The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-07-31
LEXINGTON, s. c., WEDNESDAY,, JULY 81. 1901.

the members cf the committee from
the Seventh District the work OF
canvassing the returns and declaring
tie results.
There was considerable discussion
over the proposition by Attorney
General Bellipger not to assess the
candidates anything go fer as the
county commissioners are concerned.
He held that the assessments by both
this committe and the county COM
missioners was tatamount to ruling 8
poor man out of the race. The
counties put on other assessments,
and there were contest expenses,
newspaper advertisements, etc. He
told something of the way the thing
worked in his own experience. He
warned the committee that this was
leading to debarring any man who
was not wealthy man from every
race for congress. He was opposed
to levying any unnecessary assess
mepts.
Mr.. Tatum agreed somewhat with
Mr. Bellipger and Mr.. Martin thought
the commissioners should make the
assessment.
Mr.. Applet thought that several
counties would need money.
Mr. Z. Y. Williams favored MIR.
Bellinger's motion. He said this
power of county commissioners was
abused in many counties.
Mr. Lee suggested that the sue
cessful candidate be required to pay
$500. Let the man who gets~ibe
bonors and>emelGments OF the party
pay the expenses.
Mr.. Appel wanted to amend so
that no county could assess a cand!-
date over $50 each.
Mr. BSllinger said that the com-
mittee must decide not to make any
assessments itself leaving it to The
counties, or vice versa Some couD
ties did not pay any election expenses
The counties inimical to a candidate
could assess him out Of the race.
II the counties were allowed 10
assess be would move to reconsider
the $50 State com mittee assessment.
Mr. ". D. Evaps wanted to allow
the county chsirmen to draw on the
State chairman for an amount Tot
exceeding $50
Mr.. Tatum wished the limit in the
counties fixed at $40 each for tie
candidates.
Mr.. Dial moved to table the Bel
linger motion. AZ
Senator Tillman then slowly rose
and said: "We live in commercial
age-we've heard something of that
brand of Democracy recently" Did
the candidate go to congress to
represent the people or himself.
Were they going to put up Offices
here for sale? When you make it
matter of purchase and rule poor
men out, you put the Offices up at
price. This thing should be put on
plane of honor and duty. We are
Commercial Democrats" in paying
ourselves the cost of our expenses
here. He didn't believe that this
committee ought to pay itself even
though it had been done sll along.
It was unfair for them as Democrats
to make candidates pay for the
offices.
The committee declined to table
Mr.. Bellinger's motion and it was
adopted, refusing permission to coun-
ties to assess.
Mr.. Tstum offered a set ct resolu-
tions of respect in regard to the late
DR.. J. VIM. Stokes. These resolu.
tions were Thoroughly eulogistic. They
were adopted by rising vote.
MI. D. n Magill was about to
drop his loaded resolution, when Mr..
BeIliDger offered resolutions Of re-
epect to the memory of the late
Hons. ". H Msuldin and e. j. r. d.
fern, members of the committee,
who bad died since the last meeting
The resolutions were adopted by l"
rising vote.