The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-09-11
THINKS IT ILLEGAL

IBLEASE OBJECTED TO TIE In
VESTIGATTI0N OF
THE CHARGES OF fraud
Moved That the Executive Committee
TabuIate the Vote and Declare The
Result at Once, Which Was Voted
Down by a Large Majority.
There was quite fight in the
State Democratic Executive Commit
tee at it's meeting in Columbia on
Wednesday on a motion to appoint 8
committee Of seven to fully inVesti-
gate the charge Of fraud IN the late
primary. Eugene S. Blease, who act
ed for the Governor as the commit
teeman from Newberry county, OBJ
jected to the Investigation and NOV
ed that q committee be appointed to
tabulate the vote and declare the re-
suit at once. This was voted down
after some discussion by q decisive
vote. R. I. Manning said the COM
mittee was confronted by an extra
ordinary situation and on the face OF
the returns Governor Blease was re-
nominated; that the election was
held under extraordinary conditions;
that the primary had been allowed
to run on under loose conditions,
which are almost criminal; that the
committee could not ignore the cries
Of fraud; that the demand for inves-
tigation comes from all the candi-
dates, from the people everywhere;
that it's not q question Of whether
Governor Blease or Judge Jones was
nominated, but whether the primary,
the rule Of the white people, was to
60 on like it was.
Mr.. Manning spoke Of the necessity
Of thorough probe, that the people
Of the State be told that the COM
mittee heed their demands for an in
yestigatiou, that the committee Is
without funds to carry on the inves-
tigation, that It be laid before the
people and they asked for funds and
IL the people responded, that a COM
mittee Of seven be appointed to make
an Investigation; that the commit
tee come to Columbia without parti-
son spirit and make fair and square
investigation. Mr.. Manning then Of
ferred the following resolution.
Whereas notices Of protest have
been fled with this committee, charg-
ing, among other things, widespread
frauds and Irregularities; and
Whereas, under a former resolution
passed by this committee, certain In
vestigations are being made as to the
conduct of the election held August
27, 1912, and full reports havenqtyet
been made thereon as to the conduct
of the election held August 27, 1872
and in some counties the investEa-
tions have not been completed, ther-
fore, be 1t,
Resolved, That a subcommittee Of
seven members Of this committee be
appointed by the chairman to hear
and pass upon all contests and all
matters OF every kind and description
properly the subject Of action by this
committee as a whole, pertaining to
or incident to the election held Au-
gust 81, 1912, with full power and
authority to take testimony, and
make full investigation or the con-
duct of said election and report the
same, together with all testimony
and all records back to this commit
tee for action at meeting to be call
ed by the chairman for that purpose.
That the said subcommittee be,
and is hereby given power and au-
thority to employ at the expense OF
this committee such assistance as
may be deemed advisable to further
the said investigation and shall have
full power and authority to summons
witnesses, require the production OF
records and papers and do any ana
all other acts necessary to the full
and complete Investigation OF the
conduct Of said election, as whole.
The actual necessary expenses OF
the said committee shall be borne by
the treasury Of this committee.
Eugene S. Blease, who held the
proxy of his brother, Governor Blease
as the Newberr member OF the COM
mittee, took the floor Immediately
following Mr. Manning. He said that
he desired to repeat what he stated
the other day, that his brother did
not want the nomination II tainted in
the slightest degree with fraud, but
that he didnot want his nomination
held up because Of fraud on the side
of his opponents, and charges OF
fraud eminating solely Yrom them.
He appealed to the committee 10 lay
aside personal and partisan feeling.
He said that the committee did not
know officially who had received the
nomination and he had never nearo
OF such a motion as that ohered oy
Mr.. Manning.
Mr.. Blease moved as substitute
that a committee Of five be appointed
to tabulate the votes and report back
TO the committee. Mr.. Manning
thought the votes should not be tab.
ulated until the charges OF fraud had
been Investigated. Replying TO
question, Chairman Evans stated that
Judge Jones had filed notice OF con.
notice Of protest contesting the result
of every box IN every county IN the
State. Mr.. Mayfeld wanted to know
what other contest we're IN the hands
of the committee.
Mr.. Blease said such a procedure
as suggested by Mr.. Manning was un'
heard of, that the people had been
obeying the rules Of the Democratic
party, and that under the constitution
it would be necessary to hold the sec.
ond primary next Tuesday and he die
not think the committee had the pow,
er to override the constitution ane
hold a second primary after mex
Tuesday. He pointed out that on ths
face of the returns it was necessar!
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