Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-20

| Whfle IL ought not 70 De necessary
/ to explain our claim to regularity and
what the same is based upon, yet for
the benefit Of those, (if there be any)
so dull as not to understand the situ-
alton, we will simply say: =.
The rules require that right after
election the executive committee meet
and tabulate the returns as sent in by
the various county committees, and de-
clare the result. II 1t be necessary to
order a second election for any or all
Of the state and Federal offices. then
1t Is their duty to do so at once, fol-
lowing the constitutional requirement
to order that the second election be
held on the day fixed by organic law.
viz, the second Tuesday following the
first election.
Having stubbornly, and unneces-
sarily refused to carry out the consti-
tutional requirements, this committee
has. by arrogant usurpation Of the pre-
negatives Of the organic body or May
convention. which alone has the pow
er to alter or repeal Its acts, placed It
self In rebellion against the state De-
mocracy, thereby rendering all its ac-
tions that conflict with the provisions
null and void, and Of no force what
ever.
They should have done. az usual,
and as required, first tabulated the re-
turns, then declared the result as
shown on the face Of the returns, then
investigate all charges of fraud that
were specified and duly sworn to. and
prosecute offenders.
They, for the benefit, ostensibly, Of
Ira B. Jones, deliberately refused to do
their duty as required and have al
lowed the specified time to pass with
out ordering q second election. and
now by constitutional limitation, 1t is
not in their power to do 30. Therefore.
as the returns are known to show that
Cole L Blease received good major
ity Of the votes cast, any reasonable
man of whatever factional affiliation.
will readily agree, (and most Jones
nee, and that all who voted In the late
primary are morally and legally bound
to support him as such, In the general
election, In accordance with the oath
taken at the primary.
That is our position, and had the re-
turns shown that Ira B. Jones had a
majority, however much we might
have regretted It, yet we were prepar-
ed to accept 1t without quibble. and
bow, as usual. to the expressed will Of
the people. as shown by the vote. For
the peace and goodwill. and prosperi-
ty OF our country we would ask the
Jones faction do likewise.
It is also pointed out, by some. Of
the best lawyers in the state, that IL
the committee can legally declare the
election for governor illegal. because
Of the fact that fraudulent votes were
cast, then the decision would also In
validate the entire election, both for
Federal, state, and county Offices, and
throw the whole business into the gen.
eral election for settlement. for It Is
recognized fact that they as the
creatures Of the Democratic organiza-
ton, have not the power to order an
other primary after allowing the con-
stitutionally limited time to expire, In
which same should be held.
Another point to be considered In
this settlement Of family affairs, as 1t
were, is this: The constitution Of
South Carolina imposes upon the gov
ernor the duty of appointing the coun-
ty treasurers. auditors. masters in
equity, judges of probate. and magis-
trates. Release him from the primary
obligations to respect the nomination.
and he can, and we should think
would, appoint to those offices whom
he pleases. That would afford an ideal
opportunity to put into more extensive
operation the famous declaration: II
stand by my friends" OF course, this
is all speculation, but some men have
been highly elevated by speculation,
while others have been ruined, and
still others have been glad TO come
out even; so for fear Of making a mess
of things we will allow the readers to
draw conclusions, for as this Is writ
ten by "sinbad," it naturally smacks
of the Arabian Nights" and speak
ing of the Arabian Nights reminds
us that Senator Tillman's open letter
to John Gary Evans gave US the i'm
kt,ak he haI
those fables lately, for "Sinbad the
Sailor" figured rather prominently In
those tales, you know.
Well, Senator Tillman's choice Of
literature does not interest the public,
but probably the vulnerability Of our
suffrage laws will. Our position on
same has been attacked by certain pa
pers and writer's. They are wrong and
misunderstood Our contention. We
realize that the letter Of our suffrage
laws do not conflict with United States
laws, but the spirit and application Of
the law is In fact, and so intended and
enforced, In direct conflict with the
14th and 18th amendments to the Con-
stitution Of the United States, and
whenever white men split and appeal
to that tribunal It will be 30 decided,
thereby letting down the bars for the
negro and destroying forever white su-
premacy in the south.
II the reader misunderstands our
motive in thus issuing warning to
our people. ere they take the fatal step
Of folly, we cannot help It. We have
tried to make ourself plain and have
spoken, as we think. to the point. Our
motive is a patriotic one and 1t is our
desire to preserve white unity in South
Carolina, and those who would do
otherwise we admonish that "he thlt
soweth the dragons teeth shall reap
harvest Of Woe"
P. S.-We have not interviewed the
gentlemen whose names are here given
in this suggested ticket for the general
election, and we do not know whether,
in the case Of emergency for such ac-
ton, they would be willing to accept
the nomination or not. We give 1t for
what 1t is worth and let each and ev-