The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-01
WRANGLE IN STATE BOARD.
THE STATE BOARD OF CANVAS
SERS STILL DELIBERATTNG ON
THE DISPENSARY ELECTION.
Dispute Over Right of Body to Re-
view Act OF Legislature May be
Ended Today.

| dl 'Ie injecting Oh the state board or
Canvassers, in session on the dispen-
sary election, was broken yesterday
when an order signed by Associate
Justice Hydrick was served on Comp
troller General Jones ordering him to
either attend the meetings of the
board or to appear before the asso-
ciate justice this morning at 10
o'clock to show cause why he does
not attend.
ing sessions of the board held in years
and while at times the actions of the
various members in refusing to give
on either side appeared to be anus
ing. still there were moments when it
seemed that somebody might lose
temper and precipitate a quarrel.
The real feature of the meeting was
the constant attendance and constant
absence of the comptroller general
For several minutes between attempts
made to take votes he would pace the
corridor outside of the office of secre-
tary of state and then suddenly re-
appear to state his position again and
offer once more to go with the hear
ings provided the board did not take
up the question of it's right to pass
upon the cOnstitutionality of the act
ordering the election. The situation
as briefly summed up was about as
follows:
AT the hearing Thursday the board,
| while awaiting the arrival of Mr.. WAL
ter Hazard, representing the prohibi-
tionists of Georgetown, who wish to
| contest the election, took up the
| Charleston case, which is contested
by Mr.. j. P. Grace, who holds that
the act is unconstitutional. The board
In executive session late Thursday af.
ternoon decided to go on with the
| Charleston case. although this meant
that the other cases might ait until
the constitutionality of tn, ,-ct and
the right of the board to pass upon
this act had been decided.
There are only four members of the
board present. Messrs. Lyon and Nc
Gown stood pat on the proposition
that the board had the right to con-
slider the constitutionality of the act
Messrs. Jennings and Jones were
equally positive that the board did
not have this right and a dozen or
so ballots were cast strictly along
the lines. Mr.. Jones stated most
positively that he would break the
quorum by leaving the room if the
board took up the case with a view
to deciding the constitutionality of
the act. And he did At intervals he
left the room and then came back
with the same old proposition, while
the attorneys wrangled and the other
members of the board talked pro and
con. Mr.. Grace still thought that as
the constitution was involved the
Charleston case should be settled first.
Mr.. Wilcox, who represents the dis
pensary side in Georgetown, begged
the board to take up his case. It had
been set for 1880 o'clock. Mr.. Haz-
ard. who had arrived, was inclined to
side with Mr.. Grace. The board kept
on deadlOcking, because Messrs. Nc
Grace. Mr.. Jennings, who acted as
chairman. at times seemed to want
the matter settled, but on the prop
osition as to the authority of the
board he sided with the comptroller
general.
When the board was ready to meet
early yesterday morning it was found
that Comptroller General Jones was
absent, thus there was no quorum.
About 1880 he came in and at once
stated his position. He had voted the
dsy before to go on with the Charles
ton case, he said, but had been wrong.
He did not think the board had the
right to consider it. Just here it was
brought out that the board had de-
cided to throw out the contest so far
as Richland was concerned and de-.
clare the result, but this action was
not announced officially because the
Charleston case lOomed up large and
strong with the divided board The
Richland dispensaries may open Mon
day.
The situation remained unchanged
until o'clock when the cOmptroller
general left the room, apparently for
good. A telegram had been received
from Anderson that Mr.. X. P. Smith
WAS not in the city and the boa I'd then