The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-09-28


members OF the committee grouped
just outside the railing.
Nr. stevenson announced that un-
less there was order the committee
would adjourn to q room where the
audience would be So small it would
have to be orderly. Mr.. Greer shout
ed You can't do it," The cry was
taken up by many in the crowd. S.
j. Nichols made an appeal for order.
Mr.. Stevenson reminded the crowd
that If any man is declared the nomi-
nee for governor it will be on the re-
mlitee could not proceed in the court
room the work would be continued
elsewhere.
In the midst of the uproar j. II.
duncan, appearing as contestant.
spoke at some length. and the yells
Of the crowd turned to cheers for
Duncan.
I'VE are glad to have an audience,
but l will ask that members of the
audience will not participate in the
procedure OF the committee and will
refrain from voting on motions" eau
toned Mr.. stevenson after order was
restored.
Not long after the demonstration
of Il
with the reading of more OF less
lengthy reports from subcommittee
in the various counties the ardor of
the crowd waned and large ma
jority Of the 600 persons left the court
room.
Just after the convening of the
committee for the second session on
motion of Mr.. Park. the work Of the
chairman in apportioning the work of
:he subcommittee was approved and
'onfrmed"
Converting at / o'clock, the COM
mittee. with every member present
and attorneys on hand representing
both Judge Jones and the governor
began the work. II. NJ. Jeffries and
I. Il. Butler were nominated for sec
retary. but Col. Butler declined the
honor and Mr.. Jeffries was elected
by acclamation.
Mr.. Stevenson in a statement ex-
planned the position Of the subcom-
mittee. He reviewed the three sources
of evidence-informatlon In the hands
of the contestants and the cortestees;
reports from people throughout the
State who had information which
this committee would not be able to
get unless furnished by the people
who had the information, "as 1t is
not gifted with the art of mind read
Ing and could not possibly interview
10000 voters" and last the records
to which the committee has access.
To get the evidence from the pub
lie. therefore. notice and time was
required TO be given TO the public
and TO get the records required time.
some criticism has grown out Of
the postponement. which, i think. was
made without considering the stua-
ton as IL existed" said Mr.. Steven
son. "As the report which this COM
mittee makes must be used in JUS
tification and must show an endeavor
10 get the evidence from reliable
sources who were desirous OF fur
nishing 1t, and If II then reported
that everything was all right then
the public would nor have the right
thereafter u rise and condemn us for
not getting information which II it.
self failed to furnish upon invitation
and sufficient time given. That il the
reason for the orga nizatlon of the
work as it was done, and for the
poStponcment of this meeting until
that organization could have the on
portuuity To do this work.
criticism of the probable outcome
oi ;hc Investigation has been made
s. our distinguished senator" said
NJ stevenson, whose advice VIII
always bc duly considered hy me ana
whose wisdom ] vii always respect
whether follow his advice. or not.
because ; differed politically from
the governor, l am not rcsponsble