The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-10-02
Their WORK begun
The COMMITTEE HEARS RE.
PORTS ON PRIMARY
noisy CROWD PRESENT

Many Irregularities in Some Of Coun-
Ges-Ron Called for Reports From
Chairman.-Rules for Probe Of
Charges Adopted. Meeting Dis
turbed by Crowd in Court Room.
The Spartanburg correspondent OF
The State says although not quite
sensational, the two opening sessions
Of the Investigation Of the sub-com-
mittee CT the State Democratic e1ecu-
tive committee to conduct an inquiry
into charges Of fraud in the primary
election of August 81 there Tuesday
proved far from quiet. The noise OF
the two sessions was furnished by the
crowd that practically filed the court
house in the early afternoon and at
the later session packed the place
considerably beyond its seating ca
pacity. The majority Of the "fuss"
| came from the spectators. In more
dlsnifed manner continual objections
from attorneys for the governor kept
tho proceedings from being monot-
| oncus.
Despite the constant Interruptions
Of practically all the first session and
over half the second the committee
made good start in tho investisa-
ticn it set out to make. The sub
committee was organized; plan Of
| procedure was reached and put in e1-
ecution; reports were received and
admitted from J. B. Parks division
OF the State, including the counties
from which he has received infor-
nation; the routine work of the COM
| n:ittee was disposed Of and when the
committee met wednesday morning
| Al 10 o'clock W. B. Wilson Jr., will
make his report Of the counties in
vestigated in his division.
! Explains Their Side.
At the opening of the first meet
ing. called to order in the court house
at p. NJ, attorneys for the governor,
chiefly through F. H. Dominick, ex-
planned at some length to the COM
Im!ttee the position taken by them. At
the afternoon session S. j. Nichols
had much to say. At one time in the
first session cheers and yells Of ap-
plause for j. N. Greer by the spec
tators consumed considerable time
and at the aftersoon session the
crowd cheered Justify in appreciation
OF remarks by Mr.. Greer and R. u.
Jef7ries. In the crowd that filled the
court room were many supporters OF
the governor and some of the Blease
Headers Of the Piedmont as well as
Spartanburg county. Visitors from
several nearby counties were ineyi-
dence, including Cherokee, Union
ard Greenville.
The most exciting incident Of the
dsy came shortly after the commit
tee met at $3.50 o'clock after the din
ner recess. Just after the commit
tee had indorsed the action Of W. F.
Stevenson, chairman, in mapping out
the work Of the committee from
Charlotte, J. M. Greer demanded in a
loud tone "your" authority for meet
il.g members Of the committee IN
Charlotte. This created demon
stration that deepened in a moment
into an uproar. Cries Of "Give it to
'em, Greer" and "Go to Charlotte -
came from various parts of the hall
and men in all parts Of the hall rose
in their seats and pushed toward the
inclosure around the judges stand
where the chairman sat with the
members Of the committee grouped
just outside the railing.
Demands Order.
| Mr.. Stevenson announced that un-
less there was order the committee
would adjourn to 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 crowc
that If any man is declared the noni-
n"s for governor it will be on the re-
pert Of this committee and II the
committee could not proceed in the
court room the work would be con-
tinued elsewhere.
In the midst Of the uproar J. T.
Duncan, appearing as a contestant,
spoke at some length, and the yells
ot the crowd turned to cheers for
Duncan.
| I'VE are glad to have an audience,
but I will ask that members Of the
audience will not participate in the
procedure Of the committee and will
ref1 ain from voting on motions" "
cautioned Mr.. Stevenson after order
was restored.
Not long after the demonstration
the roll Of counties was called, and
with the reading Of more or less
lengthy reports from subcommittee
in the various counties the ardor Of
tie crowd waned and large ma
tority Of the 900 persons left the
court room.
| Chairman Sustained.
Just after the convening Of the
committee for the second session on
motion Of Mr.. Park, the work Of the
chairman in apportfoning the work
Of the subcommittee was approved
and confirmed.
Convening at 1 o'clock, the COM
nittee, with every member present
| aEo attorneys on nand rep ,senting
both Judge Jones and the rnor,
| began the work. r. NJ. III and
T. 5. Butler were nominated tor sec
retary, but Col. Butler declined the
honor and Mr.. Jeffries was elected
by acclamation.
Mr.. Stevenson in a statement e1-
planned the position of the sub-eom-
rnittee He reviewed the three sources
of evidence Conformation in the
hands of the contestants and the con-
testees; reports from people through
out the State who had information
which this committee would not be
able to get unless furnished by the
people who had the information, Gas
il is not gifted with the art of mind
| reading and conld not nOSSiblv In