The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-09-07
FRAUD II AIKEN.
EVIDENCE OF IRREGULARITY IN
AIKEN COUNTY.
Committee Passes Resolution Saying
That Result Could Not he Materially
Affected by Irregularities Found.

Cassells of Eiienton stood up and
for four hours today presented be-
fore the Democratic executive COM
mittee OF Aiken evidence that last
Tuesdays primary. so far as several
boxes are concerned. was attended by
fraud and corruption. With Blease
supporters overwhelmingly in ma
Jority ON the committee. with only
one outspoken supporter In his fight.
Mr.. Cassells, man whose word is
his bond. won the admiration OF
many who attended the session of the
committee. At 10 o'clock. when Chair
man Dave Wise called the meeting
TO order. there we're only Is NOM
bers present. II being necessary to
quorum. Nearly one hour later two
other members were rounded up and
the committee got down to work.
Aiken being one Of the counties In
which fraud was alleged. and one Of
the counties named In Judge Jones
more than three-fourths OF the com
mitteemen who acted upon the evil
'dence produced by Mr.. Casselis. like
the chairman. are Blease men. The
fact was partially attested at the
close OF the meeting when Leon j.
Williams. who fought with Mr.. Cas-
tempted to have resolution adopt
ed which. while not against the can
'didacy Of Gov. Blease. was not in
his favor. the resolution was voted
down by 10 to s. two of the COM
mitteemen not voting. The session
was conducted with little regard to
rules. One man. not a member Of
the committee. was permitted to take
prominent part. That was l.. NJ. C.
Oliver. who was appointed by Gov.
Hease TO fn an unexpired term as
80 Aihan county and who. run
7I|D71sosa tItks< ,ll the re-
scent sIScfion. was overwhelmingly de-
fested. But for the persistency Of
Mr.. Cassells in bringing forth his evi-
ssdence the session would not have last
ed haif an hour. There were also
many sharp personal clashes on the
ffoor between members and much dis
,order.
After Mr.. Cassells' evidence was
all In and II was shown by afidavits
and by personal witnesses that fraud
was practiced at half dozen boxes.
and more votes found registered
than there were names on the poll
lists. a resolution. introduced by Eu-
gene Buckingham of Ellcnton, a
Biease man. to the effect that I'VE
find no irregularities nor evidence OF
fraud that would materially affect the
result OF the election" was carried.
This resolution was offered as a sub
stitute to the one offered by Mr.. Will
iiams, which was Lost.
Mr.. Williams. who Is a nephew Of
Senator Tillman. had previously al
dressed the committee. urging that
tt 30 on record as asking the State
executive committee TO revise the pri-
mary rules. The present rules. he
said. were made SO years ago 70 meet
conditions then. They have outlived
their usefulness. At the close Of the
meeting he addressed the committee
again. begging that the committee
put themselves and their eonsciences
right. asking them why. as they knew
the election had not been clean and
fair. IL should not be respected. He
said he felt II the duty of the COM
mittee to ask that the State executive
committee rule II n nullity and re-
quire another election that the will OF
the people might be registered. He
then introduced the resolution on
which the fight OF the day was made.
n was I'm effect that an appeal be
made TO the State executive commit
tee for protection from fraud In 9th.
er counties and asking that body to
declare the election last Tuesday a
nuiiity unless the count In other
counties Is proved to be fair and hon
est
The effect OF this proposition was
like the stirring up OF hornets nest.
Immediately Eugene Buckingham
was on his feet and In an impassion-
ed appeal begged that no such reso~
luton be passed. He moved that 1t
be tabled. I, was tabled. His sub
stitute was adopted.
At the beginning OF the meeting
when Mr.. Cassells appeared with a
handful OF papers. Solicitor Robert
I. Gunter. attorney for Coy. Rleasa