The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-09-27
(Spartanburg Herald)


eection of August 81 last, in which
Gov. Cole l.. Blease was nominated
Tor reelection on the face of the re-
turns by a majority of 5000 out of
I4o,O0O votes cast, the sub-commit-
tee of the state democratic executive
committee received numerous affida-
Wits and reports from county COM
mttees In which it was represented
That hundreds of fraudulent vots were
cast In the populous Piedmont coun-
ties and irregularities were frequent
all over the state. Many specifc
instances were cited in which non-res-
ldents, men not enrolled, negroes and
minors were allowed to vote, while
repeating was said to be common.
Several cases were found, it was de-
clared, in which one man voted as
many as five times.
Riot Threatened.
| Inc meeting of the subcommittee
| was interrupted several times >.by "a.
noisy throng of supporters of Govern
or Blease, who at one timo threats
ened to create a riot when ss j.
Greer, pro-Blease membets },e
subcommittee, denounced ti rec
blease majority for having n :
meeting at Charlotte, N. sCs II tN6 id1sl
they outlined the committee NSlaSSs< ~
procedure. Inflamed by M
angry words 100 or mora s,ASS q SSf
their seats with yells and StlSS r
menacingly towards w. E.S
chairman, when he called
to order. ,;1ys.,:y, . Il
,y,ss samuel asn ssIastngs, an q q
To preserve order anu-~ossI fhe AK
Fred H. Dominick, NE gztst .E thfs1h'Jj
campaign manager. They finally, in
duced the crowd to permit the investi-
cation to continue.
Sharp Partisan Division.
In opening the session Chairman
Stevenson expressed the hope that
there would be no cleavage in the
committee along the lines of Blease
and Jones, the rival candidates for
governor. Other members of the
committee spoke similarly. Never
theless, there was sharp division be-
tween the Blease and Jones members
on almost every question which arose,
and almost constant wrangling.
Governor Blease's attorneys took
the position that the committee
ought to admit only such evidence of
fraud as was presented by Judge Ira
B. Jones, the contesting candidate
for governor, but Chairman Steven
son ruled that the committee would
admit evidence from any source. He
promised however, that every op-
portunity would be given for the
refutation of the charges.
Roll Call of Counties.
1t was late in the afternoon when
the roll call of counties was begun
and the inquiry made as to whether
fraud had been discovered in them.
Spartanburg, Greenville, Aiken and
Anderson counties presented the
most serious allegations of fraud.
The Investigators in the first two
counties asked an extension of time
to permit them to inquire into the
identity of many voters of the same
name, who are suspected of having
been repeaters.
In Abbeville county it was reported
the required oath was not admins
Y. tered to the voters in Cold Spring and
Antreville and these boxes were &C.
cordingly thrown out
The investigation will be renewed
: this morning. Most of the countie.
yet remain to be heard from.
h. All Members Present.
When the subcommittee met at
- o'clock the court room was filled
with people, some of whom wer,
from other counties. All the mem
bers of the committee were present
w. F. Stevenson, chairman; w. B
. Wilson, Jr., j. B. Park, T. B. Butler
J. M. Greer, r. M. Jeffries and ]. .
Bivens. The first four are anti Bleas
and the other three pro-Blease. Il
:. calling the meeting to order Mr.. Ste
l. venson briefly stated his position.
Mr.. Stevenson said:
- "As chairman of the committee,
10 desire to make brief statement tina
our position may be properly under
't stood.
"Our whole state was challenge
]. by the contestants, rendering it nee
essary for this committee, by som
Q, state. Numerous charges ere mad
from various sections of the stat,