The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-01-28
TO VOTE ON WHALEY CASE,
COMMITTEES REPORT WILL BE
CALLED IN HOUSE.
Majority Would Dismiss Case but Mi
nOrity Members, However, will Make
Fight for Further Investigation of
Grace Allegations.

Washington, Jan. 25.-Tomorrow al
noon, when Speaker Clark calls the
house to order, the members of that
body will be called upon to decide
whether. in their opinion, Richard S.
Whaley of Charleston, representative
of the First South Carolina district,
spent $4,000 to secure his seat,
whether he openly bought votes to
secure his election, and whether, as
alleged by Mayor John =. Grace Of
Charleston, he made false and fraud
ulent affidavits in connection there
with in violation of the laws to the
election and seating Of members of
the house.
AT that hour, according to a state
ment made here today by Represen-
tative Post of Ohio, chairman Of the
house committee on elections, which
recently made a preliminary investi-
cation of the matter and which sub
sequently reported that in it's opinion
the charges should be dismissed. will
move the adoption Of the report. This
would put an end to the matter. But
it will not stop there. There are two
minority members Of the committee
Representatives Borchers and Frear
who hold distinctly opposite views
and who will not only demand that
the report of the minority, asking foi
q thorough and exhaustive examina-
ton into political conditions in South
Carolina ba substituted, but that the
committee be allowed to summon
whatever persons may be necessary in
connection with the matter, and that
the fullest and freest latitude be given
for determining whether Mr.. Whaley
be allowed to retain his seat in the
house.
! Never perhaps in the history Of the
house has there been the exact sit
uatlon from a Southern standpoint as
that which will take place when the
proceedings begin tomorrow, and cer-
tainly there Is no parallel in the con-
gressional records Of South Carolina
or the South where q Southern mayor
is openly attacking the right of a
Southern representative, both being
from the same city and both Demo
Gratis, as that which members of con-
gress will witness.
| 1t has not yet been ascertained
how many members will speak when
the matter is called up, but from what
was learned here today it will not be
a cut and dried affair.
Mr.. Frear. who has given his views
very plainly on the subject, desires
IT understood that he cares nothing
for the personality Of the men in
volved but he thinks that enough has
already been developed to warrant the
house in taking hold Of the matter
and judging for itself whether Mr.
Whaley shall retain his seat CT
whether his name shall be expunged
! from the records OF congress for hav-
ing secured his seat through fraudu
lent means. If the vote tomorrow sus-
tains the majority report it Is NJ;
known what other steps the Charles
ton mayor will take.
! When the vote comes the occasion
viii, without doubt. prove one Of the
most dramatic the Southern contin-
gent In congress has ever witnessed
Two vital questions will be at issue
MIR. Whaley's future political life and
tho dragging into public view present
primary election conditions in South
Carolina.