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

tlOn.
1T was fully recognized that such
investigation would entail consider
able expense Of the persons undertake
ing it, and, in undertaking it, the
chairman Of the state committee ap-
pealed to the public for funds
In the appeal he said: we must
! have funds with which to defray the
expenses Of our committee and en-
ploy such assistance as may be nee
essary 10 secure the evidence. Will
South Carolinians allow this inves-
| tigation to fail for lack Of a few dol
lars: In response to this appeal,
| some $1,500, we understand, has been
| contributed to the committee to en-
able it to make this investigation.
You clearly outlined the work of
the investigating committee in your
letter of September to the Demo-
| Gratis Of this state and indicated that
the investigation would be made by
your committee with such means and
information as might be placed at its
| disposal, and we were assured by 9TH
er members Of the state committee
that 1t would make a non-partisan in
| vestigation into the facts, which pre-
| vented an appeal by the friends of
Judge Jones tor means to make the
| investigation independently, and Sc
cure the testimony or evidence which
| the committee itself was to inquire
into. The committee, through the
party machinery and its control over
| the club lists and poll rolls, was in
| better position than any candidate
to make this investigation and ascer-
tain the facts. The ascertainment Of
the true state Of facts is of greater
importance to the Democracy and the
public than to any candidate.
tlof i,, 90
assume the expense incident to max
ing the necessary investigation to
| ascertain the truth Of the rumors and
| charges of fraud and illegal voting;
| nor did it become a candidate to ap-
peal to his friends to furnish him with
| the means to make such an investiga-
ton, when the party authorities were
calling upon these same people to
| give the committee the funds to make
| the necessary investigation in a fair
and non- -partizan manner. For those
| reasons the attorneys for the Hon.
Ira B. Jones are not in possession Of
the Information necessary to enable
them to make tangible specifications
| of the frauds and illegal voting at the
several clubs, or even in particular
counties sufficient to show that they
would change the apparent result Of
the election, though from the infor-
| nation which they possess they be-
| lieve that an investigation made by
your committee on the lines indicated
in your letter Of September would
| develop, and show, that the frauds
and irregularities specified in the pro-
test filed on behalf Of Hon. Ira B.
Jones were committed and practiced
| more or less in every county Of the
state to such an extent as would
change the apparent result Of the pri-
mary. and would show that the Hon.
Cole L. Blease did not actually re-
ceive a majority Of the legal votes
cast in the primary election for
nominee for the office Of governor.
But we are unable, in advance Of
such an investigation, to specify or
produce proof as to the commission
of such frauds and illegal practices to
an extent which would alter the ap-
parent result of the election.
1.-The protest and notice Of contest
were filed in good faith to afford the
authorities Of the state Democratic
party an opportunity to investigate,
and ascertain whether or not the
widespread charges Of fraud and IL
legal practices were true and to pro-
tect and preserve the purity Of the
| ballot box.
"The contestant is not interested in
selfish attempt to be declared the
nominee Of the party. But believing
that he has received a majority Of the
legal votes cast in the election, he
earnestly asks an investigation into
the facts by your committee, regard
less Of whether 1t be to the advantage
or not of any candidate. He has re-
tained and employed counsel to as
sist you in your investigation, to help
in digesting the evidence discovered
81 lAe tn
arguments as may be based upon the
evidence; but he has not the means
to defray the expense Of making such
an investigation and hunting up and
producing affidavits and attendance of
witnesses. It can be made at less ex-
pense by your committee, using the
party machinery, than by any one
else, and If your committee Is unable
or unwilling to make such investiga-
ton, the contestant can only share
with many others in regret at the sit
uation and abide your action In the
premises. Respectfully,
Robert w. Shand,
Frank G. Tompkins
"W. H. Townsend,
Attorneys for Ira B. Jones.
Copy to Hon. Jno. Gary Evans,
Spartanburg."
Supplementary Report.
The following is the supplementary
report of r. M. Jeffries, member Of
the investigating committee:
"I concur in most Of the findings
and suggestions contained in the
above report, but l feel constrained
to say that from the character Of
the information which has come to
the committee, in my judgment any
further investigation would not pro-
duce any proof Of fraud, illegal vot-
ing or Irregularities at the primary
election Of August o. but would
rather minimize what testimony or
evidence now in possession Of the
committee.
1T should be stated that this COM
mittee has affidavits which entirely
clear up the majority of apparent re-
peaters. The deduction Of these re-
peaters from the total number Of
questioned votes would reduce the
number of questioned votes about
1000. In few instances has the COM
mittee secured positive proof Of
fraudulent voting, and the majority
Of questioned votes appears to be
more irregular than fraudulent
I'm my opinion, and as evidenced
by the testimony before us, Gov.
Blease has been duly and fairly NOM
mated as the Democratic nominee for
governor and should be so declared.
"R. M. Jeffries."