The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-10-01
VHALEY IS ACCUSED.
GRACE MAKE. SERIOUS CHARGES
AGAINST Bin
PRESENTS A PETITION

man Whaley Spent Over Sixty
Thousand Dollars to Secure the
Nomination and Election and Made
False Returns About Money Used.
Mayor John P. Grace, Of Charles
ton, Wednesday personally presented
to the Speaker Of the House Of Rep
resentatives a petition asking for an
investigation of the right Of Congress
man Richard S. Whaley to his seat,
and making sweeping charges against
Mr. Whaley in connection with his
nomination last spring and his e1-
pense statements to the clerk OF the
House, says the Washington CORE
spondent of The News and Courier.
In his petition Grace alleges that
on the 4th of February, 1913, Rich
ard Whaley announced his candidacy
to fill the vacancy created by the
death of Congressman Legare and be-
gan a canvass for the Democratic
nomination, simultaneously circulat-
ing throughout the district that who
ever entered the race must be pre-
pared to out-spend him in money, IN
telligence Of which speedily resolved
the campaign into one OF the unpre-
cedented vote-selliHg.
That at stated times before and
after any primary or election for Con-
sress, each candidate is required by
Federal law to file certain 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.. Whaley filed four statements
now on the file in the Office OF the
clerk Of the House Of Representa-
tiyes, reference to which is hereby
crayed as often as may be necessary,
and which are hereby made part OF
this petition.
That the First Congressional dis
trict Of South Carolina is composed
Of five counties, Charleston, Claren-
don, Colleton, Berkeley, and Dorches-
ter, inhabited preponderantly by ne
groes; for the exclusion Of whose par
ticipation in politics it is the custom
by common consent for white men TO
settle their differences in the Demo
cratic primary: the nomination IN
which is equivalent to an election;
that there were in round numbers
but twelve thousand votes cast, in the
Democratic primary, in these coun-
ties, and in which Mr.. Whaley was
nominated, Of which on the face OF
the returns Mr.. Whaley obtained
6,29S votes.
That thereupon Mr.. Whaley was
declared the nominee Of the Demo
cratic party and in a special election
which was held on April 29, 1913,
Mr.. Whaley was elected without op-
position to fill the unexpired term.
That in order to obtain these 6,29S
votes, as your petitioner is Informed
and believes, Mr. Whaley spent in the
first and second primaries and the
campaigns incident thereto not less
than sixty thousands dollars ESQ.,
000), or an average Of about ten dol
lars (S10) for each vote.
That Notwithstanding such exces-
Give pse of money, and because, as
above set forth, he was required by
Federal law, under oath, to file state
ments showing that he spent not
over five thousand dollars (s5,0GOD,
your petitioner alleges Mr.. Whaley
wilfully and knowingly filed false
sworn statements with the clerk OF
the House Of Representatives, show
ing that he spent altogether only the
sum of s4,533.10. That in filing such
statements Mr.. Whaley wilfully and
knowingly made oath to the truth OF
something which he knew was aoso-
luately false.
That Mr.. Whaley now sits In Con-
gress, therefore, because he openly
bought his nomination and election
by going out upon the highways and
byways and debauching the elector-
ate, and by using over twelve times
as much as the maximum Of money
allowed by law, in avoidance OF the
consequences Of which he afterwards
committed four felonious perjuries.
ssWherefore, your petitioner prays
that the matter Of Mr.. Whaley's right
to his seat in Congress be investigat,
ed, and that he be expelled from that
body if the allegations contained il
this petition be found to be true anc
for such and other further relief IN
the premises as to your honorable
ody may seem Just.