Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-24
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER az, 1919.
MORE. TALK FROM sINBAp

MORE. TALK FROM SINBAD
Explains What He Meant by Alleged
Threats.
The News and Courier of yesterday
contains another article by Mr.. w. p.
Beard, otherwise known to newspaper
readers as "Sinbad."
Mr.. Beard prefaces his remarks
with statements intended to convey
the impression that he Is not necessar-
lily acting as spokesman for any one
else; but Is rather saying what he has
to say upon his own responsibility.
He gives at the outset an alleged
letter with an illegible signature, dated
August 81, and addressed to the may
or of Greenville, urging that gentle
man to do what he can to influence
the members Of the executive COM
mittee to overturn the primary Of Au-
gust q, more especially because Of
the refunding Of the state debt the
building Of new state hospital and
possibly an annex to the state house,
all involving matters of money. Also
1t is urged in the letter that the man
will most certainly go to the United
States senate two years from now.
Holding that this alleged letter
gives an insight into the motives be-
hind the holding up of the primary,
Mr.. Beard goes on to say:
more than $4,000 white men of
South Carolina voted for Governor
Blease, yet on blanket charge of gen.
eral fraud, we find men attempting
under the forms of law, to rob these
people of their birthright-the right Of
every white man to vote. This kitch-
en- cabinet, self-appointed board Of
private advisers to the executive COM
mittee, both press and laymen. ex-
press themselves as being surprised"
at the attitude Of the Bleasites in thus
exposing them. Their contention is
absurd. What right has the highway
robber to be surprised II his intended
victim should resist the filching Of his
purse?
"This committee in thus adopting
such dilatory and unreasonable tactics
places itself in an untenable position.
and one that Is open to suspicion Of
contemplated wrong-doing, and the
people as whole are looking at the
matter In that light. Let's throw a
few side lights on the general situa-
ton and see If there is sufficient
ground to Justify that view.
This subcommittee was appointed
on motion Of Richard I. Manning, af-
ter considerable acrimonious debate.
By all parliamentary law and usage
Mr.. Manning should have acted as
chairman. We understand that sick
ness In his family prevented that, but
1t was no bar to his attendance upon
the executive committee meeting here
The resolution was passed during the
morning session. and Immediately af-
ter Its passage State Chairman John
Gary Evans called Mr.. Caldwell Of
Chester, to the chair in his place, and
conferred long and earnestly with Mr.
Manning In one corner Of the room,
and then the meeting adjourned for
dinner.
Pending the appointment of this
subcommittee by the chairman we
saw with our own eyes Mr.. Evans, Mr..
Manning and Mr.. Clifton, who is SEN
ator from Sumter, at dinner with Ira
B. Jones. and J. w. Thurmond, Mr..
Jones's campaign manager. at the Je-
rome hotel In this city. Placing our
own, and we submit the most natural
construction upon this circumstance,
We consider they were holding a con-
ference to decide as to who would be
the best man to act as chairman and
also the best men to serve on the COM
mittee with him in the political inter-
ests OF Ira B. Jones, in his contest of
the election, Of which they were the
judges.
Such disregard Of the proprieties
was exceedingly indiscreet on the part
OF those committeeman, not to put It in
stronger language, for be It understood
that this committee collectively and
individually, Is a quasi judicial body,
whose acts have all the weight of a ju-
dicial decision from the bench. And
they should In order to compel re-
spect for their decisions, be governed
by the same code of ethics that
governs the bench, as respects So
cial or business intercourse with those
who are plaintiffs or defendants I'm
their courts. The same conduct on the
part OF circuit or supreme Judge
would disqualify him for service IL
proven, and as the members of this
committee are quasi judges, why
should they not be disqualified for the
same irregularity of professional con-
duct, at least, in the eyes Of the pub
lie? We pause for a reply. Now, Mr..
w. F. Stevenson, the bitter partisan
chairman Of the sub committee, who
ignores the other members and runs 1t
to suit himset, gives as a reason for
his almost criminal procrastination
that his wife was sick. II that Is true,
Mr.. Stevenson has our entire sympathy
in his trouble, but If sickness prevent
ed his prompt attendance, he should
have declined and allowed one who
could do so to take his place In order
to facilitate matters.
In respect to Democratic nominees,
we will say for the benefit Of those who
are on the anxious bench, that we out
lined a probable ticket for the general
election, on the general supposition
that those elected officials who sup
ported Jones would acquiesce in the
possible decision of the executive COM
mittee that the first primary was ille-
gal, In which acquiescence they would
in our judgment also admit the inval-
idity Of their own election as well as
that Of Governor B!ease. We claim the
election legal and that Blease and all
others with the exception of the attor-
ney general was and Is, and should be
supported as the regular nominees, and
all who run in opposition to that
theory must run as independents and
not as Democrats. We will support any
Cdhuludlc "HO TcCOSulZcS Tic Ndiiully
OF the first primary all the way
through and none who do not, whether
they ran as a Jones or Blease man.
There Is disquieting rumor to the
effect that this whole business is got
ten up to re-elect ]. Fraser Lyon at
torney general. That may not be true,
but 1t Is having its effect nevertheless,
and we take the liberty Of serving no.
tice on all concerned that the people
will not stand for that either. Thomas
H Peoples Is entitled to fair treatment,
and must have 1t, and furthermore, the
now fully-aroused and indignant peo-
pie are going to see that he gets 1t.
The only thing that can be done now is
to meet and declare Blease and the
others elected, then order another elec-
tion for attorney general. The Jig Is up;
don't play with fire."
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS
Columbia special Of September %