The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-02-05
DELIVERS VOTE.
Butler Pulls State Statute on the Vice
President Law Some
what Hazy-Mr. Fairbanks
Enjoys Amusing Incl
dent.

The State.
Washington, Feb. 1.-Col. Thos. B.
Butler of Gaffney and the Fifth con-
gressional district, took his seat IN
the office of the vice president early
this morning armed with hi creden-
tials as messenger Of the South Car
olina electoral vote and with copy
of the South Carolina statute as to
the time he was due At his side sat
his doughty friend, Col. Campbell of
Pennsylvania and Gaffney. The vice
president had not arrived. After a
considerable wait in walked a man
with long white paint brush pendent
from his chin. This was not the vice
president. It was Senator Thomas
Carter of Montana, who had come to
introduce the belated Montana mes
senger, and they sat and waited like
wise, looking with jealous eyes upon
the two colonels in the other corner.
After long suspense the tall and smil-
ing vice president entered and greet
ed Senator Carter.
'sI want to Introduce began
Senator Garter, ''the Montana mes
senger - "My name is Butler,
Mr.. Vice President, and I was here
first" interrupted Col. Butler.
Col. Butler Received.
"Ah, I am so glad to know you,
Mr.. Butler," said the vice president,
shaking hands. ''I bring the South
Carolina electoral-'
Mr.. Fairbanks stopped him short,
reached down and enthusiastically
shook hands again. Exceedingly
glad to see you," he said. The Mon
tana citizen looked Oh. It afterwards
developed that he had the Montana
vote all right-that is, all wrong, for
it was for the wrong man-but he had
forgot his credentials and must tele-
graph back to Montana waiting here
for their arrival.
81 am also here to see about that
thousand dollar fine,' added Col.
Butler. Mr.. Fairbanks eyes twinkled
and the whole party laughed. Col
Butler laughed, too, but he pulled a
paper on the vice president, the same
being a copy Of section 25O of the
ec6ified laws Of South Carolina,
which reads: 'EThe electors shall
then, by writing, under their hands,
or under the hands Of a majority Of
them, appoint a person to take charge
( Of the lists 50 sealed up, who shall de-
liver the same to the president Of the
senate of the congress Of the United
States, at the seat Of government, be-
fore the second Wednesday in Febru-
ary then next ensuing.'' Mr.. Fair
banks said he was acting according to
The federal statutes. "All right"
said Col. Butler, ''Let US look at the
federal statutes.''
Federal Law Hazy.
The federal law is in fact very hazy.
It specifies that whenever a messen-
ger fails to perform the duties re-
quired of him, he shall be subject to
a forfeiture Of one thousand dollars.
That is all. Now what is required?
Another section says that whenever
certificate of votes from any State
has not been received on the Fourth
Monday of January, the secretary of
State shall send special messenger
to the district judge, who has a duph-
cate certificate, to send that list here.
Still another section says that the
vote shall be forwarded 'forthwith
after the End Monday in January. -
What does that mean? However the
discrepancies in the law may be ex-
planned, Col Butler got here before
the secretary Of state had sent spe-
cial messenger for the vote, and he
got ahead Of the Montana man. More
over, Mr.. Wee President accepted his
credentials, received the sealed en-
kvelope said to contain the nine votes,
gave him a'reeeipt and certificate
with which he will tomorrow call on
the United States treasury for Is
cents a mile from Columbia to Wash
ington. and told him not to worry
about the thousand plunks. And they
all were happy, save the Montana
man. The envelope Col. Butler de-
posted was sealed, but there is be-
lief here that the vote will be for
Bryan.