The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-01-13

State democratic cOHNeLLAoH liz
men opposed to Governor Blease
Who had control Of nearly every
county executive committee in the
State? Who had the absolute control
by large majority, Of the State exec
utiie committee Who appointed the
managers OF election throughout the
State? When Governor Blease wrote
to the chairman OF the State
Democratic executive committee and
asked to have one manager at eacn
precinct ais request was declined.
When similar requests were made OF
the chairmen Of the county executive
committees, nearly all Of which were
anti-BIease, appointed anti-Blease
managers all over the counties, and
these anti-Blease managers were IN
the large majority all over the State
"a majority of two-thirds or more
were anti-administration men. The
Jauots wer put n the boxes
which the anti-administration men
had control of, the anti-administra-
ton men took them off to one side
and counted them and announced 90
many for Jones and so many I
BIease. The returns were sent to
,.e county executive committee, and
ne county executive committee, COM
posed almost overwhelmingly Of anti
Elease men, tabulated them and sent
them to the State committee, and the
State committee met and tabulated
Them ana announced the result. Now,
! l., Of
with all the election machinery anti
Blease-how in the name of common
sense, l repeat, could the Blease men
have committed fraud? Therefore, if
there was fraud, as these editors and
others are now loudly proclaiming
there was, who committed it? The
answer is plafn-the anti-BIease men,
because they had all the machinery
in their hands. They say there was
fraud. Now, l say, let that be as it
may, if there was fraud who COM
mitted it, when they had the man
ayers, the county committees and the
State committee?
No, gentlemen, it is but the cry Of
the defeated. Instead Of being brave,
Lrue Carolinians, and saying, I'VE
nave made our fight and lost" they,
like the towards they are, cringe up
on their knees and holler fraud, for
getting that they wer the ones who
were in charge of the election mach
merry, and that if there was fraud
they and their friends were the ones
MO committed it.
Now. gentlemen, what We want IS
honest elections. They speak OF using
money. God knows the present gov
ernor has never had any to use. He
practiced law at the Newberry bar,
and, he is proud to say, had an ex-
eLoi0nally fine practice on both
sides Of the court. He made a good
living, and managed to save some
money. But not one nickle Of it has
ne ever used to corrupt a voter; not
one dollar of it has he ever used or
given to corrupt any man, nor has
any Of his friends ever done so, to his
knowledge, and certainly if they have
ever done so, they did not consult
him before, nor have they intormo~
him afterwards.
ntat we need is to enforce the law
we have strictly to the letter. Let
every white man in South Carolina, Of
legal age, vote in the primaries, and
if one comes from another State into
this State and votes, or goes from one
.ounty into another and votes illegally
let the men whom he votes for, as
we'll as the men waom he votes ag-
ainst, see to it that he is prosecuted
and punished to the full extent Of the
Flaw. If one man offers to buy the
vote Of another, let the latter pro-
fsecuta to the full extent of the law
| the man who offers the bribe, ana II
the man takes the bTibe, prosecute
him. Enforce the laws We have. Let
honesty and square dealing begin
with the State executive committee,
! and let it be followed by the county
committees and kept up by the man
ayers of The election. We have all
: the law we need; we have all the hon
OF we need in South Carolina to enforce
that law. And it comes with i'll grace
from that crowd which had control
of all the election machinery, to
charge fraud, when they and their
friends were the only ones who could
have committed any fraud.
! am opposed to any change in the
primary system believe in honest
elections, and l believe in letting
ievery white man participate in the
primary who is eligible to vote under
the rules of the Democratic party.
{ Whenever we deprive the white peo-
pie of the right to vote, or any large
number of them of their right to vote,
we will break up the primary system,
! because those who are qualified
want the right to vote, and they
should have it, and they do not pro-
pose to be put, by any party Of men,
on an equal footing with a free
negro.
The Straight Democratic Ticket.
In view Of certain recent events,
desire also to call to your attention
an address which issued to the DEM
ocrat;c voters of this State on October
20, 1912, urging them to turn out to