Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-09
6. CAROLINA ROW
To Be SETTLED
WEDNESDAY
State Executive Committee to
Hear Charges of Fraud in
Recent Primary.

COLUMBIA, s. c.. Sept. with the
meeting Of the sub committee Of seven
of the state executive committee on
Wednesday at noon in the state library
will rest in large part the fate Of the
South Carolina primary, an institution
created by Hon. b r. Tntman when
governor of the state IN 1890. and also
the decision as to whether Cole l..
Blease IS reelected governor or wheth-
er he and Judge Ira B. Jones win enter
the general election as candidates for
Tho Same once, both representing the
Democratic party. The committee is
investigating election fraud and It may
be that II viii find enough illegal votes
20 casrse the defeat for nomination
Of Governor Blease
L is generally conceded that there
are four courses open TO the committee
to find illegal votes and throw them
cut, IN which case a sufficient number
may be thrown out TO cause the cleo
ton Of Judge Jones and the overthrow
OF the apparent nomination of Govern
or Blease; TO take cogntZance Of the
rnnny med protests and allegations of
fran6 and declare the ftrst primary void
end order II 10 be held again, IN which
case a second primary would follow two
weeks later; to declare Governor Blease
Ghe pomtnee IN spite of the many pro
tests against the recent primary. or
else refuse TO get aside the party con-
st1sutton and to order That tho two cam
6fdEtes enter the general election, the
party having no nominee. and there
battle for the goreTnorship. The last
seems an evttable.
Likely 10 Split State.
South Carolina is in the midst of a
great political reformation. There is
much speculation TO the effect that the
settlement Of the present situation will
divide the state into two political par
ties
The committee which meets Wednes-
day will make a thorough investigation
Of the charges that have been made
against the recent primary and will de-
termine whether there we're enough le.-
cal vots cast for Governor Blease 10
declare him renominated. II the com
mittee finds this to be the case, It win
declare Blease the party nominee.
There is much speculation AS to the
authority the committee has and as to
whether or not the probe will mean that
there will be no second primary and
that the candidates viii have to enter
independently into the general election.
The rules Of the Democratic party state
that "a second primary when necessa-
IN. shall be held two weeks after the
first" and there is a general belief that
the investigation for fraud. which viii
not begin tin Wednesday. the day aft
err the second primary date. as pro
vlded in the party constitution. viii
mean that there will beno second pri-
mary this year.
To Reform Primary System.
The primary system OF South Caro-
rirra Is such that fraud is easily prac-
ttced and often impossible OF detec-
don Reports of fraud have been made
from many counties and the county
committees are making Investigations
to assist She work of the state COM
rntttee. For tie past ten days there
Hsas been such an cutlery against the
primary system that IT Is almost GER
rs4n that there will never again be
heAsa another g9ony tho Same line as
tfrzt Of two weelzs ago The committee
which has IN hand the election probe
win likely make suggestions TO the
etx4e convention aus to the abolition or
what Is more ailCety. the restriction of
The primary.