The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-04-18
The Veterans Meet.
Camp I1ck Anderson Elects Dele
gates to Louisville and Com
mlttee on Eligibility Reports.

Camp Dick Anderson, o. c ", met in
the court house at IL o'clock today to elect
delegates TO the reunion in Louisville, elect
officers for the ensuing year and to transact
snch other business as might be necessary
The election of delegates 10 Louisville wac
taken up and resulted as follows:
J G Parnell, w NJ Graham, John Reid, P
P Gaillard, R J Brown6eld A!teruates:
Perry Moses, D Rlardiug, D Wilder, D e
Durant, " Rbame
Sea,or R. I. Manoioe, who was present, was
extended the privilege of the floor to make
statement concerning his action as senator
10 reference to the pension law enacted at the
last session of the legislature.
He said that be understood that the bill
was introduced at the reqoest Of the veterans
aud embodied their views, but that in the
original hill there was no mention OF the Sec
ton requiring that the clerk Of the pension
board snoud be Confederate veteran. He
was reliably informed tha: that provi
sioo was an amendment made oy a
member of tine Rouse on bis own
responsibility and did not come from the
veterans and was not asked for oy them.
W ben the bill came up 10 the senate it was
adopted but the amendment was rejected
He did no. make the motion 10 reject the
amendnen,, as has been charged His first
direct connection with the hill was when he
was appoia ed member Of the committee OF
conference The committee consisted of Col
J Harvey Wilson, SIT Dean, of opartaooure,
DIR Patton, Of RichlaEd, and bmself. He
opposed the retention Of the amendment 10
reference to the c;erkship, because be did
not regard it as constituent part Of
the original bill and further, because be
did not think it right to legislate out Of Office
the present clerk, who happened to he wom-
ao, daughter OF Confederate soldier and
depepdeot upon her salary for living. lie
suggested that the appointment Of clerk be
lef. to the recommendation of the veterans,
and Dot make it mandatory that the clerk be
q veteran He thought this would be accept
able to FIVE sixtbs of the veterans, aud was
still of that opinion. The conference CON-
mittee bad 10 authority 10 alter the bill and
as the committee could otagree to recede from
or accept the amendment it was decided to
ask fer committee Of free conference. Here
his connection With the bill ended ard be had
nothing more to do With it He supported
the bill SO it came from the veterans aod bis
action in the conference committee was not
ID the nature Of opposition to the wishes and
interests Of the veterans.
He 1cade this statement to the veterans be-
cause he bad beeo Informed that gentleman
at Magnolia, Mr. Nose Mcdonald, had stated
.hat be (Manniog) had asserted in tbe COM
mttee of conference that he would prefer.
to see the bill defeated rather than have
the amendment remain iu it. He desired
to have his position clearly understood
10 Sumter county and elsewhere in the
State and could poe rest easy while
erroneous statements we're being circulated
The effect cf the amecd dment would have
bean to sqasl,fy every daughter of Goa.
fede7ate soldier for the position of clerk OF the
pecsioo board, no matter how deserving and
we'll qualified fer the duties Of the position.
With these lights before them be had acted
as be thought right and as duty required aud
having 6cne this be vas willing 10 accept the
responsibility ard take the consequences.
MrJ D Wilder stated that he was mem
Der of the committee appointed q; the last
reunion Of S C Confederate veterans 10 NE
morislize the legislature on the subjec: OF
the pensous. law, that be attended every
meeting of the committee save one, aod that
that the clerk Of the pension bhooard suid be
q veteran mentioned. AZ far ss be kew
there was no such ioteotion
Commandaat Harvey Wi!soo stated tnat
he had charge of the bill at tie reques. OF Mr
Patton, the author. when it came up 10 the
house aud that wheu Mr Dean offered the
amend ment 10 question be accepted Il on his
own responsibility acd without consultation
with any one
A resolution was offered and adopted that
90 censure be attached TO any member Of the
Sumter countyslegisla;ive delegation for their
action in reference TO the pension law. =,
o. motion ell the officers OF the camp were
reelected oy acclamation
Tbe report Of the committee srpoiDted at
the last annual meetint; TO investigate the
eligisil,,y of au7 member of the camp cane
up. Opposition to having the report read
developed, but after eone discussion it WIS
ordered read Col W. D. Scarborough,
CHAIRMAN Of the committee, stated that only
one member of the camp, Mr.. s. G. SpaoD, bad
appeared before the committee, and the report
related to the investigation of this case only
The report, which was quite lengthy, vas
,heo read by Col. Scarborough.
Mr. D. Dsrsnt moved that the report be
received as information and the committee
discharged This was finally laid 90 the
table afte. considerable discussion.
There was then lengthy and at times con.
fused discussion, 10 which Msj. Spauo, Capt
Gaillard, Col. Banding, Col. Scarborough
and others participated. Maj. Spann claimed
that the committee bad not given him oppor-
tupi,y to make complete showing, and mem
bers of the committee then proposed that if
be would pane day be would be given the
fullest aud faireet opportunity to make
furtbsl showing. but at the same time they
asserted most eupha,ically that the commit
tee had afforded Mr.. Spaen every oppor,rni-
ty to prove his eligibility and had treated
him courteously and kindly.
Several resolutions along this line were
offered, aod one offered by Capt
Gsillard, imemoer of the COM
mit,ee, appointing salesday in July fer the
camp to meet to elect delegates, at which Mr.
Spaon should be permitted 10 reply
to the report of The committee, was finally
adopted. The camp then adjourned.