The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-09-25
He EXPLAINS DELAY
w. e. STEVENSON GIVES REAs-
oNs FOR POsTPONEMENT.
Tells Messrs. Bivens. Greer and JET.
fries to Garry Out Duties Assign.
ed to Them.

fries to Garry Out Duties Assign.
ed to Them.
Two letters bearing on the contro-
versy over the course 10 be pursued
by the subcommittee Of the State
Democratic executive committee ap-
pointed to consider charges of fraud
in the recent primary were given to
the press. One was sent to The State
by ". F. Stevenson of Cheraw, chair
man 0. the subcommittee, who is
now in Atlantic City, n. J. The 9TH
er was written by Col. Thomas Both
we'll Butler OF Gaffney and given out
in that city. Both were replies to
the recently published open letter OF
R. NJ. Jeffries, J. D. Bivens and j. NJ.
Grier, in which these three members
Of the subcommittee took exception
to Mr.. Steyenson's course In appor-
tioning the work OF investigation
and calling of the meeting originally
scheduled for last Wednesday.
Mr.. Stevenson in his letter cites
the reasons for his action pointing
out that the two subcommittee can
hasten the work by performing the
duties assigned to them. He also
says that the next meeting OF the
ommittee should be In the Piedmont,
where tho charges Of fraud have been
most vigorous.
The next meeting he said, would
be called when the material was in
shape for use, and would not be lat
or than September 26.
Mr.. Stevenson's letter follows:
Atlantic City, N. j., Sept. 13.
"Messrs. r. NJ. Jefrries, J. D. Biyens,
and J. NJ. Grier.
Gentlemen: Replying to your
communication in Thursdays State,
will say:
81. That was unable to be at the
State committee meeting when I was
appointed chairman Of the sub-com-
mittee and didn't decide to accept
the responsibility Of the work until
Saturday, the 7th, and had nothing to
do with the appointment to meet on
Wednesday, the 18th.
"2. I assume entire responsibility
in calling off the meeting as / had
only a consultation with Messrs. vii.
son and Butler because they were
convenient and I had to pass through
Charlotte on Monday on my way
north on a trip. The personal rea-
sons for which need not discuss
acre, but the obligations for which
were as binding on me as that Of the
committee work which was placed on
me unsought and after had an en-
gagement to come north at this time
"3. decline to meet with you
| next Monday in Columbia for the fol-
lowing reasons:
"a. Because We have no witnesses
to swear at that time, no charge o1
a tangible nature to be proceeded
with, and no data either to prove OF
| disprove the charges, If tangible.
"b. Because we will make haste Il
you will attend to the duty imposed
on you in your respective divisions
then getting the record in proper
shape and getting the charges 80 ar
rayed that we can tell at a glance
| what is a substance and what Is 6
mere technical question and thus en-
able US to go right at the substantial
points and get them down quickly.
&c. Because, as you indicate II
your communication, Columbia Is moi
| the place where the committee Il
most likely to be needed. The Pied
mont seems to be the principal place
where there are substantial charges
and it is a waste of time ald money
% mention Columbia when the work
is mostly to be done in the Pied
mont and as soon as the Information
called for is in shape ! expect to cal
meeting OF the committee at Spar.
| tanburg or Greenville to go imme
| diately at the point of real moment
as developed by the information got
ten and quickly determine the state
of affairs. This meeting will not be
later than the 25th and will be as
soon as the matter can be gotten into
orderly condition.
"Now permit me to say that
know no Blease or Jones men in this
matter. I have determined to con
duct this investigation In an orderly
and thorough manner-and call or
you to push the work assigned you
in order that we may hasten the
same and not delay it by riding back
and forth to Columbia to meetings
when there Is no witness ready tc
be sworn, no records Overly and
when time demands that all matters
be located and all immaterial matters
be eliminated before we begin the ex'
pensive and tedious work Of taking
testimony. OF course, If majority
Of the committee request me to cal.
a meeting before We have the docu.
ments in hand I will take pleasure
in doing 50, but it will be a waste o1
time and money and, as you say
time is precious now.
Referring to the position that the
whole committee is to Investigate
will say that when it comes to de.
tails, If the whole committee must
attend to each club roll and poll list
and to getting the names Of wit.
nesses or getting the charge In each
county arranged for active taking Of
evidence It will be January, 1913,
before anything Will be done. When
taking of evidence begins with all
data gathered by the two sub-com.
mittees before US the whole commit
tee will necessarily decide what
charges are 30 substantial as to rem
der investigation necessary and the
whole committee should hear and
pass on the evidence in support OF
the same. Matters Of detail in ar
ranging the charges and the docu-
ments must necessarily be distribut-
| ed. I reply to your communication
in the same way it Is received, to
wit. thrnneh tha Col11n hia Stata