Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-01-12
TOLBERT TO CONTEST.
Congressman Iatfmer Talks or the
TOlbert TrOuble.


TOlbert TrOubIe.
WASHINGTON, January 9.--Representa-
tive Latimer has been notified that his
scat In the next Congress will be con-
testod by r. r. Tolbort. Unfortunately
for M. Tolbert, he has not complied
with tho law in filing his notice of con-
test, and ho may have to plead for a
special Act of Congress- to have his case
considered. The law requires that a
notice of contest must bo filed with the
contostce within thirty days after the
official returns of tho election arc
declared. The result of the last Con
gressional election in South Carolina was
announced on November 20. Undor the
law Mr.. Tolbert should havo served
notice on Mr.. Latimer not later than
December 20. AS q matter of fact, his
notice was not delivered to Mr.. Latimor
until December 28, just two days too late
to como within tho provisions of tho law
on the subject.
On his way back to Washington, Mr..
Latimer stopped at Greenwood TO mako
q personal investigation of the situation
there, growing out of tho recent trouble
over the Tolbort family. He attended a
citizens' meeting hold ut Greenwood,
which was called to allow tho leading
people of that vicinity to announce to
the world that thoy are opposed to law
lessness and other brutalities, which
have recently been charged up against
tho oitizons of that community. MI.
Latimer "aid he made q speech to tho
people, in which he heartily approved
the sentiments expressed in tho resolu-
tions adopted, setting forth that it is tho
desire and intention of tho people of
Greenwood to 500 the rights of all citi-
IONS enforced and law and ordor main
tanned, without regard to tho color of
tho Offenders.
Mr.. Latimor said ho found q very gone
raj feeling against tho Tolberts at Green-
wood, but there is a disposition to por-
nit them to return homo, provided thoy
arc willing to accept tho universal verdict
III that section to the object that white
pooplo must rulo. Some of tho mombors
vi the Tolbort family have accepted tho
situation and aro back in their former
homes, we'll received and respected by
their noighbors. Mr.. Latimer says he
believes tho other Tolborts will DO allowed
to return il they arc disposed to mako o
declaration to the effect that they ere
prepared to submit to white mans rule
in that section.
Mr.. Latimer says thore is another
cause for discomfort and embarrassment
not attributable to tho Tolberts. There
40 certain mon who seem to havo
formed q combination to drive all tho
colored labor from that section of tho
country. Owing to tho driving out of
the colorod labor, the owners OF tho
farms are unable to raise their CROPS,
hence thoir lands become almost value
loss and tho anti-colored labor combine,
socks to got possession of tho discarded
lands at figure far below their real
value. Some well known citizcns In that
vicinity arc said to bo Interested in tho
combine and the situation is full of dan.
ger to tho interests of tho moro law
abiding citizens, who arc in q measure
dependent upon colored labor to work
their farms.
Mr.. Latimcr says lie is as much OPP
posed 70 negro domination as any man
In South Carolina, but he realizes that
tho law-abiding citizens arc placed at q
decided disadvantage In tho estimation
of the national authorities at Washing
Ion nv I'm, n,i;.rro,i ,,;;,,,. -, ,a,x,:-.
mon In tho State, who are ondoayoring
to drive tho colored labor out of the
State. Exaggerated reports of these
transactions are brought to Washington
and poured into tho oars of mombors of
tho Republican administration, all of
which arc used to tho disadvantage of
tho Representatives In Congress from
South Carolina, and also to tho detri-
mont of tho citizens of tho State, who
arc Interested in tho growth and pro-
gress Of tho country.
1t is understood that tho President has
received q number Of COMMUNICATIONS
from tho vicinity of Greenwood on this
subject, and he has Expressed desire to
have the matter fully investigated. Mr..
Latimor stopped at Greenwood purposely
to inform himself 40 to the true condi-
tions there, for 1t is his intention to have
an interview with tho President on this
subject. Mr.. Latimor says he realizes
that tho subject is ono that should bo
handled with great delicaoy, but ho is
confident that If tho people of tho Green
wood district will carry out tho spirit set
ferth in tho resolutions they adopted at
tho recent mass meeting, the Administl4,-
ton can he mado to take q olearor snd a
mare satisfactory VsoW Of tho aituasloa,