The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-01-03
PROHIBITIoNIsTs PROTEST.
Representatives of Citizens Club
of Union Allege Many Irregular
.ities-4Oount of Vote Defer
red.

majority Of precincts in this county
in the election held last week as to
whether prohibition should continue
or a county dispensary should be ss-
tablished, the prohibitionists today.
filed a protest against the declaring
Of the election by the board, of can
vassers, which had met forsthe p,,r-
pose of tabulating the official, vote.
According to the, returns' as gather
ed by local newspapers, the dispea-
sary had mmpority of II votes out
Of 1,217 east. 1t is currently report
cd that in large number of pro-
cincts registration certificates =. and
tax receipts were not required to be
produced as the statute lays down,
that voters cast their ballots in other
precincts than that named on their
registration certificate, that one or
more Of the precincts did not open
promptly at the hour specified and
therefore several voters were depriv-
ed Of the privilege Of voting.
The protest, which was made in the
name of 2S or more members Of the
Citizens club, was filed by Attor-
neys J. A. Sawyer and Jno. K. Ham
bin for the prohibitionists after. the
board Of canvassers had organized,
but before they had begun the Off
cial tabulation Of the, vote. After,
presenting their ., arguments Messrs.
B. F. Townsend and J. Gordon Hugh
es,. representing interested parties
whose names have not yet been made
public, contended that the vote should
be counted aad the election declared.
However, the board Of canvassers at
ter hearing both sides agreed to defer
the count until next Monday at 10
a. NJ, when the board will meet and
receive statements from both sides
as to any irregularities that might
have prevailed.
1t is understood that there is a
strong probability that in the event
the prohibitionists succeed in throw
ing out the vote at the precincts
which are named in their protest aId
which went strongly for the disper-
sary, the advocates Of the establish
ment Of the dispensary here will con-
test the legality Of the vote as cast
at Jonesville AID Cross Keys, both
of which went by a large majority
for prohibition. In such event, IL it
is narrowed down strictly, it seems
that Union precinct is really the only
ole where the law was fully complied
with, and under the vote as first
counted this would give prohibition
a majority Of eight votes, but the
likelihood is that the whole election
will be declared void, and if this is
done, a number Of persons who have
looked into the law are Of the opin-
ioa that as the special provision TO:
holding an election specified that it
should be held in 1907, and as anoth-
er election can not be ordered and
held in 1907, this prcclules al cleo
ton being held prior TO August, 1909,
which would be the end Of four
years from the date when prohlbl-
ton was voted in and which was
originally provided for in the Brice
act, the law under which the elec-
tiol was first held.
The protest filed is as follows:
"Thc State of South Carolina
County Of Union.
"To Messrs. john W. Gregory, Levi
w. Smith and j. Ben Tinslcy, Com
missioners of election for state Of
fccrs, etc, and by virtue thereof,
constituting the board Of county
canvassers for Union county, in
said state.
"On behalf of S. M. Rice, Jr., e.
U, George H. Oetzel, H. B. O'Shields,
w. r., Walker, George S. Kirby, l.. l..
Wagnon, and 27 other residents, citi
zens and taxpayers Of Union, in the
county and state aforesaid, most Of
whom are real estate owners and are
the heads of families Of small chill
dren residing in said town, county
and state, the undersigned hereby en-
ter protest for the purpose Of con-
testing the legality of the election
held in the county and state afore-
said, on the 27tn day Of December,
1907, upon the question whether IL
quors and beverages may be sold IL
said county or not. The grounds OF
said contest being as follows:
"1. That there was not provided
at each, or any voting precinct in
said oouotv TWO ballot boxes in which