Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-10-04

ton. 1t seems to me that in dealing
with this matter 1t would have been
better to have written to me and as
certained the facts before rushing into
the papers.
I'm reporting to the whole commit
tee on the twenty-three counties, which
were turned over to my sub-commit-
tee, took them up separately, and re-
ported the work In detail that had
been done in each county, stating in
which counties the county chairman
had undertaken the work, and in
which counties they had not. When I
reached York county In my report, I
stated (and 1 have the detailed report
In wrising): Being unable to get
Chairman Lewis to take action in
checking the poll lists and club rolls
of the precincts in York county
against each other-I took charge of
same, and have had alphabetical cop
les made of all poll lists, and same
have been published in the Rock Hill
Herald. I also got all Of the club rolls
except of the precincts of Bethel,
Bethany and Piedmont. have check
ed the poll lists against each other.
and the poll list against the club rolls
at each precinct Except the three
which l was unable to obtain), and
have found the following irregulari-
ties, etc." I then set forth in detail,
by precinct, all apparent irregularities
remaining unexplained at each of the
twenty-one precincts in the county.
Instead Of my report being very mea-
gre,' as you seem to think, it was by
ar the fullest report Of any county
submitted. While a number of coun-
ties did considerable work in the mat
ter, In none Of them except York
county did the work go far enough to
trace down the apparent repeaters and
report whether or not they were In
fact repeaters.
I'm York county, after ascertaining
the Irregularities at each precinct, I
took the matter up by letter with va
rious parties at each of such precincts,
giving them in detail, irregularities
appearing. and requesting them to give
me all information they could in re-
gard to same, and as q result of this,
instead Of reporting a large number
Of apparent repeaters in York county,
reported a very few, and my report
shows that there were only sixty-one
irregular and illegal votes in York
county, and Of which forty-five were
state tickets voted in the wrong box
and counted, six voting whose names
were not on the club roll, and the re-
mainder being non-residents and re-
peaters.
IT am free to admit that It did seem
very strange to me that you should
decline to undertake the work of in
vestigation In York county after the
state executive committee had passed
resolution directing same to be done,
and providing that the expense of
same should be borne by the state ex-
ecutive committee and especially since
York county was one Of the five coun-
ties. specifically named by Judge
Jones protest, as reeking with fraud.
l thought 1t was up to you as chair
man Of the Democratic party In York
county to investigate the matter and
ascertain the facts and confirm the
charge. II true, or refute 1t, II untrue.
"The facts stated in your letter in
regard to your connection with the
matter are not full and correct. wrote
you on September 10, requesting you
to take up the matter in York county
mot receiving reply to this letter, I
phoned you requesting to know wheth-
er or not you would take up the work
you asked me who was to pay for 1t,
and / told you that under the resolu-
tion Of the state executive committee
(Which was published in the papers)
that the state executive committee
would bear the expense, and that as
soon as your work was finished that
the bills would be approved by Chair
man Stevenson and paid. You stated
that you would not assume any respon-
sibility in the matter, but that II I
would personally be responsible for the
money that you would employ men to
undertake the work. I then told you
that If you would step out Of the way,
and turn the data over to me that I
would do the work, and this you con-
sented to do. took up the work, ad-
vancing the necessary funds myself,
which was promptly repaid by the
state executive committee. It seems
to me you had very little faith in the
credit Of the party.
"On Saturday evening, August 81,
while in your office looking over some
club rolls, you informed me that one
Ben Briggs or Bridges, am not sure,
which, resident Of the Philippines
and Florida for about seven years past,
during which time he had come to
this county only once, then for a visit
Of only one month, had moved to this
county in last February, had been en-
rolled on the Democratic club In York
willie, and although being informed that
he was not eligible to vote, had, new
ertheless voted on Aug. 9th, and that
you would swear out a warrant for
him Monday morning and have him
prosecuted. In tracing the illegal votes
In York county I wrote you requesting
that you give me the facts in regard
to this matter by affidavit, in order
that I might present the same to the
full committee along with the other
evidence in regard to York county.
You have ignored this request entire
1Ir L hof fx,,a
regardless of their political preferences
are united in the opinion that all clear
ly illegal voters should be punished.
and when I wrote and requested you
to send me an affidavit in regard to a
clearly illegal voter, which you had
voluntarily reported to me, I certainly
expected that you would have interest
enough In the party to furnish me the
information. Not hearing from you in
reply to this letter, phoned you and
failed to get you, and then phoned the
secretary of the executive committee,
requesting him to ask you to send me
the information, but I have never re-
ceived same. How could the investi-
cation be full and complete when even
county chairman wouldn't furnish
facts as to illegal voting, which he ad-
mitted to be in possession Of? Regard
less Of the fact that you did not believe
that there were sufficient Irregularities
and fraud in your county to change the
result; and I myself felt certain all
along that there was very little Of It,
and so expressed my opinion at vari-
Gus times, yet, with the charge resting
on York county especially. ! thought
your duty to the party demanded that
you should undertake the investiga-
ton.
I'm regard to promising to return
to you in few days the original poll
lists, I do not remember having done
this. and think you are certainly mis-
taken in your understanding Of the
matter, for the poll lists, being the
original proof, of course, had to be
submitted by me to the full committee
to sustain the facts reported by the
investigation. I gave the secretary of
the state executive committee a re-
ceipt for them, however, upon the ad
journment Of the committee Tuesday
evening, and have mailed them to you
by registered mail, and have also re-
turned to the various county executive
committeeman by registered mail or
express their club rolls. which they
have forwarded to me.
I'm conclusion I will say that am
satisfied that everyone in York coun-
ty, regardless of their political prefer
ences know that they have received q