The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-10-21
STATE COMMITTEE.
Ruled That It Has No Jurisdiction
Contrary to Greenville
Decision.
The State.


committee has decided that it has no
jurisdiction over cases appealed from
the county executive committee in
which the contestants are candidates
for county Offices The action Of the
committee was brought about in the
hearing of the complaint OF ]. w.
Walker, candidate for supervisor of
Greenville county.
The facts of the case were set forth
very strongly in the complaint filed
by Messrs. Haynsworth, Parker &:
Patterson and Mr.. T. P. Cothran,
attorneys for Walker. They asserted
that in the second primary Walker
was nominated over the incumbent,
J. E. Speegle, by a majority OF II
votes, and that after some discussion
at the meeting of the county execu-
tive committee Walker was declared
elected by majority of I votes.
Subsequently Speegle, through his
attorneys, filed a protest and at a
subsequent meeting OF the county
committee several alleged Walker
votes were thrown out on the ground
that the voters had not been regis
tered for five days before the pri-
mary. Speegle's attorneys appealed
to the State executive committee on
the ground that in one ward in
Greenville where Speegle had re-
ceived an overwhelming majority
there were 70 votes more than the
the total number registered on the
club rolls.
It was declared that the rule which
had been applied to Walkers votes
had not been applied likewise to
Speegle's votes or Walker would
still have had a majority. Futher-
more it was alleged that some OF the
regular county executive corlittee-
men who believed in the business Of
Walkers claim could not get to the
meeting Of the committee to hear
the protests from Speegle and sent
alternates. A motion was passed
to allow no alternates to vote, and
Walker contends that by his support
ers being thus voted out Of the meet
ing he probably lost. All Of these
facts have been recited before.
The meeting Of the state committee
last night was attended by 28 men,
bers and altersates. The question
which came up after the reading Of
the formal complaint and the formal
answer, was the motion of Nh. Moses
that the committee has jurisdiction
to review cases appealed from the
county committee. The merits or
dement's of the contest were not
touched upon, but the attorneys on
each side were given As minutes in
which to argue the mooted question
of Jurisdiction. Col. George John
stone of Newberry, who had been
announced by Mr.. J. J. McSwain as
one of the attorneys in the case;
stated that when it had been in the
legal courts he had seen no impro-
priety in representing Speegle, but
now that it has resolved itself into
matter Of party politics he thought
it better for him to retire from coun-
sci as he is the nominee of the same
party for presidential elector.
Mr.. Jos. w. Mccullough of Green
vile then opened the argument for
Speegle's side of the contest. Said Mr..
Mccullough, the state committee has
nothing to do with the question of
expediency or of what is for the in
terests of Greenville county-the
matter is a question OF law. He
here read the constitution of the par
ty, constituting it in such a way that
it appeared by his arguments that
the state executive committee has
authority to act upon contests for
state Offices and federal officer only
and that the county committee shall
pass upon the contests OF candidates
for county offices. This deduction