The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-09-04

4 thdt Speclal committee be appointed
to investigate the charge. He said
that the governor had charged in "a
public speech that he had not sent a
sufficient number Of tickets to Pick
ems and Lee counties Mr.. Benet show
ed that he had sent out 522, 1000 tick
cts to the various counties. After
some discussion w. T. Crews of
Laurens, II. l. Manning Of Sumter.
and j. a. Willis of Barnwell were
appointed as members of a commit
tee to investigate the charges by the
governor. The committee will make
report at the next meeting Of the
committee on Wednesday.
AT the afternoon session of the
committee, r. b. Caldwell of Chester
reported that the special committee
named during the morning to assist
in canvassing the returns was not
ready to report as all of the counties
had not made reports.
Chairman Evans read several tele-
grams intimating fraud in connection
with the election in several counties.
Two of the kilograms charged fraud
in Anderson and Aiken counties. The
official protest for Anderson county
was lodged with the committee.
Among the kilograms read was one
from Senator Tilman in which he
asked the committee to be very sure
to investigate it and save the primary
before acting but il there was fraud
to investigate 1t and save the primary
law from destruction.
Several members of the committee
objected to the resolution as first in
troduced by Mr.. Stevenson on the
ground that fraud had not been
charged in all of the counties. J.B.
Park Of Greenwood took the position
that 1t was the duty Of the committee
to canvass all the returns. He thought
that the committee should be In
position TO say whether the election
was clean or unclean, fair or unfair.
I'VE must be able to say to the
world" said Mr.. Park, 1--WE have
held clean and fair election or we
have held an unfair election. If the
election has been fair we must be able
to repudiate the charges. think that
the resolution should apply to every
county. We must investigate"
The resolution was finally amended
so as to apply only to counties where
fraud has been alleged. ]. NJ Greer
of Union said that he was a Blease
supporter but ne wanted square deal
for both candidates. He was satis-
fled that there was no fraud in Union
county.
In reply Mr. Stevenson stated his
position clearly Ar. Stevenson SAID
that il was the duty OF the committee
20 throw out all illegal votes, no nut
ter who they were in Iavor OF. lie
said that the primary must be saved
and cleansed at any cost.
e. S. Blease Of Newberry took the
floor before the committee and out
lined the position Of the governor
with reference to the investigation. He
said that his brother. the governor,
was a member of the committee from
Newberry but did not think it proper
TO appear in person. He said that he
ha III y
and that he desired to make several
statements. He outlined his position
rs a Democrat and said all that "Cole
L.. Blease wanted was a fair and hon
est count" He declared that IL his
brother had not been fairly elected
he did not want the office.
81 have never heard Of an execu-
tive committee attempting to do
something on base rumors or reports"
said Mr.. Blease.
Later 1t was called to the atten-
tion OF Mr. Blease that official pro-
tests had already been filed with the
committee. Mr.. Blease, in the course
of his speech, charged that the ap-
parent majority Of his brother was
hurting some people. He discussed
the situation in Newherry and said
that he had tried to be fair to the
candidacy of Judge Jones. He re-
fcrred to minor contest i'm that
county. Mr.. Blease expressed faith
in the members of the executive COM
mittee and said that he thought his
brother would receive a square deal
In the investigation even though q
majority were opposed to him polt-
ically.
"All that we want is a fair, honest
count" he said.
Mr. RlanSa vpfc1 fn