be received that recess
be taken until 10 a. m. Friday, aud that
two messengers appointed by the chair be
sent to OBTAIN the boxes and returns OF the
managers at Taylors precinct. The motion
was adopted.
Messrs Y Delgar aud W. 7. Mcleod
were appointed by the chairman to go for the
box aod they returned with it that night The
vote for State officers was tabulated and the
result declared before the committee took 3
recess
Before the committee adjourned Mr. Alta
mont Nose. flied the following specific pro.
test with the Secretary:
Altamont Moses charges specifically as to
the Sumter box:
|. That the total poll list shows AZ, that
the ,ota vote iabula.ed for Senator was 5nly
35S, and therefore requests that The vote as
to Senator ia that box oe recouOted
z That the affidavit of W q. Comman-
der one of the managers at The Sumter box,
shows that there were about eight ballots for
couoty chicers 10 the State tox and about
the same number of ballots for State officers
10 the county box, ard that neither were
couuted and he therefore begs that the same
be counted
Ga Friday morning the committee NET at
1920 O.: clock with most of the memo
present. Hon. Altsmont Moses asked The
privileges of the floor for his attorney, A. B.
Stuckey. Esq, which was granted. The
Tsylors vote was then tabuated.
Mr.. Dabbs moved that the result, as tsbu-
lated oe ascertained.
The motion was opposed by several COM
mit,eemen on the ground that if the vote be
] declared the whole matter would be settled
finally and beyond remedy and that there
would be no opportunity for taking up the
challenged ballots in sealed envelopes or to
hear and determine the protests and contests.
Mr. Dabbs stated that his motion dio not