The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-01-17

State committee should meet, not later
than next Thursday. the 2Gtb, 10 take
affirmative and final action on the
matter.
AT q subsequent meeting Of the
state executive committee it was j
who introduced the resolution declar
ing the result.
THAT resolution reads as follows:
Mr.. Chairman: Az was the mover
Of the resolution providing for the
appointment Of the subcommittee to
investigate the charges OF fraud in the
primary election OF August ~, desire
through them TO the people Of the
State that the subcommittee appoint
ell 10 prosecute the inquiry has been
at work, that II had the assistance of
attorneys and citizens interested in eX-
posing fraudulent voting in that cleo
ton. That the subcommittee has
made it's report, that report shows
that illegal and irregular voting was
practiced, that great looseness pre-
vailed in the conduct Of that election
and that the rules Of the party, lax
as they are, were not adhered to, that
abuses and violation of the rules and
failure TO observe them were nu-
merous yet that report does not prove
enough 10 upset the election, that
the returns on their face show that
one Of the candidates for governor
received O majority OF the votes, that
in order TO upset that showing 1t
would be necessary 10 prove beyond
any reasonable doubt that fraud wac
practiced. and practiced to such an ex-
tent as TO vitiate the election and 70
change the result
lin my opinion, that has not been
proved, and ii is therefore proper for
us 10 proceed to tabulate the returns
/ and to declare the result. If we do
this and declare the result as to the
nominees Of the Democratic party, we
will then be ready 10 go into the gen.
eral election with the united support
OF the Democrats OF the State under
their party obligation to support the
nominees Of the party and every Dem
ocrat who took the oath and voted In
the primary election can fulfill that
party obligation and the party remain
united
~ ask that this action be taken
by thiL committee.
This result ] am frank in saying,
is not in accord with my personal
wishes for / supported Judge Jones
for governor and earnestly desired his
election, but I am and have been,
ready at all times to do my full duty
as member OF this committee. rep
resenting all the Democrats Of this
State and now purpose to discharge
that duty by moving that we proceed
10 tabulate the returns and declare the
results.
1T would seem to any fair minded
man this statement would reveal the
fact that acted consistently through
out--not as an advocate but in tho ca
pacity Of q judge and as one who
earnestly desired the welfare of the
white mans party in this State and
eagerly wishing to preserve the intes-
rity Ct the Democratic party in South
Carolina and the integrity Of the pri-
mary urged a thorough and speedy
investigation and at the conclusion OF
the hearing was just enough and fair
enough 10 move that tho result OF the
election be declared in favor OF Gov.
Blease, for whom did not vote. have
stood always and stand now in favor OF
honest elections. ! made no charge3 |
on the contrary ] stated frequently /
that in my own county l knew that
the election was fair and honest. II
would have been grossly unjust for mo |
to pretend TO advocate where had
previously condemned. :
'.As to my political death-knell
there are things far worse than de-
feat-one Of them Is disloyalty to duty
Il did my duty as l saw it and f'r
this have no apology TO make. ! do
not fear defeat--I prefer defeat
rather than victory won by faithlcss-
ness to a trust prefer defeat rather
than a victory won by the division OF
our people; but II [ know the people
Of my State. feel that they VIII not
vote against me because | fearlcssly
did my duty rs saw fit, when to
shirk that duty would have been the
polite thing TO do. South Carolinians
honor Il man FOR being true to his
copVictiouc trup 10 duty--but South