The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1916-12-28
MIX. MILLER AND MIR. EVANS
JoelH.Miller and John Gary Evans
Exchange Spicy Letters

ChClAdliSC OklCy LCttCAS
John Gary Evans, chairman of the
state democratic executive committee
of South Carolina, recently wrote alet-
ter to Joel II. Miller Of Eascy, in re-
ply to newspaper article by Mr.. Mil
Ter. Mr.. Evans requested that his let
ter be made public. In accordance with
Evans request, Mr.. Miller has given
the whole correspondence to the press,
and it makes spicy reading, in addition
to presenting q review of the action of
the state democratic executive commit
tee in refusing hearing on the charges
of fraud which were offered in connec-
ton with the recent primary.
The correspondence, which, as is
shown by Mr.. Evans letter, is publish
ed in accordance with his request is as
follows:
Easley, S. c.. Nov. 16, 1916.
Hon. Jno Gary Evans, So-Called Chair
man State Democratic Executive
Committee, Spartanburg, S. C.
Sir have your letter of November
"LL', which, ] presume, means H. l
quote your letter in full, because l ex-
pect to turn my letter over to the press
for publication, as suggested in your
letter, and in this manner the record
will be complete. You address me as
follows:
Mr.. Joel Miller, Easley, S. c.:
My dear Mr. Miller My attention has
been directed to an article published by
you in The Anderson Tribune, entitled
Card From Mr.. Miller
"In this article you state: 4 have
investigated this question with many
others from the different counties Of the
state. What did we last see to our sur
prise?' That there were about 1.5OO
sworn complaints toat came before the
state executive committee to be inves-
tigated. What did they do? l will tell
you what happened and what we did. ;
In the first place, when the chair
man of the state committee moved for
protest and contest in the election for
governor, not single voice was raised,
not sworn complaint was presented,
not single affidavit or any other com
plant, verbal or written, was presented
upon which the state committee could
take any action. On the contrary, Mr..
Richie signed the report presented by
the subcommittee to the general COM
mittee in which it was declared that
Mr.. Manning had been nominated by
the democratic primary Mr.. Ritchie
stated that when the question was pre-
sented that he could not vote for it for
the reason that he had seen evidence of
improper practices used in the election.
He did not produce any evidence at this
time upon which the committee could
act, and the question being upon the
adoption Of the report, the chairman
ruled it out of order and any otherques-
ton that had not been properly present
ed. The chairman further ruled that if
Mr.. Ritchie desired he could give his
reason for not supporting the resolution.
The resolution was adopted and neither
Mr.. Blease nor any friend of his on the
committee ever offered any evidence of
fraud upon which the committee could
act.
II believe that you are honest and
mean to do what is right, but am sat
isfied that you have been deceived as to
the truth of this matter am sure
that if you had informed yourself, in
stead of blaming the committee you will
condemn Mr. Blease and his so-called
friends who have tried to deceive you
and other honest men Of this state as to
the truth Of the facts in this matter.
hope you will correct your statements,
as there is no foundation for them, and
in justice to the committee you will
make this letter public.
"With best regards,
"Yours very truly,
'JNO. GARY EVANS
In reply to your letter, beg to say
that you most assuredy misstate the
facts, but | am not surprised at that.
The truth of the matter, as you know,
is as follows:
Six members of the state democratic
executive committee voted as protest
against the nomination of Mr. Manning
The statement submitted by Mr.. Ritchie
was the statement of all six of these
gentlemen, and reads in part as fol-
lows-an | quote from the Columbia
State, which denounced you in 1896 as
bitterly as ever man was denounced,
but which seems to be your spokesman
now
In the Columbia State of Wednesday
morning, September 20, 1916, tits stated:
"When the committee reported, Mr..