The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-09-17
STEVENSON And BUTLER
GIVE OUT STATEMENT
STEVENSON EXPLAINS COURSE IN
PLANNING PROBE.
REPLIES to Three Members-AnsWers
Bivens, Greer and Jeffries, Of
Subcommittee

Two letters bearing on the contro-
yersv over the course to be pursued
by the subcommittee of the State
Democratic executive committee ap-
nointed to consider charges of fraud
in the recent primary were given to
the press Saturday. One was sent to
the State by w. F. Stevenson, of Cher.
aw. chairman of the subcommittee,
who is now in Atlantic City, n. j.
The other was written by Col. Thom-
as Boutwell, Butler, of Gaffney, and
given out in that city. Both were re-
niles to the recently published open
letter of R. NJ. Jefffies, ]. D. Bivens
and J. NJ. Grier, in which these three
members of the subcommittee took
execution to Mr.. Stevenson's course in
apportioning the work of investigation
and calling off the meeting originally
scheduled for. last Wednesday.
Mr.. Stevenson's letter follows:
atlantic City, n. j., Sept. 15
s.Messrs. R. NJ. Jeffries, ]. D. Bivens
and J. NJ. Grier.
Gentlemen: Replying to your COM
munication in Thursdays State, l
will say:
"1. That I was unable to be at the
State committee meeting when | was
aupointed chairman of the subcon-
mittee and didn't decide to accept the
responsibility of the work until Sat-
urday, the 7th, and had nothing to do
with the appointment to meet on
Wednesday, the 18th.
q. T assume entire responsibility
in calling off the meeting as I had
only a consultation with Messrs. Will
son and Butler because they were
convenient and I had to pass through
Charlotte on Monday on my way
North on trip. The personal rea-
sons 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 l had an en-
gagement to come North at this time.
's3. 1 decline to meet with you next
Monday in Columbia for the follow
ing reasons: 81
ga. 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, if tangible.
seb. Because. we will make haste if
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 ar
rayed that we can tell at a glance
what is a substance and what is a
mere technical question and thus en-
able US to go right at the substantial
points and get them down quickly.
&c. Because, as you indicate in your
communication, 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 it 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. CAN a meeting OF
.the committee at Spartanburg or
.Greenvile to go Immediately at the
point of real moment as developed by
the information gotten and quickly
determine the state of affairs. This
meeting will not be later than the
25th and will be as soon as the mat
ter can be gotten into orderly condi-
.tion.
~Now permit me to say that 1 know
no Blease or Jones men IN this mat
ter. l have determined to conduct this
investigation in an orderly and thor
.ough manner-and call on you to
nush the work assigned you in order
that we may hasten the same and not
delay it by riding back and forth to
Columbia to meetings when there is
no witness ready to be sworn, no rec
ords to verify and when time de-
mands that all matters be located and
all immaterial matters be eliminated
!before we begin, the expensive and
tedious work of taking testimony. OF
eeourse if majority of the committee
3reuuest me to call a meeting before
have the documents in hand