Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-09-22
Atistellaneuus 8rading.
STATEMENT FROM Mr.. JOHNSON.
Explanation of Complications In Mag
istrate's Race in Bethel Township.

Explanation of Complications In Mag
istrate's Race in Bethel Township.
Editor of The Yorkville Enquirer:
In your paper Of the 18th instant,
there is a news item published in re-
gard to the election of magistrate for
Bethel township in the primary of
August 25th, in which Is stated, that
Mr.. Bigger received IA votes, and his
had thought of contesting his election,
but had withdrawn my protest. Some
people think from that statement, that
may have intended to ask for some
thing that I was not entitled to, and
in order that 1 may set the record
straight, and let the people Of Bethel
township know the facts in the matter,
l would ask you to publish my state
ment of the case. About fifty voters
of Bethel township, usually vote at
Glover, in Kings Mountain township.
About twenty at Yorkville, in York
township. The greater part Of these
voters are my neighbors and friends.
On the day Of the first primary, there
was box at Glover, to receive the
ballots for magistrate for Bethel town.
ship. There were also tickets for the
same provided by the executive COM
mittee. At Yorkville, by some over
sight, there was no special box for
magistrate for Bethel township, nor
were any tickets provided, by the exec
utive committee. During the day Of
the election, some Of my friends did
not vote at Yorkville, for the want Of
tickets, others concluded that they
would risk a written ticket, and ac-
cordingly, prepared and voted some
written tickets for me, depositing some
of them in the magistrates box for
York township, others depositing theirs
in the state and county boxes. My in
formation Is, that five Of those were
counted and tabulated, and two were
overlooked. received information
that two residents Of Kings Mountain
township voted for Mr.. Bigger at For
est Hill. The day Of the official count,
which was two days after the election,
came to Yorkville for the purpose Of
filing a protest with the view Of con-
testing the election, If upon further in
vestigation, deemed it necessary to do
so. In the meantime, the executive
committee had met and made an off,
cial count, declaring no election hav-
ing been made in Bethel township for
magistrate, and ordered an election in
the second primary between Mr.. Bigger
and myself. This having been done,
there was no necessity for any pro-
test being raised by me. The chairman
Of the Democratic executive committee
had published a notice in The York
Vile Enquirer ordering an election in
the second primary between Mr.. Big
ber and myself. On the 4th Of Sep
tember, I received notice from the
county chairman stating that mistake
had been made in adding up the official
count in Yorkville, and also declaring
Mr.. Bigger the nominee Of the DEM
ocratic party for magistrate for Bethel
township. I answered the same, CIV
ing the figures of votes cast as un-
derstood them, according to the infor-
nation in my possession, stating at the
same time, that 1 must insist that the
question be settled by the law and
rules governing a primary election. In
answer to this letter. received letter
from the chairman, requesting me to
come before the meeting Of the Demo.
cratic executive committee to be held
ir Yorkville on September 10th; and
present any protest that I might de-
sire to make in regard to the election
of magistrate for Bethel township, also
stating, that no protest had been made
by either party within two days after
the election as to any irregularities"
BY authority given him by the execu-
tive committee, 1t was his clear cut
duty, to declare the election In ac-
cordance with the results shown by the
tabulated vote. l examined the law
and the rules governing primary elec-
tions, and found, that I could not then
protest under the law after two days
from the first election, and having been
prevented from doing this at the pro-
per time by the action Of the executive
committee. and for the further reason,
that the chairman and the state exec
utive committee had ruled and declar-
ed, that no vote should be counted cast
at any primary election, unless the
tickets were furnished by the county
chairman of the respective counties,
and all the tickets cast for the magis-
trate for Bethel township at Yorkville,
were written by the voters, and not
furnished by the executive committee,
as is provided by law. Whatever the
irregularities, If any, may have beer In
the matter, on the 10th Of September at
the meeting OF the executive commit
tee. or whatever their good intentions
may have been, all my rights and priv
ileges had been debarred by their ac-
ton in locking boiling and barring the
door. Neither the executive commit
tee, Mr.. Bigger or myself can change
the law of the party, or the ruling OF
the chairman of the state Democratic
committee II any mistake or irreg-
ularties are done. it was not my or
Mr. Bigger's fault.
H. E. Johnson.
ALMOST READY TO FLY.