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Primary Election Returns for State Officers. The ? is ,he ?*. ?g of the ta Sh?*?^^&??E?2???&. not counted by the Executive Committee. From it can De seenmaioritv of 447 over Mower for Attor ernor. ^mpk^aasarnajority of OT tef^^^^^S^M^L runs ahead for Superin ^tt? ?X^: Thom, runs ahead teKai.road Commissioner and comes near having a majority over his six opponents. Atkins Bandana Bossard Concord Earle Farmers' Gailiard's X Roads... High Hills.v ? Laborers & Mechanics Manchester Mayes ville Pleasant Grove Privateer. Providence Rafting- Creek Salem.... Scarborough Shiloh. Stateburg. Sumter. Swimming Pens Taylors. Wedgefield. Zoar. First Regiment ?Second Regiment Total;. OFFICIAL COUNT OF YOTE FOR COUNTY TICKET AND CONGRESS. PRIMARY HELD AUGUST 30, 1898._ VOTING PLACES Atkins. Bandana...: Bossard.. Concord.. Earle. farmers. <J?*Jlard's X Roads. Eigh H?ls. Jjaborers & Mechanics .Manchester. -Mayesville, Den?... ^Pleasant Grove Providence. "Baftinj: Creek. - &Filem.w. >Scarboro. Shiloh. -Siateburg. Sumter. Swimming Pens... Taylor. Wedgefield . "Zoar-. ^Privateer. Company M. Total SENATE. SEPSES ENT AT?YES. P. J. SUPKEVISOB. SUP?T Ol' ED'N.! AUDITOK. g je * ? F S3 .1 11 28! ll 7| ll 44? 28 62 43 13 28 20 28 14] 40 53 ll 54 52 13? 26 15! ll 53! 22] 16? 14; 13! 30? 23 24' 35 6? 153! 235? 8! 13! ll 24 15 35 31 10 5 4 8 76 O i a I ? i I g : I 5 cc Q - O ! ss i .2 I *. I ? ? * SS ! G ! ? * _? ? ! -' i ? ! 2 S 42 36 32 1 26; 17 42 44) 20 1 12? 25! 13 36? 13 3! 13 50? 37 32? 30 IQ] 3 7] 15 7 1? 19; 5 46 6 3] 7 65 169 41 6 43! 16? 7 21 21 8? 13!v 39 3 24 51 25 12 9 8 20 8 57 8 12 6 27 30 9 22 275 12 13 24 14 22 26 3 18 18 ^21 91 56 25 8 35 63 42 13 18 54 M ?27 10 1? 12 231 14! 31! 78| 44 18 ? 4| 5 31 20? 27; 27 19; 28! 61 29j 32; 19? 18| 991 46! 47? i 1 15 74 4 27 \ 40| ll 4 38! 27 17 2271 i 36! 56? 39 j 31 33; 29 232; 176 17 9 4s; 21 51 34 15! 09! 251 13 16 33? 8 15 7 43 23 32 31 27 Sil 13 84 12 14 74 26 21 16 39? 1721 16| 23 .20 25? 171 20 2 ll! 29 21 55 ? 89; 17 15 29 40 30? 63; 13 30! 6 35| 31 55! 53? 64, 46? 106! 39: c 29 26 14 55? 771 ll 30 14 37 15 43 46 41 232j 389 S 20| 171 54; 6? 40i 44? 52; 19 52 18 47; 3| ?I 6i 20 3 3 8 13 ' 2] o! 2 114 7 12 ll 1 20 ll 8 18 29 41 40 ? l! ll 42 40 61 13 ll 5! 15 9 li 172! 10 40 6; 53 21 9 20 17 45 10 26 21 4 4! 3i 51 71 23 ll 9i ie; 16} 2! 30 ! 63) 24! 14; 13j ,5? 54! ll 13 22; 29! 20; 4 29 37 j 24 99? 235! 3! 6; 2! 44 23 3! Hi 31! 25! 18] 6 21 764| 761, 535' 579] 694? 972j 963; 694? 809| 7981414: 273] 710! 550 4i 24 13 A 75! 28 27! 15 33? 34! 31! 15 18' 16 n\ i 221 ?7 Hi 113? 12 6; 9] a 281 17 bo o V X ol ll 1 29 5 21 55 lol 88 18 75 l| 34 16; 35 31 55 28| 64 10! 106 IO! 39 3! 25 49? 72 1 30 l! 43 I 46 2 41 38; 383 3 21 4! 52 6; 40 1 57 16? 51 2 45 662] 625) 231 ! 1521 TE. 'CONGRESS to ~\ 2 ? cc -5 ? JA C CC I fe I 5: 3 27 9 12 25? 30 89| 43? 20! 27 30! H 60; 37 15 60 13 34 42 i 41, 116 274? 9! 12! 7 471 13 27 19 38 8 43 281 20 26 ll 5 24 15 43 2| 10 14 17 8 4 ! H li 28 21 10 67 68 4 45 23 4 30 417 1101 3 32 3 51 32, 32 43 61 39 4 22 16 59 5 25 9 34 2 44 25 17 223 163 10 ll 2 51 21 53 33 36 19 5 19 10 533 994 MAGISTRATES. ?rict No. 3. R. C. Folk District No. 1, H. L. B. Wells; District No. : District No. 4. L. R. Jennings ; District Nc 2, J. F. Ingram and J. A. Hodge to run in second primary ; Dis .~7. R. W. Hudson : District No. 8. B. P. Kelly. PROCEEDINGS OF The Executive Committee A Poli Report of the Two Days Sei sion of the County Committee. Io response to a genera! expression of tl *wisb for a full and detailed report of the nr< -ceedings of tbe Couory Executive Commiit? during tbe two days sessions to canvass tr returns from ibe manager* of the primar election and declare the result, tbe followin sccoont bas keen prepared from notes take -during tbe sitting of tbe committee It is a -foll and accurate HS possible to make it withii the space at ou command, and it is place* before our reders in order that they tc*; ?Torin their ow.i upioioa on the questions ii tssne, from th"* record : Tbecoun?? rxecutive Committee me: ii tfee Court House at ll o'clock a. m. Thursday to tabniate the returns of tbe primary and i< declare tbe election Mr. Altmoot Moses filed a written requea "forarecooot of tbe senatorial vote as fol Sows : SUMTER. S. C , Sep'. I, '98. To the Members of the Executive Committee, Sumter County : ? respectfully ask for a recount of tbs vet? fer senator on the ground that errora were "?.ade ia tabulation. Tbe votes cast ia nearly ?very precinct exceeded the votes returned for ?anoing and Moses. Respectfully, ALTAMONT MOSES. ' Oapt. C. L. Williamson opposed a whole ?it!e recount OD account of the time that weeli be consumed, but favored a recount -?f any box against which a contest should be died by reason of irregularities. He weat-on -c say that it would be a difficult matter at _^iaJiaAio^PJ^hjfld the retaras of the man fl?--MM--a-??-. - I ?gera ard ascertain tbe true aod *xact votf ! and be thought it the rea p!aQ to accept th returo? as a ade bj ta? maaagtrs of the elec tioc Mrj Moise favored ?he adoption of an; j means possible to ascertain the true result ! oo mat er how much tiae it mi^bt consum j or what ?abor and trouble it would entail j and be would oppose any action ?bat tends t( ! shut i ff the right that any cmdidate ha3 :< ? Ask for a recount where a dou*?; ezista. . i Capt. Williamson disclaimed any intentior. j or d?*a:re to deny any umdidate the right tc demand .n recount where irr?2u!ari!irs are be lieved to have cccurted. He warded nothing but justice to be done i Chaim aa Purdy ruipd that ?h?? committee I shon'd proceed to tabulate toe returns aa ! made by fae manager3, aod tr^a: when ihe i tabulation has been completed tbe contests ! and protesis, if any, v* iii be taken up Hod . acted oa before the vote is declared The ru!:ng was accepted without objection j and tbe tabulation of the returns wa3 com ; menead. Mesara. J. J. Dwight and J. B. Raffield j were appointed to aaa'st the secretary in the > tabulation of the vote. j The returns from Atkins ?er? first taken ! up, and i: wa3 discovered that the election j there was not according to the rules of the j party, as all the votes were in one box in ! Slffad of two, and tba: was ? pasteboard box ! which was sent ia through the mail. j The attention of tba committee was called to the irregulatity of tbe returns from this ' precinct and the fact thai under -4 strict con? struction of the rules the vote should not be counted at all, but it was ?ojl.'y decided to disregard thc letter of the iaw and count the vote at th ia precinct. The tabulation proceeded, with a abort in? termission for dinner, ant:. Taylors wai : reached, when it was fouoc that tbe box was lili hlllliMlallM^llffir'.il1li.>T^^*^"'"? not in. Accordtog to tbe rules, all boxes should be ic before 4 o'clock in ?be afternoon of the second day after tbe primary. Tbe tabulation of toe vote from other pre? cincts was proceeded ?iib and completed. Discussion relative to the action to be taken on tbe unreported vote from Taylor'* precinct was participated in by Messrs. R,. ?. Manning, E. W Dai>bs, W. D Scarborough, M. Moise, C. L. Williamson, W. S. Diokins and Altamont Moses, the last-named gentle? man b'.viog been grao'ed the privilegee of th? Soor It w?3 admitted by all tbat the rules re? quired th- box to be in the hands of tbe County Executive Committee within forty eight hours from the close of the polls oo election day and that to obey the rul-? the tabuUtion should be completed and tbe elec? tion declared on the returns received, but the disposition of the coramiitee waa in favor of disregarding the rule r.nd postponing the declaration of the result until Taylors box and the return of the managers could be ob? tained. Mr. Moise proposed that the committee take up ?he sealed ballots that were sent up by the managers at several precincts and decide whether they we:e legal votes and to be counted, or illegal and to be thrown out, and 1 theo to hear and conaider the protests and 1 contests made in reference to the vote at cer : tain specified preciocts. This proposition wa3 opposed by a majori? ty of the con-mittee, and a motion to take a recess until 10 a. m Friday waa made by Mr. Dabbs ; Mr. Moise then made a motion that the j committee proceed to tabulate the votes as j received and declare the election aa required by the rules. Vr. Manning opposed the motion, saying that the committee couid see the disposition of the other side, that they proposed to dis regard aod throw oct tbe entire rote of 001 precinct wbicb would defeat tbe will of tb< people and ebaoge tbe result of the election, tbat he demanded fall aod exact justice anc would Dot conseut to the adoption of the mo tion. Mr. Moise, replyiug, stated that be had nc desire to defeat tbe will of tbe people, bul sering from tbe trend of tbe proceedings tbat the committee wa3 not disposed to act on tbe protests and cooters as right and jus lice to ?ll parties required, nor to take up aod investigate the irregularities in certain boxes, nor to order a recount of the vote in certain boxes, where irregularities or errors were proven to bave occurred by the returns of tbe managers, wbicb showed on their face by discrepancies between tbe total vote polled ard the total vote reported for the various candidates for the several officers, that errors in count or tabulation bad been made, be deemed it best and tte only way to avoid worse confusion and greater trouble to pro? ceed to strict accurdance with tbe rules. "It will not do," said be "to disregard techni? calities and override tbe plain rules of tbe party in one case, and construe them rigidly in another. If we are to follow and obey tbe ?letter of the law in one instaoce we must obey in ah." Tbe cbairmao called tbe attention of tbe committee to tbe mle requiring tbe county committees to tabulate tbe returns for State officers at ooce and to forward tbe return immediately to the State Executive Coma- it tee. Tbis canst be done before a recess is taken, for tbe return must be sent to Colum bia to-night. To meet the d:fficul-y a motion was offered that returns for State officers be tabulated at i once without waiting for the return of the j vote at Taylors, and the return be made and j forwarded to Columbia, but that the vote for i county officers ne not tabulated until the Taylors vote should be received, that a recess be tajieo until 10 a. m. Friday, and tbat two messengers appointed by the ebair bs sent to ontain the boxes and returns of the aanagers at Taylors precinct. Tbe motion was adopted. Messrs. S Y. Delgar and W. T. McLeod were appointed by tbe chairman to go for the box aod they returned with it that night The vote for State officers was tabulated and the result declared before the committee took a re-cess Before the committee adjourned Mr. Alta I moot Moses fiied the foliowiog specific pro? test with tbe Secretary: Altamont Mosfs charges specifically a3 to the Sumter box : 1. That tbe total poll list shows 412, that j the total vot? tabulated for Senator was only 388, and therefore requests that the vote as ! to Senator i i that box be recounted 2 That the affidavit of W H. Commao-j der, one of the aanagers at ihe Sumter box, I shows that there were about eight baliots for couoty officers in tbe State t-ox and about tbe same number of ballots for State officers io tbe county box, and that neither were j counted, and he therefore begs that the s^me be counted. On Friday morning the committee met at 10.20 o'clock with most of the memoers j present. Hon. Altamont Moses asked the j privileges of the floor for his attorney, A.B. j Stuckey, Esq., which was granted. The i Taylors vote was then tabulated. Mr. Dabbs moved that the result as tabu- I lated be ascertained. The motion was opposed by several com- : miiteemen on the ??round that if the vote be declared the whole matter would be 3ettied I I : finally and beyond remedy and that there j would be no opportunity for taking up the I ? challenged ballots in sealed envelopes or to ! hear and determine the protests and contests. Mr. Dabbs stated that his motion did no: cootem^l? v _8 declaration, but meten a that tbe result be ascertained. Tais c understood and ?2re/?d to, tbe Secretary directed to aaeeri-tin ?b? total rote caa ccb ot" the candidates tor county offices. Wheo tbia waa done tbe result was rea ' tbe commitiee. Mr Dabbs immediately mored that committee DOW proceed to declare tb? n j nt tabulated. Mr. Moise raiaed the point of order tbe motion could not be entertained ai passage would cat or? the bearing of tbe teats. Mr. Manning, speaking on tbe poin order, declared tbat tbe poi G t did not h that the committee bad the result as sen bj tbe managera, before itaod could pro to declare tbe election. Mr. Dabbs' motion received a second. Mr. Scarborough opposed the paasag Mr. Dabbs' motion, for to do as tbe mo demanded would bare th? appearance of jaatice and would be unfair to the people unfair to tbe candidates interested, iaaaa .8 it would cut off the beariog of contesta protesta and leave tbe contestants wit} I relief or remedy. He appealed to the com tee to act considerate]/ and fairly. Mr. Dibbs disclaimed tbe wish to do in tice to any one or to prevent tbe fullest moat exact juatice to all parties He off: bis motion aa tbe best means of settling matte:, for it would be impossible to go bind the returns of the sworn managers, pointed by tbe committee, without leadtoj endless trouble and confusion ar being means of doing greater injuatica tb tn acceptance of the returna on their face wo entail. Mr Moise sustained his point of order stating that tbe adoption of Mr. Dabbs t tioo would settle tbe matter finally ; and t it was the ciear duty, under tbe rules and accordance with precedent, to hear and termine tbe protests and contests Chairman Purdy ruled : That tbe duty tbe committee is to tabulate tbe returna, bi prousts and contests, if soy, act on tbe sac and tben to declare tbe election. Protests a contests moat come before tbe committee 1 fore the result is declared. If there are protests or contests tbe result will be c dared. Protests and cootests were called for. Mr. A B. Stackey, attorney for Mr. Ali mont Moses, read tbe following protests ai contests : Gentlemen of the Executive Committee: I hereby enter my proteat agaioat the ta ulatiou of tbe votes ss tabulated by tbe ma agers for tbe Senator from the voting pr cinct8 below enumerated, on the grounc stated aa follows : Against Atkins On the gronnd3 that tbe ballots were ca in a pasteboard box without lock or key. ii stead of in a proper box, and that tbe baiio for State, County and Federal officer wei cast in one box ; and for tbe further reasc that the oox, poll l?t, ballots and the allege returns of tbe managers wera sent by ma and not sent by a member ot the board c by an executive committeeman. That tb total vote at Atkins precinct, to wit, ll vote.5 were against tbis contestant and br throwin out said entire vote the result of the electio in Sumter County ia in favor of this coa testant. Against Taylors Because neither the box ballots, poll lists nor returns of tbe managers were receive by tbe Executive Committee wubin forty eight boura of tbe closing of tbe polls, co bad tbey been received or beard from up ti tbe time of tbe recess taken by the Commit tee at about tbe bour of 5 p. m. on Thura day, Sept. 1st, 1898 Tbat by disregarding tbe alleged vote at Taylors and tbrowioj eut the same tbe result of the election wil be changed in favor of tbe contestant. Tba if said box be not disregarded that tben tben should be a recount of said bcx because tlx total vote cast aa shown by tbe alleged re? turn of tbe managers is 54 and tbe total vote fox Senator ia 55, one vote in excess of ihf total vote cast. Tbat if said box be not re? counted tben that one vote must be taken oS tbe total vote of the highest candidate ss shown by tbe report of the managers, tc wit: from the vote of Mr. R. I Manning Against Sumter Because the manager erred in returning tbe vote of contestant as 235. whereas it should have been 243, as a recount of tbe box will prove. Tbat said board of managers further erred in not counting 12 or more bal? lots cast for County officers in favor of this contestant in the State box ; that wheo said ballots are counted they will change tbe re? sult of the electivo in favor of this contest? ant. Because there were eight ballots io the connty box at Sumter which bad been im? properly scratched as to tbe candidates for certain offices, but properly Ecritched as re? lates to tbe office of Seoator ; that said bal? lots were in favor of this contestant, but the entire ballots were placed to one side, and after the count, placed back 'nto tbe box where ibey now are, that said ballots have not been counted or tabulated by the man? agers, aid tbis contestant aemands tbat ?aid ballots be counted acd tabulated. He be? lieves that these ballots are ic favor of this contestant who has thereby beeu made tnt nominee of the Demociatic party from Sum? ter County for tbe State Senate Against the vote at Earlp. Farmer;, High Hills, Providence and Rafting Creek Because tbe managers have returned ?ess votes for the Senators than tbe total number of votes cast and th?i this contestant avers that be believes that a recount of the billots from said precinct wtli result in changing the result of the election ia his favor Contestant further charges tba; there are sealed ballots deposited in tne boxes for ! county offices ia the boxes from Gaiilard'a X Roads, Privateer ?Dd Sumter which bavs not ! been opened or acted on by this committee. \ ALTAMONT MCSKS Sumter, S. C , Seut 2, 1898. Mr. C. L W??imson entered a pretest j against oue vote ia Gaiiiard X Roads tos on the grounds that the vote: was a resident of Lee County. The vote was challenged on election day and waa placed io an envelope j by the managers. Maocaester box, ia fcebal: of Mr J A. Bodge, alleging tba: on<? of the managers was druDk, tba: the vote w?9 oot counted correctly, that the returns sen; in ?io not show the correct result and th it a recount ot tbe votes ia tbe box would be necessary to give a correct re? suit and a recount was therefore demanded. Mr. Moi^e suggested that ail charges be beard -nd ta? committed then take them up seriatim an i dispose of tbeT. No otj?ctioH was made. Mr Stuckey made acis?rend comprehensive areumeot ia support of the charges ?nd spec tScation3 "? adejn the protejt filed by bim. Mr. Dabbj replied opposing tbe requests made ia the protest, reiterating the argumeot previously advao'-ed in fivor of declaring the result as tabulated. Mr. Moise spoka ia famr of taking up the charges made, investigating them fully anti fearlessly, at whatever expense of time and troable, without regarding tbe persooai inter? ests of this or that caod?date, but solely for the purpose of arriving at the expressed will of the people aod to do exact justice to ail parties by the correctioa of errors and mis take3 ia the count aad tabulation. Such mistakes occur in all business coocerns aod there are groands for belief that mistakes have occarred in thia count. Further tho sealed ballots should he opened aod disposed ot before tbe result is declared. Ia reference to the ballots tbat were improperly scratched in reference to certain candidates for county officers, bot properly scratched as to all others, be said that no ose would deny that tbe managers erred m not counting them for tho candidates for such offices as were properly scratched and that, a? it was within tbe power of the committee to remedy tbe error by opening tbe boxes and counting tbem, be felt that it was the duty of the committee to "* reconst tbe vete and tabulate these ballots. Mr. Williamson opposed the recount of tbe ballots in any box and favored the declara? tion of the result as tabulated. Ee wanted only justice to be done, but did not think <x recount would do justice, for in tbe condition of the boxes after three day9 bad elapsed scch aa attempt to recount the vote sod go behind tba managers returns woold be aa injustice in itself aad would make greater confusion and trouble. Mr. Moise asked and obtained permission to see tbe returns of tbe managers of Sumter club precinct. He discussed tbe discrepancy between tbe total number of votes polled aod the total cumber counted for the candidates aod urged the committee to make a recount of the vote, as tb ia ia itself, was sufficient ground for the request, showing as it did that there was reason to believe tbat errors had been ir ade. Mr. Stackbouse stated that he had never served 00 tbs committee before and was not familiar with the rule? and precedents, and that he wished to ask for information what the hexes with all the ballots in them were sen: up to ibe committee for. unless it was to recount the nailots to verify the returns of the manazers in case a demand was made for a recount ? He warned to koow if the com? mittee did not hare this power, and if so why could they not exercise it? Why were the challenged ballots eeo: up to tbe commit? tee io sealed envelopes unless tbey were to be opened and diiposed of? (This was a poser and dead silence pervaded tbe committee ) Chairman Purdy called Mr. Hatfield to ene chair aod took the floor. He brifly outlined the duty and power of tbe committee ia the premises. He counseled tbe committee to proceed to take up the charges aad to consid? er them fairly aod dispassionately aod to act upon them each ia tara as tbe facts warrant? ed. Io aa election so closely contested as this, where there was so great probability of unintentional error, clerical or otherwise, having been made, it would be unwise and inadvisable to brush aside protests and coo tests, without full coosideratiou aod definite action. He said that as county chairman he knew no man or candidate, and bad eodeav ored to do bis duty aod 00 more than bis duty, and be bad taken the Soor only to ad? vise the committee as seemed to him best for all parties acd the democracy of Sumter County. Mr. Manning etated that be weat into this election with the determination to abide by the result as expressed at the polls aod if de? feated to have no more to say about it. When he ieft the city 00 Wednesday evening it was with the conviction that be had oeen defeated aod he oever contemplated aay pro? test ?ir contest or other effort to go bebind the returns sent up by the maoagers ; when be came to this ciry on Thursday moruing it was with the same belief and determination. Pe did net want, the effice nor would be ac? cept it unless be was fairly and u?doubtedly the choice of toe people, and he did not be? lieve any one would accuse him of a d?sira to profit by unfairness a?d ir justice. If de? feated be would continue to be fcund work iug in the ranks of the party as be had ta the past. Hs was, however, unwilling to go behind the returns of tbe managers and to make a recount, tor the reports in circulatioa caused one to doubt that a recount wouid enable the committee to arr;ve at a correct result. He favored accepting the returns aaa dedaring the election co them. Mr Dabbs called for his motion to be pur. Mr. Moise moved to amend Mr. Dabbs' mo? tion to this fffect : That the committee ce clare the result as tabulated, except in so far as it concerns the Saoator, bot tba; the com? mittee shall proceed at once to recount the vote sent in by the managers to ascertain if any mistake or irregularities ha?e occurred. Seconded by Mr. W. S. Dinkins. Mr. Dabbs moved to lav ihe amendment on the table. -Carried. Mr. Dabbs called for his motion. Mr. Scarborough offered a motion tbat the Committee declare that no election for the office of Senator bad been held, and that it be remanded to the second primary for settlement. He caid that he desired only justice to ah parties and to the people at large, and after watching % the proceedings of the committee with y careful attention he had become convinced tbat there was no disposition to settle ibo question ou the facts a9certainahle and that consequently the only fair way, the only just way, and the only way to ascertain who waa