The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-09-30
GRACE AND THE DEMOCRAIll
PARTY.

After John P. Grace had pleaaeo
his case here last Wednesday before
Chief Justice Eugene B. Gary IN al
ATTEMPT to get the writ of eertlorarl
dismissed in the Charleston election
FIGHT. he went back to Charleston and
addressed a labor gathering the next
day, at which time he intimated that
political consideration might lniu-
ence the Supreme Court in its decls-
ion in the case and also stated that
he was ready to lead in breaking up
the Democratic party.
His speech is bolshevistic in trend
almost a yelled threat against the
court. He speaks largely OF allow
ing the vote of the people to rule,
but in his speech before court here
he was arguing that the arbitrary
decision of the Democratic executive
committee in Charleston prevail.
A few extracts from his speech
follow:
"It would have been considered
absurd, I believe, a month ago if any
man had suggested that the people of
Charleston were not capable of decid-
ing their own affairs. Of course all
through the campaign we heard about
and in fact, bets were made, not de-
pending on the decision of the Demo-
cratic sParty and its executive COM
mittee, but depending upon the
courts; and these bets were made
with a suspicious suggestion that
deep down underneath the surface
somebody controlled the courts of
this State, and that somebody or
some influence, whatever it was, at
a critical time weqlq ceme forward
and usurp the will of the people, You
know very we'll tina. that was talked
about all during the campaign and
bets were made on that issue:
If believe that in order to overturn
the will of the Democratic Party the
State supreme court will have to tear
up every law book in the State. The
very election that was stolen from me
four years ago, as everybody knows,
was taken to the supreme court, not
by me, but by one of the men on my
ticket, and the great issues involved
in that case which we lost at the
time (and when we lost it felt out,
ragged because we lost it, but bowed
to the will of the supreme court) suf.
fered because the court practically
left it to the Democratic Party tt
rule its own affairs. That very de-
cision, which at that time semed t.
US to be so much against the justice
of that case, is, in the course of time
the decision upon which we now place
.ur cause; ard unless the supreme
court is ready to say that it was dea!
four years ago to the cause whicl
We presented because it was W. wht
presented it, but is ready to listen to
day to the cause of our anlagon!sI
because il is THEY who present. it
there is no chance for US to los
before the supreme court. So tina
what appeared to US gr .at wron'
frlr years ago mast 40" appeal t.
u, a the long run as right bav
always said everything happens fc
the best; God in His providence. visit
US with Affections which in the EN-
turn out for our own good. The yer.
thing which we considered four year
ago to be a great hardship has turne,
out to be the cup Of hope.
Opposed to Violence.
"But some people say that the Su
preme Court is not going to take tina
view, and as it decided against Vi
four years ago, is going to decid
against us now, though on some othe
grounds. Tide L;do not:s ltoot trsi:i know and I an
not ready to believe that about tn
Supreme Court. But if that time ha
come, then nothing is safe, in thi