Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-17
Miseetlaaeurs geaains.
COMMITTEE NOT READY.
Jones Members Make Reply to the
Blease Members.
Columbia State Sunday

Jones Members Make Reply to thu
Blease Members.
Columbia State, Sunday.
Two letters bearing on the contro'
versy over the course to be pursued
by the subcommittee of the state
Democratic executive committee ap.
pointed to consider charges Of fraud
in the recent primary were given tc
the press yesterday. One was sent tc
the State by w. F. Stevenson Of Che.
raw, chairman of the sub committee
who is now in Atlantic City, N. ]. The
other was written by Col. Thomas
Boutwell, Butler Of Gaffney and given
out in that city. Both were replies to
the recently published open letter OF
r. M. Jeffries, ]. D. Bivens and ]. M
Grier, In which these three members
Of the subcommittee took exception to
Mr.. Stevenson's course in apportioning
the work Of investigation and calling
off the meeting originally scheduled
for last Wednesday.
Mr.. Stevenson in his letter cites the
reasons for his action, pointing out
that the two subcommittee can has
ten the work by performing the duties
assigned to them. He also says that
the next meeting Of the committee
should be in the Piedmont, where the
charges of fraud have been most Wig
orous.
The next meeting, he said, would be
called when the material was In shape
for use, and would not be later than
September 25.
Mr.. Stevenson's letter follows:
Atlantic City, N. j., Sept 13.
"Messrs. R. M. Jeffries. ]. D. Bivens,
and ]. M. Grier.
Gentlemen: Replying to your COM
in Thursdays State. I Will
say:
81. That was unable to be at the
state committee meeting when I was
appointed chairman of the sub commit
tee and didn't decide to accept the re-
sponsibility Of the work until Satur-
day, the 7th, and had nothing to do
with the appointment to meet on We'd
nesday, the 11th.
"2. I assume entire responsibility In
calling off the meeting as I had only a
consultation with Messrs. Wilson and
Butler because they were convenient
and had to pass through Charlotte on
Monday on my way north on a trip.
The personal reasons for which need
not discuss here, but the obligations
for which were as binding on me as
that Of the committee work which was
placed on me unsought and after I had
an engagement to come north at this
time.
"S. I decline to meet with you next
Monday in Columbia for the following
reasons:
"a. Because we have no witnesses
to swear at that time, no charges Of a
tangible nature to be proceeded with.
and no data either to prove or disprove
the charges, II tangible. -.
"b. Because we will make haste II
you will attend to the duty imposed on
you in your respective divisions, then
getting the record in proper shape and
getting the charges so arrayed that we
can tell at q glance what Is substance
and what is a mere technical question
and thus enable us to go right at the
points and get them down
quickly.
&C. Because, as you indicate in your
Columbia is not the
place where the committee Is most
likely to be needed. The Piedmont
seems to be the principal place where
there are substantial charges and 1t Is
a waste of time and money to mention
Columbia when the work Is mostly to
be done in the Piedmont and as soon as
the information called for Is in shape l
expect to call a meeting Of the commit
tee at Spartanburg or Greenville to go
Immediately at the point Of the real
moment as developed by the informa-
ton gotten and quickly determine the
state of affairs. This meeting will not
be later than the 25th and will be as
soon as the matter can be gotten into
orderly condition.
Now permit me to say that I know
no Blease or Jones men in this matter.
have determined to conduct this in
vestigation in an orderly and thorough
manner-and call on you to push the
work assigned you in order that we may
hasten the same and not delay 1t by rid
ing back and forth to Columbia to
meetings when there Is no witness
ready to be sworn, no records to verify
and when time demands that all mat
ters be located and all immaterial mat
ters be eliminated before we begin the
expensive and tedious work Of taking
testimony. OF course If majority OF
the committee request me to call a
meeting before we have the documents
in hand / will take pleasure l doing
so, but it will be a waste of time and
money and, as you say, time is precious
now.
referring to the position that the
whole committee is to investigate will
say that when it comes to details. II
the whole committee must attend to
each club roll and poll list and to get
ting the names of witnesses or getting
the charge in each county arranged for
active taking of evidence it will be
January, 1918, before anything will be
done. When taking Of evidence begins
with all data gathered by the two sub
committees before us the whole COM
mittee will necessarily decide what
charges are 80 substantial as to render
investigation necessary and the whole
committee should hear and pass on the
evidence in support Of the same. Mat
ters of detail in arranging the charges
and the documents must necessarily be
distributed. l reply to your communl-
cation in the same way it Is received
to-wit: through the Columbia State,
and render no discourtesy by doing So
Most truly,
"W. F. Stevenson,
Chairman"
Butler Backs Stevenson.
Gaffney, Sept. 14.-In reply to a let