The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-04-18
The Veterans Meet.
Camp Dick Anderson Elects Dele.
gates to Louisville and Com.
mittee on Eligibility Reports.

Camp Dick Anderson, q. O ", met 10
tho court house at Ia o'clock today to elect
delegates TO the reunion 10 Louisville, elect
omcers Tor the ensuing year and to traueac.
such other business as might be necessary.
The election of delegates 10 Louisville was
taken up and resulted as follows:
20 Parnell, w N Graham, John Reid, P
Gsillard, r Brown6eld. Alternates:
Perry Noses, J D RIsudiug, J d Wilder, d e
Durant, W r Rhame.
Seator X. ]. Mauoiog, who was present, was
extended the privilege Of the 6oor to make
statement concerning bis action az senator
10 reference to the pension law enacted at tho
last session of the legislature.
de said that he understood that the bill
was Introduced at the reqoest Of the veterans
and embodied their views, but that in the
original bill there was no mention OF the sec.
ton requiring that the clerk of the pension
board should be q Confederate veteran. He
vas reliably informed that that provi
sioo was an amendment made by
member Of the House ON bis own
responsibility aRd did not come from the
veterans and was not asked for by them.
When the bill came up 10 the senate j. was
adopted but the amendment was rejected
He did not make the motion 10 reject the
amendment, as has been charged. HE 6rst
direct connection with the bill was when he
was sppoia,ed q member of the committee OF
conference The committee consisted Of Col
Harvey Wilson, Mr. Dean, Of SpartanburQ,
Mr Patton, Of RichlaHd, and himself. He
opposed the retention Of the amendment 10
reference to the clerkship, because he did
not regard it ss q constituent part of
the original bill and further, because be
did not think II right to legislate out Of Office
the present clerk, who happened to be won.
90, daughter OF q Confederate soldier and
dependent upon her salary for q living. He
suggested that The appointment of q clerk be
lett TO the recommendation of the veteraps,
and not make 1t ma odatory that the clerk be
q veteran. He thought this would be accept.
able to hve six,hs Of the veterans, and was
still OF that opinion. The conference com.
mittee bad no authority TO alter the bill and
"a the committee could not agree to recede from
or accept the amendment 1t was decided to
ask for committee Of free conference Hero
his connection with the oil ended and be had
nothing moro to do With 1t He supported
the DILL as 1t came from the veterans and bic
action 10 the conference committee was not
IN the nature Of opposition to the wishes and
interests of the veterans.
he made this statement to the veteraos be.
cause he bad been Informed that gentleman
at Magnolia, Mr. Nose Mcdonald, bad stated
that be Aanniog) had asserted 10 the com.
mit'ee Of conference that he would prefer.
10 see The bill defeated rather than have
the amendment remain ia IL. He desired
to have bis position clearly understood
10 Sumter county aud elsewhere in the
State and could not reat easy while
erroneous statements were being circulated
The effect Of the amen dment would haze
been to disqusl,fy every daughter of Oon.
federate soldier for the position of clerk of the
peoeioo board, no matter how deser wing au
we'll qua',6ed for the duties Of the position.
with these lights before them be had acted
40 be thought right and as duty required aud
nav'ng done tnis be was willing to accept the
responsibility and take the consequences.
Mr D Wilder stated that he was a mem.
Der OF the committee appointed at the last
reunion OF s O Confederate veterans 10 me.
morislize the legislature on the subject of
the pension! !,law, that be attended every
meeting Of the committee save one, and that
at none Of these was the matter of reouiriop
that the clerk of the pension bhooard suld be
a veteran mentioned. AZ far as be kuew
there was no such intestion
Commandant ] Harvey Wilson stated ba,
he had charge Of the bill at tho request Of Mr.
Patton, the author. when il came 10 in the
house aud that when Mr. Dean offered the
amend ment 10 question be accepted il on his
own responsibility aud without consultation
With any one.
A resolution was offered and adopted that
90 censure De attached TO any member of the
sumter count Legislative delegation for their
action in reference to the pension law. >.
% motion all the oficers OF the camp were
reelected by acclanation.
The report of the committee sppointed At
the last annual meeting to Investigate the
eligibility OF auv member of the camp came
up. Opposition to having the report read
developed, but after cone discussion 1t WIS
ordered read Col. w. D. SCARBOROUGH.
chairman OF the committee, stated that only
one member OF the camp, Mr.. 8. G. Spaop, had
appeared before the committee, aId the report
related to the investigation Of this Csse only
The report, which was quito lengthy. was
shso read by Col. Scarborough.
Ar. d. Dsraut moved that the report be
received 40 information and the committee
discharged. This wss finally laid oo the
table after considerable discussion.
Toere was then lengthy aud at times con.
fused discussion, 10 which Msj. Spaun, Capt.
Gaillard, Col. Blsndiug, Col. Scarborough
and others participated. Msj Spanu claimed
that the committee bad not given him oppor.
tuo'ty to make . complete showing, aod mem.
oers OF the committee then proposed that IL
be would name day be would be given the
follest aud fairest opportunity to make q
furthsi showing, but ut the same time they
asserted most ewpha,ically that the commit.
tee had afforded Mr.. Span every opportuui.
y to prove his eligibility aud had treated
bin courteoosly and kindly.
Several resolutions along this liue were
offered, aod one offered by Capt
Gsiliard, Imswber of the com.
mit'es, appointing sslesdsy 10 July for the
camp 10 meet TO elect delegates. st which NJ
Spaon should DO permitted 10 reply
to tbs report Of The committee, vas aoally
adopted. The camp then adionrned