The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-10-01
GRACE Asks INVESTIGATION.
CHARLESTON MAYOR MAKES
CHARGES OF FRAUD IN ELEC-
TION OF CONGRESSMAN
WHALEY.

Champ Clark Refers Petition "a
Elections Committee--Charges Al.
legged tnat Whaley Spent Over S8O,.
600 tc Secure His Nomination and
Election and Made False Returns
Whaley Characterizes Allegation
as Tissue of Lies and Declares they
are Due To Personal Hostility.
washington. Sept. 24.-Mayor
John Il. Grace, OF Charleston, today
personally presented to the Speaker
of the House OF Representatives a
petition asking for an investigation of
the right OF Congressman Richard S.
Whaley to his seat. and making
sweeping charges against Mr.. Wha-
ley I'm connection with his nomina-
ton last spring and his expense state
ments to the clerk of the house. AL
though the petition urged that spc-
cial committee be appointed to make
the investigation, Speaker Clark re-
ferred the paper in the routine way
To the elections committee, and it was
not mentioned at all in the proceed
ings OF the day. The full text OF the
document filed by Mayor Grace is as
follows:
ITO the Honorable. the Speaker Of
the House Of Representatives, and the
Congress of the United States: The
petition OF your petitioner respect
fully shows:
First. That he Is the Mayor OF the
City OF Charleston, and q duly quail
ned ecictor 81 the 1st Congressional,
district OF South Carolina; that for
many years he has been closely iden..
tilted with the Democratic party, TAX
Ing part In it's club meetings, conven-
lions. primaries. and In the election
OF it's candidates; by reason Of which
ne has gained an intimate knowledge
OF the politics OF his section, and Is
qualified To swear that the allegations
hereinafter made either on personal
knowledge or on information and be-
lief are true.
Second. That heretofore to wit,
on the 31st day Of January. 1919. the
Hon. George s. Legare, late Repre-
sentative In Congress from the 1st
district OF South Carolina died, lcav-
Ing q vacancy in Congress.
Third. That thereafter, to wit, on
the 4th day OF February. 1913. Rich
ard s. Whaiey announced his candi-
dscy to MI said vacancy. and began
canvass for the Democratic nominal
tion. simultaneously circulating
throughout the district. as your pc
iltionsr is informed and believes, that
whoever entered the race must be pre-
pared to out-spend him in money, in
telligence OF which speedily resolved
the campaign into one Of unprecedent-
ed vote-selling.
Fourth. That at stated times be-
fore and after any primary OF cleo
tion for Congress, each candidate Is
required by Federal law to file GER
tain sworn statements of expenses.
etc.. showing that the cost of such
primary and election has not exceeded
$4,000 In the aggregate. In pursuance
of which Mr.. Uhaley filed four state
ments now on the file I'm the office OF
the clerk of the House OF Representa-
tives. reference to which is hereby
craved as often as may be necessary,
and which are hereby made part OF
this petition.
Fifth. That the 1st Congression-
al district OF South Carolina Is COM
posed OF five counties. inhabited pre-
ponderantly by negroes; for the en-
clusion OF whose participation in poll
tics IL In the custom by common con-
sent for white men to settle their
differences In the Democratic primary;
the nomination in which Is equivalent
20 an election: that there were in
round numbers but twelve thousand
votes cast. In the Democratic pri-
mary. In these counties. In which Mr..
Whaley was nominated. distributed
In the Ave counties as follows:
In Charleston County -. sizes Votes
In Clarendon County. Isle Votes
In Colleton County. E. ..1.sO7 Votes
In Berkeley County :. .. 953 Votes
In Dorchester County ..1.603 Votes
Total .. .. ..12.O5O Votes
of which on the face OF the returns
Mr.. Whaley obtained 6.29S votes:
that thereupon Mr.. Whaley was de-
clared tho nominee OF the Democratic
party and in "a special election. which
was held on April 20. 1913. Mr.. wha-
ley was elected without opposition TO