The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1921-11-19
ELECTION MIDDLE :
IN CHARLESTON


lesion developed yesterday when al
legations were made of fraudulent
voting in the special election held
November on the question of the
city taking over the port terminals
and issuing $4,000, 900 in bonds to buy
and maintain the terminals. B. F.
Mcleod of Charleston wrote letter
to Governor Cooper on the subject.
Mr.. Mcleod claims that between
400 and 500 persons voted in the cleo
ton on poll tax receipts which, he
charges, were dated back by the coun-
ty treasurer ir order that the voters
would apparently conform to the law.
These pre-dated poll tax receipts bore
the seven cents penalty, which did not
60 into effect until May Is, according
to the letter, and thereby show, he
says, that the holders of such re-
ceipts paid their tax after the date
for paying had expired and that they
were dated back to March Is, in most
cases, by the county treasurer.
Mr.. Mcleod furnished the informa-
ton to the governor and the chief eX-
ecutive turned the letter, together
with number of affidavits regarding
improper voting, over to the comp
troller general for investigation. Wal
ter E. Duncan, comptroller general,
said yesterday that he would go to
Charleston Monday to investigate per-
I-, hn w
in reference to the alleged pre-dating
of poll tax receipts and any other
irregularity in connection with the
voting in the special election. Mr..
Duncan will probably be accompanied
by corps of expert auditors and
after the investigation will report to
the governor. The chief executive will
then determine what step he will take
in the matter, if the charges by Mr..
Mcleod are sustained by the comp
troller generals investigation.
Affidavits from managers of elec-
tions furnishing names and addresses
of persons who voted on the poll tax
receipts that were dated March is.
but had the seven cents penalty, and
many having 'March Is" stamped
over other dates, according to the
letter of Mr.. McLead, were also sent
the governors g. ittr fartigcf eclaisnee
that several hundred voters procured
poll tax receipts after the comptroller
general had checked the books of the
county treasurer, this being August 5
Mr.. Mcleod is said to have opposed
the purchase of the terminals by the
city and the difference of the 400 OF
500 votes might materially effect the
result. of the election, which carried
for the purchase of the terminals anc
the issuance of the bonds. The SUI
preme court has ruled several times
that no person is qualified to vote il
any election whatever prior to si'
months after December 81, wher
taxes are supposed to have been paid
unless he can show that all taxes, in
cluding poll, have been paid on or be-
fore December 81. In the recen
Chester annexation case the court de
clared the election void because {
number of persons not paying thei1
poll tax prior to December 81 hat
been allowed to vote. The court opin
ion speaks of "six months after De
cember 81 had been allowed to vote
The court opinion speaks Of "si1
months after December 81" and it il
not known what effect the voting il
November, more than six months af
ter December 81, would have wher
taxes are paid after the date pre-
scribed by law.-The State.