The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1912-10-02
What MAY Be Done
CHANGE In PRIMARY LAWS MAY
Be RECOMMENDED.
BY ELECTION PROBERS

BY ELECTION PROBERS
Sub Committee to Investigate Aleg-
ed Frauds in Recent Primary Not
Likely to Report on Present Con-
test but May Urge Certain Reforms
to Safeguard Future Primaries.
Mr. 8. e. Boney, Of The News and
Courier, writing to his paper from
Anderson, sums UP what the sub-com-
mittee may say in it's reports to the
full committee when it meets in Co.
lumbia to-day. He says mass OF ev-
idence has been placed in the hands
Of the committee, covering about half
of the counties in the State. Charges
of fraud have been made in some In
stances, but in most cases there have
been simply the reports Of commit
tees appointed by the county execu-
tive committees as to Implications
and the voting of persons whose
names were not on the club rolls.
In short, the evidence submitted to
the subcommittee of probers is OF
such q nature as to merely give an
investigating committee grounds up
on which to proceed, not to act, in
the sense Of whether declaring an
election valid or void.
Roughly estimating the work OF
the committee it appears that about
$500 votes have been called into
question. This by no means ind1"
Gates that there have been $500
fraudulent votes cast; but, Just that
many have been submitted to the
committee for investigation. This, Of
course, covers only about half the
forty-four counties of the State, and
even in those reported, only partial
investigation was made.
It is estimated that if the reports
were complete from all counties there
would be eight or ten thousand votes
questioned. Just what the commit
tee will do with this information in
hand in reference to the $500 votes
Of character to be questioned, now
before it, remains to be seen.
The subcommittee, Of course, has
given no Indication, during or since
the meetings held in the three big
Piedmont counties, as to what Its &C
ton will be. Neither has any men,
Der disclosed the sentiment of those
comprising the committee. But spec
ulation has been quite free as to the
possible report that will be submit
ted to the State Democratic commit
tee.
From the nature of the evidence
submitted, and taking into consid-
GRAFTON the time necessary for legal
proceedings upon which to base a
contest, it is. believed in many quar-
ters that the subcommittee will
scarcely undertake to make q definite
report on the recent primary, except
as to general conditions. This cor
respondent, not endowed with pow
ers ofprophecy, therefore, does not
undertake to forecast what the re-
pert of the subcommittee will be.
But it is quite apparent that con-
ditions in reference to the conduct in
reference to the conduct of primary
elections in the State have been re-
vealed in such a light that the COM
mittee Is almost bound to make some
kind of recommendation looking to
changes of the rules governing the
primaries.
Whether or not there will be ma
jcrity report and minority report
submitted to the State executive COM
mittee next week remains to be seen.
It is well known that the committee
stands three to four Blease and anti
Elease. On the general proposition
Of needed reforms In the primary, it
may not be a hazardous guess to pre-
dict that both Blease and Anti-Blease
members Of the committee will be un-
tied.
OF course, If question OF the valid
ity of the denomination OF Governor
Blease in the recent primary is raised
there would doubtless be q division Of
sentiment. Notwithstanding PARTISAN
ship, however, even the possibility Of
questioning the validity OF so many
votes has planted firmly in the minds
Of those who have attended the hear
ings Of the Investigating committee
that there are changes that are not
only expedient but necessary In the
manner Of holding primary elections
in this State.
In all probability the committee,
which has worked faithfully upon the
tack assigned it, and which has
throughout evidenced a jealous care
of the purity of elections In South
Carolina, will recommend that the
Democracy of this State bestir itsel
now and devise some means to safe
guard the primary and prevent
frauds that may be attempted in the
future. S. E. Boney.
MUTINOUS TROOPS KILLED.