The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-08-26


morrow, when the Sixth and Seventh
districts will. choose successors, re-
'spectively, to the late Congressman
Ragsdale and to Congressman Lever,
the latter of whom resigned to accept
position rendered him upon the
federal farm loan board by the presi-
dent of the United States. 1t will
take the counting of the votes to de-
termine who has the best chance.
Nobody in either district has any
walk-over. There is some excellent
congressional timber to choose from,
and as a result of the elections, both
districts will in al probability be
well represented in the lower nation
al house.
The election Of Grace as mayor of
Charleston came as somewhat Of a
surprise to a great many people-but
not to those who have watched the
trend of events in the city by the
sea. Mr.. Grace is a man with the
courage of his convictions, and the
campaign waged against him in Char
lesion was not the kind of campaign
which could win. When he offered
to get out Of the running on condi-
ton that Mayor Hyde also withdraw,
and leave the race to some man or
some several men hot recognized as
partisans of the two old factions, and
when Mr.. Hyde declined to be elm
mated, under that proposition, MIR.
Grace had the race won then. There
was never the shadow Of doubt
about it. People are getting tired
of bitter politics in South Carolina.
But they are going to continue to
register their protests against men
and newspapers who, when they think
they are in power, don't give the
other fellow a square deal.
And, by far and large, the speech
of Mr.. Grace when the result was
declared, was a better public utter
ance than any that was delivered
during the campaign. "But from the
civic standpoint, in the upbuilding Of
this city," he said, 81 will know neith-
er friend nor foe. Only in the dis
tribution Of V lat legitimately be-
longs to politics will know my
friends. After that all men shall be
equal before the law ip Charleston,
at least"
Mayor Hyde says he is coming be-
fore the supreme court for a final
adjudication, and he has a strong
statement in the News and Courier
of Sunday, upon which he says he
will base his contest. The Charles
ton American, Mr.. Grace's paper,
does rot carry the Hyde statement.
Mr.. Hyde contends that he won re
election, and that he was counted 1t
in star-chambef proceedings. -sle
Grace faction say that the count was
held by the committee alone, without
the admitttance Of the public, call
ing only the witnesses in interest, in
order to save the same kind Of
trouble which happened four years
ago, when young Mr.. Sidney Cohen,
a reporter for the Evening Post, was
killed in a shooting scrape at the ex-
ecutive committee meeting. 1t is
usually the case in this kind Of affair
that the innocent man gets killed,
and nobody ever was convicted Of the
murder of Cohen. 1t happens that
Mr.. Grace's law partner, Mr.. Logan,
is chairman of the executive commit
tee at this time, and the vote in every
instance was 13 to Ia strictly
partisan vote. But nobody was kill
ed, and the supreme court will final
ly review the whole matter, on the
law of the case, and Mr.. Grace seems
to be pretty we'll satisfied that the
law has been carried out.
The Herald and News has had a
good deal to say about the attitude
of Former Governor Blease, in con-
nection with the congressional race
in this district. When Governor
Blease first made his announcement,
l stated in this correspondence that
his attitude would be watched with
interest, and that it had given rise
to good deal of speculation. l had
no idea then that Mr.. Blease had
any notion Of running as an inde-
penden tcandidate. I was convinced
then, and / am convinced now, that
what he was after was to impress
upon the white people of this county,