Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-03
DecIare the Election.

The state executive committee fall-
ed to declare the result Of the election
last Friday because of rumors of irreg-
ularities, fraud, ETC., and after adopt
ing resolutions published elsewhere.
adjourned to meet again tomorrow
night with the probable intention of
announcing something definite on
Thursday.
Although We are unaware Of any fact
or circumstance that would seem to
Justify unnecessary delay in declaring
the result, judging from the character
of the campaign. its intense bitterness.
partizanship, etc., we do not hesitate to
acknowledge the feeling Of certain
degree of apprehension until 1t has all
been settled, for whether the fact be
generally realized or not the situation
Is not unattended with grave elements
Of danger.
It will be noted that Senator Tillman
does not hesitate to say that Governor
Blease has been reelected. and 1t will!
be noted also that Governor Blease
very naturally assumes the same thing
as he has a right to do; but still there
are rumors of contest, talk Of the
throwing out Of votes, and Of renew
ing with two-fold violence the bitter
struggle that most thoughtful, peace
loving people are hoping is at an end.
That there may have been fraud in
the election We do not doubt; but If
there was, it will be very well to re-
member that all Of 1t was not on one
side. Also it will be just as well to re-
member that this election in all prob
ability was as clean as the election OF
two years ago, or the election Of two
years before that, or of any previous
elections, or as clean as the election Of
two years from now will be unless ad-
ditional safeguards shall be provided
in the meantime.
Any attempt to nullify the election
of last Tuesday will only serve to re-
new all the bitterness that had its cul-
mination on that day. and insure still
more feeling and probably still more
fragrant irregularities, in the next
election. It is practically certain in
our mind that an attempt to evade the
results of last Tuesdays primary will
carry the whole thing to the general
election. There are those who would
welcome this in the belief that the
Blease voters are less generally regis
tered than are the Jones voters. That,
however, is very doubtful PROPOSE
ton; but that Is not all. for while the
Jones people have control Of the
election machinery now In the general
election 1t will be under the control Of
Governor Blease.
If We had any good reason to believe
that there has been any more unfair
ness in the winning of this election
than there was in the efforts to win
it, we would not hesitate to advocate
the continuance Of the fight to the bit
ter end. But as we have said, that
while there may have been fraud on
both sides we do not positively know
of any on either side, and we can see
no good reason for the continuance of
the struggle.
We can hardly think that the state
executive committee could have in
mind the more serious and permanent
embodiment Of neighbors and friends
than has occurred already. We sin
cerely hope there will be nothing Of the
kind, first because to do so would be
great wrong on the whole people of
South Carolina, and second because
we do not believe any good could pos
sibly come Of it.