The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-08-02
THE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS
OF NEWBERRY COUNTY,

quarters or the equity eAeCutlVe ColIi-
n1ittee, and copies are now being
made as required by law. All of the
club books came in in the time fixed
by law. with the exception of three:
Kinards, Dominick and Maybinton,
the books from these clubs being one
day late. The delay was probably
due to the fact that the officers were
getting, up the }ist of absent voters,
as they were permitted to. do this
work until the 26th of July. the day
fixed as the last day for delivering
the books to the county chairman.
The total enrolment for the county
is 3467. Of this number 393 are per-
sons who are engaged in the civil,
military and~naval service of the
United States, making the number Of
those really present in the county
at the time of enrolment, and likely
to be here on election day, 3074. 1t is
evident that there has not been near
a full enrolment of the voters, G
pecially of those enga ged in the serv-
ice of the government. The enroll
ment in 1916 was 1858. The popula-
ton of the county having increased
in the past two years, of course. the
enrolment of 1918 should have ex-
ceeded that of two years ago. We
D understand that there are around
500 young white men in the service
of the government. in some capacity
Aor other. It is evident that the en-
E|2k lment committee did not secure
names and addresses of all these
men. It should be stated.
\ ever, that the enrolment COM
ees did not have sufficient time
work or that enrolment. They
to send in their books by the
sSl& of July. The State committee
" B not publish the law as to the err
EYlment of soldiers and sailors in
lyhe rules it sent out. and did not give
out anv instruction to the chairman
Of his county until Sunday. the 21st.
The officers in charge in this county,
however. found ont about the rule as
to this enrolment on Friday, the 10Th
a79 sent out notices about the mat
ter.
Another reason for smaller en-
rollment than there should have been
was because of the great error. of
hthe State committee in giving out the
wrong day for the closing of the
It was published and adver-
stised from May until July 18th that
the books would be kept open until
TuIy 3Nth. On July 18th the State
committee ordered the books closed
on July 23rd. one week earlier than
the date advertised previously. 4
number of voters who did not enrol!
would probably have done so if the
State Committee had been we'll in
formed of the law and had advertised
it properly. Strenuous efforts were
made in Newberry county though by
the officials of the county commit
tee to correct the error of the State
committee. The county chairman's
office published notices in both the
county papers, sent out 5000 circul-
ars. and sent letters to all the secre-
taries. executive committeeman and
enrolling committeeman, as to the
books closing on the 29rd. In all
likelihood if this action had not been
taken by these officers hundreds Of
voters who did enroll would have
been caught unawares and would
have lost their right to vote.
The county committee will meet in
the next few days to purge the rolls
and to correct errors therein. This
meeting cannot be had until after
the books have been copied, and it is
quite Job to copy over three thous-
and names, with the ages, occupa-
tons and postofdce addresses of the
voters.
wo nnblish below the enrolment
of the county by clubs and townships.
1t will be noticed that Whitmire is
the largest single club in the county,
Prosperity is second, and East River
side is the smallest club. In the table
~Present Voters" refers to the voters
present in the county now, and like
" to be at the boxes on election day,
while the term absent Voters
means those engaged in the service