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

Richard ]. Manning of Sumter gave
out the following statement yesterday
afternoon:
"As introduced the resolution in
the meeting of the State executive
committee, the reference in the gov
ernors message is certainly to me and
justice TO myself demands that l take
notice of il.
Some time ago l expressed my
determination not 10 recognize the
existence Of two factions in this State
and / arm determined now not TO do
80, but this does not imply that !
shall not resist an unwarranted at
tack which is misleading and unjust.
II did introduce resolution Of in
Vestigation and did il because ] was
unwilling that charges of wholesale
fraud should remain uninvestigated.
These charges were made by friends
ef both sides. The resolution intro
duced by me is as follows:
Whereas notice Of protests has
been fled with this committee, charg-
ing among other things widespread
fraud and irregularities and
Whereas, under a former resolu-
ton passed by this committee, GER
tain investigations are being made as
TO the conduct Of the election held
August q, 1912, and full reports have
not yet been made thereon. and in
some counties have not been COM
pleted.
Therefore. be it Resolved. That
a subcommittee OF seven members
OF this committee be appointed by
the chairman, to hear and pass upon
all contests and all matters Of every
kind and description properly subject
of action by this committee as a
whole. pertinent or incident TO the
election held on August 81, 1912, with
full power and authority to take tes-
timony and make a full investigation
of the conduct Of said election and
report the same. together with all tes-
timony and all records. back TO this
committee. for action at a meeting to
be called by the chairman for that
purpose.
THAT the said committee be. and
hereby is. given power and authority
TO employ, at the expense OF this COM
mittee. such assistance as may be
deemed advisable to further the said
investigation. and shall have as full
power and authority TO summon wit
nesses. require the production Of pa
pers and records and do any and all
other acts necessary TO u full and
complete investigation Of the conduct
OF said election as has this commit
tee as a whole.
The actual expenses Of the com
mittee shall be borne By the treasurer
Of this committee
Il quote from the governors mes
sage: The governor publicly stated
on the State house steps that the
other side had stolen more votes and
put them in the ballot box than they
knew what to do with.
There were equally emphatic
charges on the other side. AS a
member of the executive committee
/ acted in the capacity of judge, not
q partisan felt that the surest
way to put an end TO these charges
was. il possible. TO ascertain whether
or not they were true and favored
AN investigation that would prove as
thorough and as expeditions as possl-
BILE.
AT the end OF this meeting I was
called to a distant State by illness in
my family and was. therefore, unable
10 serve on the committee of investi-
cation. Upon my return to South
Carolina wrote the chairman or
the State executive committee. John
Gary Evans, under date Of September
20, 1912. in part as follows:
The political situation over the
State demands in my opinion, that
the result OF the primary election be
speedily settled. AS | was the author
Of the subcommittee resolution, I de-
sire 10 state that introduced IL for
the purpose OF eXpediting the work
at hand 10 save expense and reach
"A determination at the first possible
day. and realizing that | would be
unable To serve on the committee
Immediately. because | was leaving
the State the next day anu did not
know when could return thought
that some one else could be placed
on it. who could do the work without
delay.