Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-07-12
entry LIST NOT REOPEAED'
State Executive Committee Meets ID
Columbia.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR EXTRA ELECTION.


nittee Devotes Time to Abuse o.
Blease and McLaurin-Resolutlons
of Appreciation Of TiIInan, and Ad'
dress to People Of tho State.
Columbia State. Wednesday.
Several hours were consumed yes
terday by the state Democratic execu-
tive committee in debating the pro-
posal of taking the names Of Cole L.
Blease and John l. McLaurin from
the rolls Of the Democratic party.
Strenuous argument on the part OF
several committeeman to let the peo-
pie themselves determine the question
at the polls at the August primary
finally prevailed against the disposi-
ton of the committee to act summari-
ly. The alleged perfidy Of Blease and
McLaurin. as revealed In McLaurins
recent exposure, Of an attempt 10
sell the Democratic party out two
years ago. the Blease independent
ticket two years ago. which ticket
was alleged by w. p. Beard, who put
out the ticket, to have been named by
Cole L. Blease. and the announcement
by Blease that neither he nor his fol-
lowers were bound by their oath to
support the nominees Of the party In
1916 and Blease's reiteration Of fraud
were the chief detectives Of the COM
mitteemen's fire.
Would Kick Out Of Party.
T. II. Ketchin, state senator from
Fairfield county, and member Of the
executive committee. urged the ap-
pointmcnt of committee Of five. be-
fore whom Blease and McLaurin
should be summoned and II the facts
were found to be as published over
the names of those friendly to Blease
and McI.aurin at the time of the vari-
ous Incidents. then to kick them."
Blrase and McI.aurin unceremone-
ously out of the party ranks.
The question OF this authori-
ty being lodged with the executive
committee, was the storm center Of
the debate. There was no division Of
opinion as to the just deserts Of the
candidates in question. Some OF the
committeeman took the position that
the elimination Of Blease and Mciau
rim from the Democratic tickets would
cause a great furor over the state. If
left to the voters, proper disposition
would be made of the issue in casting
ballots. The voters could be trusted
to retain the party In Its purity and
to rebuke those who had sought to
to Republicans.
The question was faised by John,
Gary Evans, state chsirraan, SNh1 .v,1
.1sBas tirsa-of ShA -
being villifed and abused by Blease
throughout the state. and charges OF
fraud two years ago reiterated, when
Blease did not have the courage or
manhood to protest the election before
the committee or to carry the question
into the courts. He was continuing
this charge OF. fraud and ,partisanship
against the present committee In re-
fusing to speak at York under the
hammer Of n partisan executive COM
mittec" and would not speak until the
regular meeting had been dismissed.
He had also consistently refused to
follow the itinerary as arranged by
the executive committee. in further
emphasis of his disregard for the par
ty machinery Of the state. Effort to
sell out the party at a time like this
the party which controls the state and
the national government constituted
treachery to the state. the nation and
the head of the nation. It was finally
agreed to issue the address OF Mr..
Evans as a warning to the voters OF
the state against possible betrayal by
candidates now seeking their suffrage
To Go Into Campaign.
In providing for the election Of a
United States senator for the unex-
pired term of the late Senator Till
man. which will extend approximately
two months beyond the tenure OF
Senator Benet. the appointee of Gov
ernor Manning. 1t was arranged that
candidates for the short term would
canvass with the regular United
States senatorial party. A separate
ticket will be provided by the execu-
tive committee for the short term can
didates, who will be voted for in the
regular primary for other candidates
The assessment fee was fixed at $50
Monday was designated as the last
day for filing pledges and the cam
paign Is to open the following da!
with the other senatorial candidates
at Dillon. Senator Benet and Thos
H. Peoples are thus far the only can
didates who have announced for the
short term.
John Gary Evans. state chairman
was elected q member OF the national