Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-10-04


strictions should be placed about the
primary. He urged the committee to
memorialize the legislature to pass
such a law as would safeguard the
primary. 1.-The primary election should
be conducted under the same law reg
ulating the state election" said Mr..
Park He said that it was absurd for
voters to participate in a nomination
and not in an election. The PROPOSE
ton Of Mr.. Park will be submitted to
the special committee on the revision
of the constitution.
John G. Richards, Jr., thought that
it would be unwise to adopt the Park
resolution because he thought the mat
ter should be threshed out in the state
convention. He thought the measure
drastic and unwise.
Statement by Jones.
Judge Ira B. Jones yesterday issued
the following statement:
To the people of South Carolina:
1.-The state executive committee of
the Democratic party has declared
Governor Blease to be the nominee Of
the party for the Office of governor,
and l do not question the correctness
of their conclusion from the evidence
that they had before them. / am
also persuaded that the sub-commit-
tee charged with the duty Of investi-
eating the conduct of the election did
all that was possible for them to do
in the time that could be given to
their task.
II think it proper now to return
my thanks to all those who supported
me by votes, voice or influence, and
who joined me in a contest which we
believed was for the best interests Of
South Carolina. To all such l wish to
say that in the light Of the suspicion
of fraud and illegality which were so
freely expressed, felt 1t to be my duty
to them as we'll as to myself to con-
test the election and to this end en-
ployed counsel. To conduct such in
quiries and procure such testimony as
would prove these suspicious well
founded would have required a II
sum Of money for the necessary ex-
penses of such an investigation in
many counties-a sum much beyond
my ability to furnish. I made no re-
quest for money from those who were
interested in the success Of the cause
which I represented. as a call for
funds had been made by the state ex-
ecutive committee for an impartial IN.
vestigation by the subcommittee of
their own body. Upon the result Of
this committees action. I was forced
to rely.
Their report, based upon full in
vestigation in a few counties, partial
report from several, and no report at
all from several others, with no fur
ther testimony furnished to me did
not justify me in law or In morals in
urging action by the full committee
different from the recommendation Of
the subcommittee and so it was that
submitted the matter OF my contest
to their decision upon the testimony re-
ported to them.
"The confidence and support of my
friends in this contest fill my heart
with deepest gratitude.
Position of Manning.
Richard 1. Manning, the author of
the resolution providing for the sub
committee to investigate the charges
Of fraud in connection with the recent
primary election, yesterday made the
following statement at the meeting Of
the state Democratic executive COM
mittee:
LAS I was the mover Of the resolu-
ton providing for the appointment Of
the subcommittee to investigate the
charges of fraud in the primary elec-
ton of August 9th, desire now to
say to this committee and through
them to the people of the state that the
sub committee appointed to prosecute
the inquiry has been at work, that 1t
had the assistance Of attorneys and
citizens interested in exposing fraudu-
lent voting in that election. That the
sub committee has made its report;
that report shows that illegal and ir-
regular voting was practiced; that
great looseness prevailed in the con-
duct of that election and that the rules
Of the party, lax as they are, were not
adhered to; that abuses and violations
of the rules and failure to observe them
were numerous, yet that report does
not prove enough to upset the election;
that the returns on their face show that
one of the candidates for governor re-
ceived a majority of the votes; in or
der to upset that showing, 1t would be
necessary to prove beyond any reason
able doubt that fraud was practiced to
such an extent as to vitiate the elec-
tion and to change the result.
I'm my opinion, that has not been
proved, and 1t is therefore proper for
us to proceed to tabulate the returns
and to declare the result. If we do this
nees of the Democratic party, we will
then be ready to go into the general
election with the united support of the
Democrats of the state under their
party obligation to support the nomi-
nee of the party and Democrats who
took the oath and voted in the primary
election can fulfill that party obligation
and the party remains united.
81 ask that this action be taken by
this committed This result am frank
in saying, is not in accord with my per-
sonal wishes, for l supported Judge
Jones for governor and desired his
election, but am and have been ready
at all times to do my full duty as a
member of the committee, representing
all the Democrats of this state and
now purpose to discharge my duty by
moving that we proceed to tabulate
the returns and declare the results"
Official Tabulation.
The following is the official vote as
canvassed by the committee:
Governor.
BleaSe ....... ...... ....... iS'VfS
Duncan ...... ......." 80. E,Ioo
Jones .......'' oo,ofc
lOldl . 'N'' "
Lieutenant Governor.
Chas. A. Smith .139,94(
Secretary Of State.
r. NJ. McCown ....... 5000" 14O,6St
Comptroller General.
a. w. Jones ......... ..l39,4i
State Treasurer.
s. T. Carter ......... ...... $3.50!
d. w. McLaurin ......... -. 49,SOS
Total l... 1880
Adjutant General.
Superintendent of Education.
j. f. Swearingen ..... .139,S2'
Attorney General.
]. r. Earle ......... ....... 1916"
B. B. Evans =. :. :. lZ,l9;
j. f. Lyon ...... ......... of,ol