The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-09-18

possible. The fact is emphasized
that the primary system OF the state
must be preserved and that the in
quiry must be prosecuted to the end,
regardless of whom it may hurt,
whether Jones or Blease. Each coun-
ty chairman is asked to prepare club
rolls and these, after being arranged
alphabetically are to be published IN
the home papers and copies are to be
forwarded to the division chairman
having immediate supervision OF the
investigation. All good citizens are
asked to scan these lists to see that
there are no duplicates and that
those voting were properly entitled
to do so.
The State is divided into two dis
tricts, with the Southern railway
from Charlotte via Columbia to Char
lesion the dividing line. A special
subcommittee, composed of W. B.
Wilson, chairman, J. D. Bivens and
r. NJ. Jeffries. is appointed to Sc
cure the club rolls and poll lists and
investigate all evidences of crooked
ness east of the dividing line and in
cluding the counties through which
the line passes, and ]. B. Parks,
chairman, T. B. Butler and J. n.
irier are appointed members OF q
similar committee to take charge OF
the rest of the State. The meeting
scheduled for Wednesday September
II, is called off.
Mr.. Stevenson's letter In full fol-
lows:
ITO the Democrats of South Carolina.
Gentlemen: I have been desig-
mated as chairman Of the committee
to investigate the primary election
held August 81, last, for governor,
and owing to absence from the State
recovering my health, was delayed
in assuming direction of the work.
now call on all good citizens to aid
| in the work, as it is manifest that in
the time available and the great ex-
tent Of the work, seven men can do
little if not aided. We ask your aid:
First. In reporting instances OF
wrongdoing, making the report in the
form Of affidavit, if possible giving
names of witnesses and where found; ;
send this information to the chair
man of the committee having charge
of your division OF the state as shown
| below.
Second. Aid in getting copies OF
the poll list arranged alphabetically
and copies of the club roll OF the re-
spective counties arranged alphabet
ically and the poll list, together with
the returns required to be filed with
| the clerk of court, such as are either
in his hands or in the hands Of the
county chairman. At the end OF the
poll list Of each precinct the vote re-
ported by the managers for governor
should be stated.
81 have asked the newspapers to
COPY and publish these poll lists and
I have called on the respective coun-
ty chairmen to cooperate in aiding
this and employ at leaSt two men IN
each county to copys-tAe~ poll list at
once, making carbep -4opies OF the
same, and let the newspapers have
copies of the poll lists for publication
and send the other copies to the re-
spectiye chairman having that Sec
tion in charge, and send the bill to
me at Cheraw for approval and pay
ment. When the work demands en-
ploy as many more men as may be
necessary.
Copy and send also to the same
chairman all club rolls and send the
bill also to me. Where no club roll
existed or where it has not been
turned in for any precinct state the
fact at the bottom OF the poll list for
that precinct and get possession of
the roll if a special messenger has
to be sent after it at the committee 8
expense. We want every club roll IN
the State sent in to the county exec
utive committee on Thursday next,
with the county returns. This must
be done before we can proceed prop
erly.
"Third. When the poll lists are
published then let all citizens scan
the list Of alleged voters and see II
the names Of any appear twice or II
they appear who are not residents or
that precinct or any who are not
Democrats. If they find such let it
be reported to the chairman named
below. Let me say too, that it makes
no difference whether the irregular
or illegal votes favor Jones or Blease
we prefer to cut out the cancer, II
one is found, no matter whom 1t
hurts. We must save the primary re-
gardless of the advantage OF either
candidate.
Fourth. To the newspapers we ap-
peal. We ask you every one to pub
lish this week the poll list Of August
q in your respective papers and thus
spread before the eyes Of every In
telligent citizen of each county the
names of those voting August 27 and
send copies of the paper containing
same to John Gary Evans, State
chairman, Spartanburg, S. c., and to
each member Of the committee, to
wit: w. F. Stevenson, chairman; T.
B. Butler, Gaffney, S. c.; J. B. Parks,
Greenwood, S. c.; ". B. Wilson, Jr.,
Rock Hill, S. c.: J. D. Bivens, st.
George, S. c.; J. NJ. Greer, Union, S.
c.; r. N. Jeffries, Ridgeland, S. c.
We have provided for having them
copied as seen abooe. The only pos
sible way to get at the truth IS to
turn on the white light of absolute
publicity and for all good citizens to
cooperate in doing it and wrong do
ing will be detected if any were done.
"Fifth. We ask every newspaper in
the State to publish this letter this
week, so that the people may be ad.
ised that We depend on them and
what we want.
Sixth. If fraud was committed 1t
was likely to be done in one OF the
following ways: By persons voting
when not on the club roll; by persons
voting more than once either at the
same club or at two or more diff
ferent clubs in the same or different
county: by persons voting who are
under age or non-residents, or who
have not lived in the State long