Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-05-06
IT WAS DONE
Bribery Used by The Democrats
to Win a Member.
LEAF FROM THE PAST

House to Make the Wallace House
Legal in the Great Battle for
the State.
The following is the story of the
winning of the Wallace House" ."
as told in the Newberry News and
Herald:
The State. protected by U. s.
troops. had been hopelessly Republi-
can during the whole of reconstruc-
ton days. 1t had submitted to rob-
berry, negro domination and infamy
till forbearance ceased to be a yir-
tue. An informal meeting of the
leading men of the State was held
In Columbia; there thy declared
for reform or revolution. General
Hampton was brought back from
Mississippi to lead the Democratic
forces. then, If that failed, we'll
The Democrats had learned some
tricks from the Carpetbaggers. and
no doubt there was some ballot
box stuffing." Anyway when the
election was over, both sides claimed
victory. Contesting delegations
were sent to the Legislature from
most of the counties. The Democrats
were the first in the Legislative
hall and elected as speaker BrigadieI
Gen. w. II. Wallace, of Union.
In few minutes thereafter the
~ tfna Oh,
of Charleston, their presiding officer.
Both sides undertook to transact bus
mess. but confusion became more
confounded, the longer this dual as
semblage sat. The Republicans
and negroes. to occupy the galleries
A -Dory' club, a gathering of the
worst element in that city. composed
and negroes, to occup the galleries
and should trouble begin Everything
pointed that way) this club was to
clean up all the Democrats in the
house. These facts were all publish
ed In the papers of the time. Wheth-
er to avoid conflict of overawe the
Democrats. the Republican Governor
trance of the State House. guards of
U. S. soldiers and forbid any to en-
ter, unless they had credentials from
the returning board, or commission
-ers of election. These the great ma
jority Of Democrats did not have.
Speaker Wallace called his follow
ers together at the Carolina Hall.
NJ hoI I, l.
adversary. Two negroes from Berk-
eley came over to the Wallace House
early. before they knew the price of
votes. This brought the two houses
on an exact equal, 62 and 62. About
this time telegram from President
Grant was received by the authori-
ties, that he would recognize as ode
facto" the first government that had
a quorum. Not Hayes. as friend
Loge thinks. that worthy coming In
months afterwards. You see what
effect Abraham Storke can have on
ones recollection.
The National Democratic party on
ly lacked the vote OF one more state
to make Tilden president There
were millions at stake. South Caro-
| lima. Florida and Louisiana were the
three States with contesting cleo
| toral votes. One vote could make
South Carolina Democratic and South
| Carolina Democratic would change
| the government of the United States
| This accounts for the State being
flooded with Northern money during
the campaign.
| The white members of every con-
| one negro in the Mackey House to
| try and brihe or beg him over. But
the Republican organization was "as
solid as a stone wall"
The delegation from Newberry
| tackled Samps Bridges. He put his
ear to the ground and smiled He
even listened to overtures, but the
| gulf was wide yet Maj. L. B. Maj.
fett and Capt. u. p. Whites from
Bridges home town were brought
to the capital to help convert Bride
es. A conference was agreed upoI
at the hotel. Bridges was there, the
delegation and the two men men
toned above. No some else, Log;
to the contrary Notwithstanding
Sparring was cautious at first, bu
became more reckless as time wore
on. Bridges did not deny that HI
was In the market. and had a price
But" Bridges said. "ff go in
to the Wallace House one of yo,
white men will have to give way.
"There can be but three member
from our county and will. under M
circumstance, give up my seat"
Colonel Keitt. with patriotic zeal
seldom equalled, said you shall hav,
my seat" Then the Colonel lef
and his Information ceases.
Y. j. Pope, one OF the white dele
gates. attended to the legal and ar
gumentive end OF the discussion
while Major Maffett and Captai
Whites looked after the persuasiv
and reasoning end.
Y. j. Pope put some figures on
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