The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-05

ernor against Mr.. Benet with refer
ence TO the distribution of tickets In
Lee and Pickens counties. The report
OF the committee which was adopted
yesterday showed that Secretary Benet
had discharged his duties faithfully
and that the governor had been mis-
Informed when ne made the charges
The special committee was divided
the majority report being submitted
by X. i. Manning and j. A. Willis
The report by w. r. Crews contained
substantially the same facts and came
to the conclusion that the con-
troversy came about as the result Of
a misunderstanding.
The question OF second primary
for attorney general caused consid-
erable discussion as to the date It was
finally agreed that the primary should
be held on October Is. The county
executive committee in counties,
where additional primaries are to DO
held. will be requested by the COM
mittee to hold them on the same date.
The primary to select a member of
the house in Newberry county was
postponed pending the final action Of
the State -secutive committee.
The report on the canvass of the
returns was submitted by 8. G. May
field. the chairman. and vas adopted
by the committee.
Statement By Jones.
Judge Ira B. Jones yesterday Issued
q following statement:
20 the people of South Carolina:
The State executive committee Of
the Democratic party has declared
Governor Blease to be the nominee OF
the party for the office Of governor.
and 1 do not question the correctness
OF their conclusion from the evidence
that they had before them. am
also persuaded that the subcommit-
tee charged with the duty Of investi-
eating the conduct of the election did
all that was possible for them to do
IN the time that could be given to
their task.
II think 1t proper now to return
my thanks to all those who supported
me by votes. voice or influence. and
who Joined me in a contest which we
believed was for the best interests Of
South Carolina. To all such I wish to
say that In the light Of the suspicion
of fraud and illegality which were so
freely expressed. felt 1t to be my
duty to them as well as to myself to
contest the election and to this end
1 employed counsel. To conduct such
inquiries and procure such testimony
as would prove these suspicious we'll
founded would have required a large
sum Of money for the necessary ex-
penses Of such an investigation In
many counties-a sum much beyond
my ability to furnish. made no re-
quest for money from those who we're
interested in the success OF the cause
which i represented. as a call for
funds had been made by the State ex-
ecutive committee for an impartial
investigation by the subcommittee OF
their own body. Upon the result of
this committees action. l was forced
to rely.
Their report. based upon a full in
vestigation In a few counties, a partial
report from several. and no report at
all from several others. with no fur
ther testimony furnished to me did
not justify me in law or In morals
In urging action by the full commit
tee different from the recommenda-
tons OF the subcommittee and so IL
was that i submitted the matter of
my contest To their decision upon the
testimony reported to them.
The confidence and support OF my
friends In this contest fill my heart
with deepest gratitude.
IRA b. Jones'"
Position Of Manning.
Richard j. Manning. the author of
the resolution providing for the sub.
committee to investigate the charges
OF fraud In connection with the recent
primary election. yesterday made the
Following statement at the meeting of
the Staate Democratic executive COM
mittee:
AS was the mover OF the reso-
luton providing for the appointment
OF the subcommittee to- investigate
the charges of fraud i'm the primary
election OF August 27th. desire now
To say to this committee and through
a. ~. ha l.