Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-09
6. CAROLINA ROW
To Be SETTLED
WEDNESDAY
State Executive Committee to
Hear Charges of Fraud in
Recent Primary.

COLUMBIA, ;. c., Sept 9. With the
meeting of the subcommittee Of seven
of the state executive committee on
Wednesday at noon in the state library
viii rest in large part the fate Of the
South Carolina primary. an institution
created by Hon. B. r. TiIlman when
governor Of the state in 1890, and also
the decision as TO whether Cole l..
Blease IS reelected governor or whetfr-
er he and Judge Ira B. Jones win enfer
The general election 81 candidates for
the same Office. both represerrtingf't the
Democratic party The COMMITTEES is
investigating election fraud and 1t may
BE- that Il viii find enough illegal votes
60 cause the defeat for denomination
Of Governor Blease.
II is generally conceded that there
are -four courses open TO tho committee
to find illegal votes and throw them
cut, in which case q sufficient mum Der
may be thrown ouf to cause the cleo
ton of Judge Jones and the overthrow
ofs4he apparent nomination of Govern
or Blsase; to take cogu1zance OF the
umury fled protests and allegations Of
fraud and declare tho ffrst primary void
e1nd ORDER II to be hel6 again. in which
case a second primary would follow two
wee1rs later; to declare Governor Blease
Inc nominee IN spite of the many pro
tsssts against the recent primary. or
eaBs refuse 20 set eside tho party con-
sHttuttozl and to order That the two can
dfdRtes enter the general election. the
PARTY having no nominee and there
na4tte for the SovernoEship. The last
eeemsdn evftable.
Likely 70 Split State.
South Carolina is in the midst of5a
great political reformation. There is
much speculation TO the effect that the
settlement of the present situation vii!
divide the state into two political par
ties
The committee which meets Wednes-
day will make thorough investigation
Of the charges that have been made
against the recent primary and will de-
termine whether there we're enough lie
gal vots cast for Governor Blease TO
declare him renominated. II the com
mittee finds this to be the case, 1t viii
declare Blease the party nominee.
There is much speculation az to the
authority the committee has and as to
whether or not the probe will mean that
there win be no second primary and
that the candidates will have to enter
independently into the general election
The rules Of the Democratic party state
that "a second primary. when necessa-
nv. shall be held two weeks after the
first" and there ia a general belief that
the investigation for fraud, which will
MOI begin till Wednesday, the day aft
er the second primary date, as pro
vided in the party constitution. win
mean that there will be no second pri-
mary this year.
To Reform Primary System.
The primary system OF South Caro-
INA Is such that fraud is easily prac-
t4ced and often impossible of detec-
4Acn. Reports Of fraud have been made
fnon many counties and the county
committees are making investigations
70 anxtst the work of the state com
Tn4ftee. For tho past ten days there
rmx been such an cutlery against the
ordinary systeUn that It IS almost GER
tx4n That there win never again be
heaSS another a4ong the same line as
-tnst of two w,eel5s ago The committee
wnach has IN hand the election probe
win likely make suggestions TO the
stsfe convention as to the abolition or
wnaA IS moro aflSeiy. the restriction OF