Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-10
TO PROBE THE PRIMARY.
Subcommittee Meets in Charlotte and
Promuaates Plans.

Sromulgates PlanS.
Charlotte Observer, September 10.
Mr. w. F. Stevenson Of Cheraw,
chairman Of the special committee Of
seven appointed by the state Demo-
cratic executive committee of South
Carolina to investigate the recent pri-
mary election for governor, held Au-
gust q and to report back to that
body whether or not the charges of
fraud and other Irregularities are
based upon fact, spent yesterday in
Charlotte In conference with Messrs.
w. B. Wilson, Jr., Of Rock Hill and
T. B. Butler Of Gaffney, two other
members Of the committee. This con-
terence was not in any sense formal
meeting Of the committee as q whole
but was arranged for the purpose Of
apportioning the work of investiga-
tion and mapping out plan Of cam
paign In order that thorough can
vas Of the situation might be made.
AS result Of the meeting, Chairman
Stevenson prepared letter addressed
to 'The Democrats Of South Carolina"
In which he sets forth the purpose of
the investigation, outlines the mode Of
procedure to follow and then calls up
on all the good people Of the state to
aid In the undertaking, which he de-
clares cannot be successfully accom-
plished without the cooperative efforts
Of the public at large and Of the news
papers. He makes 1t very plain that
the primary system must be saved and
that the investigation must be prose-
cuted to the end regardless of whom
1t may hurt.
Club Rolls to be Published.
Each county chairman is asked to
prepare a list Of members Of the club
rolls In his community and these are to
be arranged alphabetically and pub
lished In the home papers and copies
are to be forwarded to the division
chairman Of the investigation for in
spection. All good people are asked
to scan these lists to see that there
are no duplicates and that those vot-
ing are properly entitled to do 80. The
state Is divided into two districts, with
the Southern railway from Charlotte
via Columbia to Charleston the divid-
ing line. A special subcommittee,
composed Of w. B. Wilson, chairman;
j. d. Bivens and r. M. Jefferies are
appointed to secure the club rolls and
poll lists and investigate all evidences
Of crookedness east of this dividing
line and including the counties
through which the line passes, and
Messrs. ]. B. Parks, chairman; T. B.
Butler and ]. M. Greer are appointed
members OF similar committee to
take charge Of the rest Of the state.
The meeting of Wednesday, Septem-
ber IL, Is called off,
The Letter.
Chairman Stevenson's letter in full
follows:
To the Democrats of South Carolina:
Gentlemen:-I have been designat-
ed as chairman Of the committee to
investigate the primary election held
| August q, last for governor and ow-
ing to absence from the state recover
ing my health, was delayed in as
sunring direction Of the work.
now call on all good citizens to
aid in the work as 1t is manifest that
In the time available and the great
extent of the work seven men can do
little, IL not aided. We ask your aid.
First, IN reporting Instances of
wrongdoings, make the report in the
form Of affidavit II possible, giving
| names Of witnesses and where found.
Send this information to the chairman
| Of the committee having charge Of
your division Of the state, as shown
| below.
Second. Aid In getting copies of the
poll list arranged alphabetically, and
copies of the club roll of the respec-
| tive counties arranged alphabetically,
and the poll list, together with the re-
turns required, to be filed with the
clerk Of the court such as are either
In his hands or In the hands of the
county chairman. At the end of the
poll list Of each precinct the vote re-
ported by the managers for governor
sho' Id be stated.
/ nave asked the newspapers to copy
and publish these poll lists, and have
called on the respective county chair
men to cooperate in aiding these and
employ at least two men in each coun-
ty, to copy the poll list at once, max
ing carbon copies Of the same and let
the newspapers have copies of the poll
lists for publication and send the 9th"
er copies to the respective chairmen
having that section in charge and send
proval and payment. When the work
demands, employ as many more men
as may be necessary. Copy and send
in also to the same chairman all club
rolls and send the bill also to me.
Where no club roll existed or where
| ii has not been turned in for any pre-
| cinct, state the fact at the bottom of
the poll list for that precinct and get
possession Of the roll, II special mes
senger has to be sent after II at the
committees expense. We want every
club roll in the state sent in to the
county executive committee on Thurs
day next, with the county returns.
This must be done before we can pro-
ceed properly.
Must Cut Out Cancer.
Third. When the poll lists are pub
lished then let all citizens scan the list
Of alleged voters, and see IL the names
Of any appear twice or IL any appear
who are not residents Of that precinct
or any who are not Democrats II
| they find such, let 1t be reported to the
chairman named below. Let me say
| too, that 1t makes no difference wheth-
er the irregular or illegal votes favor
Jones or Blease, we prefer to cut out
the cancer IL one is found, no matter
whom 1t hurts. We must save the
primary regardless Of the advantage
Of either candidate.
Fourth. To the newspapers we ap-
peal. We ask you everyone to pub
lish this week the poll list OF August
/ 81, in your respective papers and thus
spread before the eyes of every intelli-
gent citizen of each county the names
of those voting August q, and send
copies Of the paper containing same to
John Gary Evans, state chairman,
Spartanburg, s. c., and to each men,
ber Of the committee and to-wit, w: F.
Stevenson, Cheraw, s. c., T. B. Butler,
wood, s. c.; w. B. Wilson, Jr.. Rock
Hill, s. c.; ]. D. Bivens, st. George,
s. c.; ]. M. Greer. Union, s. c.; r. M.
Jeffries, Richland, S. C. We have pro-
vided for having them copied, as seen
above. The only possible way to get
at the truth Is to turn on the white
light of absolute publicity, and for all
good citizens to cooperate in doing it
and wrong doing will be detected II
any were done.
Papers Must Help.
Fifth. We ask every newspaper in
the state to publish this letter this
thok he ho nl