The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-08-23
Mayoralty Election in Charles
ton is Still in Doubt and
Grace in Control
GRACE CANDIDATES
FO.. ALDERMEN WIN
The Municipa, Primary in Char
lesion Hinges on the Action
of Executive Committee

city Democratic executive committee
at the meeting to be held Friday u.
noon when the returns will be Off
nounced, the outcome Of the munich
pal primary held yesterday is still not
settled so far as the mayoralty is con-
cerned. The returns that have been
reported giving T. Y. Hyde majority
Of one, the votes for the TWO candi-
dates being as follows: T. 7. Hyde
3,421, John P. Grace 3,420. Both cam
didares express confidence in final vic
tory, after the challenged votes are
considered, and tremendous interest
is felt in the forthcoming meeting Of
tn executive committee.
The Grace ticket won decisively in
the election of aldermen, the returns
showing that II of "a aldermen were
nominated on the Grace ticket. Grace
candidates won in II of the IL con-
tests for aldermen at large. Six al
dermanic candidates won on the hyde
ticket, and one independent candidate
was nominated.
The vote in the mayoralty contest
was remarkably close, and not until
the last returns were in, at nearly s
O'Clock this morning. could the result
be esta blished on the face Of the re-
turns. The election. was unusually
quiet, good order being maintained
throughout the day, the only threat
ened disturbance Of any kind being in
Ward II, where an immense crowd
gathered constantly increasing from
the time the polls were closed until
the time that the ballot boxes We're
taken to Hibernian Hall. Policemen,
deputies, and provost guards were on
the scene and a threatening situation
apparently stirred up by rumors of
various kinds was kept from develop
ing into an outbreak that might have
had serious consequences, by prompt
action of Chairman Logan and other
authorities. The tenseness Of the SIT
uation was due to the great import
ance of the result in Ward II, as de-
cisive majority in this ward would
have definitely decided the election.
Ward II was carried by Grace by a
majority of % votes, which when iao-
ulated brought Hyde's majority down
to 1.
Mr.. Grace appealed to John D.
Frost, assistant adjutant general, to
order out the local militia to handle
the situation as necessary precau-
tionary measure. Major Frost took
the view that the situation did not
warrant calling out the guardsmen as
no riot or outbreak had occurred and
he was confident the local authorities
could keep order Chairman w. Turn
er Logan, Treasurer Daniel L. Sinkler
Of the executive committee, Major
Frost and Alfred Huger proceeded to
the polling place from Hibernian Hall
to bring the ballot boxes to the
committee room and they carried out
this plan without disorder developing.
The returns from Ward III were the
last received, it being nearly 3
o'clock in the morning when they were
brought to the committee. The first
return of the election came from
Ward 2, shortly after o'tclock.
A large crowd stayed out until the
early hours Of the morning, a cheer
ing tfrong getting facts of the re-
turns at Hibernian Hall. A large num-
Der of voters who had been ABSENT on
vacations returned to the city to cast
their ballots.
Of the II wards in the city seven
were carried by Grace and five by
Hyde.
With the exception Of Ward Z.
where Ton Rhett, incumbent, was
elected yer Sidney S. Riggs. the Grace
ticket for aldermen at large carried
every ward by decisive ma aiortieS
every ward by decisive majorities and
the disposition Of the challenged votes
can not change the outcome. A fea-
ture of this situation is that the can
didates on the Grace ticket ran
ahead of Grace except in three cases.
In Ward 2, A. c. Thompson received
1920 votes, the same number receiV-
I'd by Grace, exclusive of the chal-
lenged votes. Sidney S. Riggs in
Ward Z, and c. W. Tollner, in Ward
l2, received fewer votes than Grace.
Hyde ran ahead Of his ticket Of al
dermen at large candidates except in
Tile case Ol Oll IL. NIlSll, WIN kO-
ceived 3,434 votes. and who is the only
Hyde. candidate to be elected as alder
man at large.
The highest vote for any candidate
in the election was received by Harry
F. Barkerding. Grace candidate for
alderman at large in Ward 6. who re-
ceived 1857 votes out of 6,7SS cast.
Tho nncaih1a yoto 7tS
The result in the election IN ward
aldermen will not be changed by the
outcome Of challenged votes, the ma
iorities in every case being larger than
the number of votes challenged in the
respective wards OF the IL ward aid
nrmen. SIX We're elected on the Grace
ticket, five on the Hyde ticket, and one
independent. In half the wards. the
candidates were unopposed for cleo
ton. Two Grace men. perhaps three,