Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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SPS? SUMT?2i WATCHMAN, Eftab Consolidated Auff. 2,3 MAYOR HYDE IS P?NIED OUT v Grace; - Faction By Controlling Executive Coznmitee Decided Mayoralty-Primary STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE LOSING CANDIDATE iJmr > *' - ? Contest Will Be Taken, Into the Courts In Effort to Obtain Justice Charleston, Aug. 24.?Major Tris tram T. Hyde, whose majority in the citj* primary election, was reversed, onj consideration of the challenged votes, this action being taken behind clos- j edv doors and no information of the proceedings being allowed to trickle outto the. public until final action was l st?ken by the Grace majority oif the ^ city. Democratic executive committee, announced yesterday that he would go into the courts immediately for the purpose of having the whole pro ceedings reviewed in the confident be lief of his-final success* Major Hyde last night issued the following ad dress to the public: To "the Democratic Voters of Char leston: I address you because the matter is : of deepest moment and circum stances have made me the represen tative of your interest "After a campaign for the mayoral ty, the most" arduous and strenuous ever held in our city, the official re turns declared by a hostile and ad mittedly partisan body showed that on the face of the returns I received a majority of the votes that were cast. /There were a number of chal lenged votes and votes tht rejection ^ which had been contested. The cir enmstdnces surrounding these chal lenged"'and rejected, votes had been carefuUy ascertained and were fully l^nown; to an extent - at least enough " to>,be more than decisive. It was clear tbat;any'?^ could only add^to -the ma jority. A considerable f?te9^r^pf Hyde votes had been ?jlroswi out by the managers under ?jn express ruling of the chairman f2f.the executive committee under .cir-.' cumstances that could admit of no -..doubt :of their^ha^mg been properly preserved for- consideration, by the . :^t5tmitte-e, and ready to be i edhlited aBd added to the-majority al- j ready existing in my favor. There j : wfer? strong and convincing reasons I for the ifelief that a recount of the nearly 7,000 votes, with special at tention to certain, wards where irregu larities' were suspected, would show, not scores, but hundreds as the true j majority in my favor. ' Under" these circumstances every-1 thing depended upon a fair, impartial! and discriminating consideration by j the executive committee and an hon- j est conclusion reached by it as a de- j ^Iberative body charged with a trust for the whole Democratic people of; Charleston.- Under the rules of the j party a hearing was set for the pur . pose,.The hour was fixed by the com mittee at 8.30 at night. The hearing did -not, in fact, begin iizfcil about 10.30 and continued until about 3.30 The result of the hearing was declared just at the threat of daylight ? : It is well understood that during j the whole campaign, the machinery of the party controlled by the execu-| tiye committee has been in the hands j -of a patrisan body guided and in-I ftuenced by partisan interests. From j time to time we suffered from gross and flagrant evidence of this, as in | -the selection of places for registering j and. voting, in the face of objection j and in violation of precedent- in ar-j hitrary withholding of copies of the j printed rules, so that I was forced to! have others printed at my own ex pense; in the arbitrary and high! -handed manner in which the purging of the rolls was conducted; in the arbitrary refusal to grar.t further time-for submitting affidavits in con nection with. this purging, in conse quence of which a considerable num ber were never presented; in the ar bitrary refusal for days to take de cisive action in this purging of the rolls, as a result of which, duly quali fied voters remained for days in ignorance as to whether or not their names would be stricken from the rolls; and in innumerable other in stances, all making against a fair election. Under the circumstances of partisan control, these things had to be suffered; and undoubtedly, in spite of all that could be done, my ma jority was largely reduced thereby. But they were overcome and in spite of all the majority was there, cast and counted and the additional votes Were there, cast preserved and ready to be added, making it substantial and convincing under any fair deter mination at the hearing set for the -purpose. The hearing was unworthy of the name; unworthy of a place in any Civilized community. The stage" was set in advance for an arbitrary, high handed and partisan perversion of Justice. ' In the rooms of the Hibern ian Hall were assembled, or corralled, in advance, before the time of the meeting, large numbers of the sup porters of my opponent, from whom witnesses were drawn as their ser vices were needed; on the portico of the hall were assembled as many more, allowed to enter freely, break ing out during evening into ribald songs and shouting, on the outside SAcd April, 18*0. "B?l JuM I L881. S WOULD INCREASE COST OF FOOD Weld Tells Senate Committee Passage of Kenyon Bill Will Increase Prices j IS MANAGER OF THE j SWIFT PACKING COMPANY _ j ! Critieizes Reports on Packing Industry as Inaccurate and Misleading Washington, Aug/ 2?.?L. D. H. Weld, manager. of the research de partment Of Swift "& Co., told the senate agricultural committee that a further increase in the cost of food would result from the passage of the Kenyon bill for a control of the pack ing industry. He criticised th-e re ports of the federal trade commis sion on .the packing industry as inac curate and misleading. FRIEND TO FRANCE Senate Committee Recommends Ratification of Treaty With;# France Washington, Aug. 25.?The senate judiciary subcommittee has recom mended the ratification of the treaty pledging the aid of the United States to France in case of German aggres sion. was the cavalcade of autos ready to# celebrate the premeditated victory; on the outside, too barred from en trance, the Hyde challengers, chal lenged and witnesses were kept there until near daylight in fatigue and dis comfort' while those of my . opponent were cpjnfortably housed within. So far were my friends kept -from the scene df,tbe hearing that when'Hyde witnesses were called the call was re layed and then only reaclfed- them through a .megaphono: With this setting there followed a procedure .unheard .of in!.-its enormity and. arbitrary, high-handed denial of right. The proceedings were , in camera, the worst form of star cham ber. -Dobrs were closed. Tt<teed,"tTee"h' announced -repeatedly that ' counsel would not be allowed to ? represent the contestants. Reporters for the pi-css were excluded. Demands for a stenographer were denied. The peti tion for a recount was postponed without argument, and never acted on or further "considered. The rules re quiring the hearing to be before the executive committee, a resolution was tabled against delegating this to a subcommittee, a small part of the re sponsible body. It was delegated to the committee on canvass. This com mittee consisted of four Grace men, two Hyde men and the chairman of the executive committee, exofficio, making therefore a majority of five against two; two of the five being my opponent's law partner. Of three lawyers of the Hyde faction on the executive committee no one was en- j ; trusted in this all-important function Again a stenographer was denied, j j The examining and cross examining, ! of witnesses was denied .to all ex- I j cept the chairman of the executive! j committee, my opponent's law part-1 I ner. The right was denied to the I I challenged party to have his accuser: j meet him face to face. Against ob-1 I jection witnesses were allowed to ! come in together and hear each j j other's testimony. The proceeding cul minated in a blanket resolution of- j [ fered by one of my opponent's law j partners disposing pro and con of over seventy names?the list of these read from a typewritten paper, the I names scarcely heard in the hurry i and jumble of sound. Whatever it J was the resolution was adopted by a I vote of five to two?and thus the ? momentous question of your city ad 1 ministration for the next four years ; was submitted to the executive com '? mittee! It was passed without evi j dence or argument, by a strictly par i tisan vote of twelve to twelve, the j chairman. Mr. Grace's law partner, j casting the deciding vote and thus j breaking the tie! j A motion asking for a copy of the ! list as railroaded through was made ! and refused. j A resolution that the ballots be pre t served under seal and guard for fu ; ture use was offered and denied, j The meeting adjourned. ! It is night an proper that these : facts be called to the attention of the ; Democratic voters of Charleston. I j assure them that their rights will be ; submitted to the vindication of the j courts with full, detailed and convinc i ing evidence. I have only been able I to touch hurriedly on certain phases I here . I It is plain from what I have set j forth <ibovr that. I have simply been ! counted out of the majority which I ; unquectionah!y received at the polls ( on last Tuesday in an election at which my opponent was in full control \ of the election machinery. I do not 1 propose to submit to this and I re gard it as a duty which I owe to the people of Charleston to press this matter in the courts promptly and vigorously. This I shall do. I am confident of the justice of our cause . and I know that the public will ap i prove the course T am taking. Very j rcsiWHa4fully. T T. Hyde. Charleston.. P. C Aug. 23. tod Blear not?Bet an the ends m AJ ?MTER, S. C., WEDNEI LODGE AMENDS I PEACE TREATY Foreign; Relations Committee Votes to Take Shantung j From Japan j I SOWING SEED FOR . FUTURE TROUBLE j The Committe Asks For Fur ,' ther Information About the Treaty Washington, Aug. 23.?The senate, foreign committee by a vote of IS to. 8 adopted an amendment to the'peace1 treaty by which the German rights | r. Shantung would go to China in- j stead of japan. Chairman Lodge of fered the amendment. All the Demo crats voted against it. Tire commit tee also asked for th* text of' the treaty, with Poland and information about the Austrian, Bulgarian and Turkish treaties. FOOD CONTROL ACT?PT0H0?SE Amendments to Act Requested By Attorney General Be i ing Considered FEDERAL AUTHORITIES . DRIVE ON PROFITEERS Palmer Urges Other Business ' Be Brought Under Jurisdic tion of Act \ Washington,. Aug. 22.-?The . house toda-* considered amendnrenjs to the foo'd -control act requested by the attorney general and providing a pen-! alty of H/e thousand dollars and two years' imprisonment for profiteering. Attorney General Palmer also urged that firms dealing in wearing ap parel, food containers and other com modities be brought under jurisdiction o fthe food control act. Reports from various sections of the country show ed federal and State authorities are continuing driving on profiteering. TROOPS WITHDRAW FROM MEXICO Give Up Chase of Bandits When they Lose Trail Marfa Aug. 25.?The American j troops have withdrawn from M*exico after losing the trail of the bandits, due to heavy storms. Five bandits j were killed by the American j during the six days hunt. Nine were cap tured by the Carranzistas. There is an unconfirmed report that Jesus' Kenteria the bandit) has been killed, j A search has been started for two j American aviators, Lieuts. George j Rice and U. L. Boquet, who are miss- j ing from Royee Field. RUMANIA SHOWS j GREED FOR LAND,1 Refuses to Obey t Decisions of j Peace Conference Paris .Aug. 25.?The Rumanian ! cabinet has refused to accept peace j conference decision for the division I of Banat and Temesvar between Ru- j mania and Serbia. Serbia is reported I to be considering the mobilization of j the army. SEN. FLETCHER ON j WAY TO RECOVER! _ j Washington. Aug. 22.?Senator \ Fletcher of Florida is reported on the i wa3" to recovery after serious injury | with a troley here. Authorities have j exonerated the car crew. j j Washington, Aug. 25.?Joseph W.: Folk counsel for the Egyptian peace! delegation, told the senate foreign re- j lations committee that England's* le- '\ gal position in Egypt was like that of) a highway man. and that the Ver-j sailles treaty would validate the ' rob- j bery" of Egyptian independence. Washington, Aug. 25.?The with-! drawal of the United States from the! league of nations within two years | unless all members abolish consorip-j tion. is proposed in a bill introduced today "">>' Senator Jones. Washington. Aug. 2T?.?President Wilson cancelled several engagements) in order to meet representatives of the railroad shopmen who are do-j manding a twenty-five per cent in-] crease of wages. The report of Di-j rector General Fibres on the men's j demands is expected to be announced) today. ma? at toe thy Country'* Thy God'i i SEAT, AUGUST 27, 19] lia___aj^__^^ MET DISABLED THE BOLSHEVIK British Reported to Have Put ?The Ships Out of Com mission [MADE VAIN ATTEMPT AT ? " * > ? '? j DEFENDING PETROGRAD British War Vessels Also De molish Defences at Kronstadt Continues Report Stockholm, Aug. 23.?The Bolshe viki" fleet in the Gulf of Finland which- has been defending Petrograd has been completely disabled by the British, it is reported here. The Brit ish also demolished defenses of Kronstadt. Berlin, Aug. 23.?The government is prepared to take vigorous steps, fol lowing Spartacan outbreaks in sever al of the large cities. A REDUCTION IN I THE STATE LEVY Comptroller General Announces J)ecrease in Nine Large Cotton Mills Wf:r- ? CLAIMS TO ENTAIL A SAVING OF $200,000 ___?_____._____, ..... / Expresses Opinion South Caroli na Should Adopt 100 Per Cent Basis !? . ? '. 5 C/ohjmbia, -Aug. _T4.-?Acting- under authority vested in. him - by the last session of the general assembly in the general appropriation act, ' Rut, 1?. Osborne. comptroller general, has re duced the State levy from nine and one-half to nine mills, entailing a <aving to the taxpayers of approxi mately $200,000. In making the reduction the comp troller general said: "The Appropriation Act passed by the "fast general assembly amounts' to $3,882,682.78. From this is deducted $382,000, the amount estimated that will be raised from sources other than taxes After making this-, de duction it will be seen that the amount to be raised by taxation is $3.500,682.78. "In 1918 the total taxable property of the State was assessed at $378, 000,000, this being an increase over 1917 of $59,000,000 However, 1918 was the year for assessing real es tate, and the increase for 1919 over 1918, it is estimated, will be about $15,000.000, which will give the State $393.000,000 worth of taxable property. It is thus shown that nine mills will raise the necessary amount. "In fixing the levy it has been nec essary for me to estimate the amount to be raised from sources other than taxes, and also the amount of taxable property in the State. The South Car olina Tax Commission has been .en gaged in equalizing the assessment on merchandise. This work and the assessments forwarded to the various county auditors. The tax commission also have been assessing automobiles this year, and these clossss of prop erty are now placed on an equal basis of assessment with corporations, banks and real estate. "All property, real and personal, is being assessed on a basis of 4 2 per cent and our tax levy is nine mills. "Were these assessments made on a basis of 100 per cent, as in many oth er States, the levy would be about four mills. It is in this manner that other States have such small tax levies, their assessments being made, on 100 per cent basis. "It is my opinion that South Car olina should adopt this 100 per cent! basis, and thereby reduce the levy to Jess than half what it is at present. It was at the request of the general assembly that the tax commission j adopted the 4 2 per #ent basis. A low j rate of taxation is one of the biggest | advertisements to outside capital a I State could have. At the present: time there are no income, franchise i or inheritance laws in this State. Such j laws hould be passed by next gen-! eral assembly. A large revenue could j be derived from those sources which | are contributing nothing towards the; expenses of the State government." DRAFTED MEN COMING HOME j All Will Be Withdrawn From Si- i beria Before End of Year "Washington. Aug. 25.?Secretary Baker todny told Representative Os-; borne that nil American drafted men j would be out of Siberia before win- j :er. nnd that throe thousand volunteer replacements have gone forward, . m Tnrtk'?." THE TB?l L9. WHAT COURSE IS LEFT OPEN? Deadlock Over -Peace Treaty; Ratification Has Reached a Puzzling Stage MAY RECONVENE THE PEACE CONFERENCE j Radical Anti-Wilson Senators i I Talk of Discarding Tfe?ty and j Declaring Peace I Washington, Aug. 24.?How far President Wilson may go in his fight ! for unqualified senate acceptance, ofj the peace treaty is a subject of in-} j creasing speculation in official and i diplomatic circles: ? With the group of reservation Re publicans apparently determined to write their qualifications of the ' league of nations covenant into the ratification itself' and with Republi can leaders predicting that the sen ate will amend outright the Shan tung provision and perhaps other sec tions of the treaty, an interesting set' of possibilities present themselves. i There has been no authoritative expression of the president's probable course should the treaty be returned to. him with textual amendments or reservations written into the ratifica tion. He told the foreign relations committee Tuesday, however, that he would consider either method of qualification as tantamount to re opening the negotiations with Ger many. Should such amendments or reser vations be inserted, therefore?an eventuality which democratic senate leaders deny is likely but which the Republicans say is certain?the next move would be up to the president. What would -he do, is a question on which those who' have talked with him disagree;' but a discussion" of what he would be authorized to 'do under the law and precedents reveal a. . general'' agreement that several courses .would be'open. ". . ". ' .S?mmued up, these, discussions^cpn template that" he might take up the question of changes in the treaty by diplomatic correspondence'; return tb-: Paris and ""ask tnat: toe- pe?ce- confer-1' ehce' be reassembled' for negotiation ??f* a new treaty; send a new delega tion to reopen negotiations; or pocket the treaty and refuse to proceed fur ther, unless the senate receded from its position. It is known that the alternative of j aii exchange of diplomatic notes with the principal powers has been sug gested to the president as the most feasible by Republican senators who have told him that the treaty never could be ratified as it stands. The assent of the smaller nations, these senators asserted, would be obtained easily once the other members of the five principal powers have acquiesced. It is pointed out' that the question of a reservation to the Colombian treaty now is under negotiation by that method. The possibility of Mr. Wilson's re turn to Paris to straighten out the points raised by any senate qualifica tions is one which some senators say would be entirely in line with hisj course thus far in the peace settle ment. To send an entirely new set of peace delegates also would be admittedly within the president's power, and in > that connection Republican senators frequently have mentioned Senator j Hitchcock's statement that the presi- j dent laughingly suggested Senator Lodge and Knox as possible selections to neotiate a new tretay should the j present one be amended. That president .might permit the! negotiations to stand in a deadlock by j declining to take'up with, other gov-j ernments any changes suggested byi the senate involves^ perhaps the most interesting possibilties of all. Ad ministration leaders repeatedly have declared that the president alone was charged with the negotiation of treaties and that the whole history of treaty making showed he could halt any such negotiation at any step he desired . prior to the exchange of ratifications. The senate, these lead ers have asserted, would be absolu tely powerless to interfere, his au thority under the constitution being limited* to giving advice and consent to to the acts of the executive. In that connection many prece dents have b^en cited, including one j as late as President Taft's admin-} istration when Mr. Taft, dissatisfied with the senate's amendment of | a treaty he had presented for ratifica- ! tion. washing his hands of the nego- ; tiations and let the treaty die. Should President Wilson adopt that! course and then appeal to the coun- j try. Republican senators say that sen-j ate would adopt a resolution declar-1 ing the war at an end and proceed! to ennct such iegisation as seemed j necessary to restore a complete peace basis. Whether such a resolution would require the president's signa ture is a disputed question, however, and Mr. Wilson is known- to object! strongly to any such a method of end ing the war. Th^ problem of the president's course also involves a question of how great an influence, he will exer- j eise while the treaty still is before the senate to prevent reservations from being incorporated In the rati fication. Although the Republican reservations say they have assurances V Vol. XLIX. No. 4 THE CHARLESTON ELECTION FIGHT Committe Spent Day and Night in Considering the Chal- . lenged Votes ? it FACTIONAL VOTE IN IN- i VESTIGATING COMMITTEE Day Passed Without Outbreak - -?. *' Although Large Crowd Filled V Streets at Late Hour r ; Charleston. Aug. 23.?After raid night a subcommittee of the ory \ Democratic executive.committee was;.; still engaged in canvassing the chal-r lenged votes in the municipal primary.. election held here Tuesdays, tepdrt-y:. ers were not allowed to attend these proceedings. . Indications ' are that the committee will'be-in session uai?^ daylight, or later. Bach of th?- twenty? ^ four ward clubs is represented on tfip. . committee. ' '< -> ?. The committee convened \ at S;30 o'clock for the p?rpose of canvassing: the/ returns and declaring the resuli^v: In Meeting street, in fr?nt of'the.hta^'v hundreds of men congregated, anxiomri - to learn the- result of the- comm4^:;r> tee"s action with respect to therchat* v> lenged votes, which total seventy- ?r three. It was reported that tire challenged men of the Grace faction were all in a room in the rear of the building, while the Hyde men were outside, their 'names, being call ed as they were wanted. . * The crowd at the hall was. orderly land no untoward incidents'.'were x&&;.: ported. According to gossip in crowd the Grace followers m^ended. to have a parade or demonstration.^;': the event that John P. Grau?^was"de?"r cl?red the -nominee. As-, midnight/ drew near, however,: the erowd beg^n to'. dissipate, the ctfeeling' being. P&fiC, ' the committee would .hot reach a u4 cision until' daylight or later. < .. : On:every vote taken before the can vassing committee ./retired the. -P^fl. Was-12 -to 12; .In each case .-the/ city chairman, W. Turner Logan,. casting the deciding vote In favor of the .Grace fatcion. . . . ? ' - - ? , . i. As .the committee was called to.^ot derrthe cha^rroa? - aunefa had- taken every "precautioji t^&f?y: vent recurrence; of: .-the., tragedy, <pt four years ago; asserUng; that none of the: Grace -members - - :oC the?-, com mittee were armed and .asking-that if any of the Hyde, members were - armed they would at once disarm'. Each of the Hyde committeemenide- "\ clared that he had come to the/meet-- '-. ing unarmed. * :. - ... The gates to the hall were. Uxiiked and only those called were 'permitted*. :, to pass inside, excepting Grace, suf?- r j porters interested in challenged-votes, . j these being assembled ic ? room in the - rear of the building. . p.'?" John I. Cosgrove, member ? of,-the. executive committee^ and a partner law of Mr. Grace, said that .several/ petitions for recounts-had;-been ^ Ter ceived by the committee and that there were a number-/of -oliallemjspd. votes. He moved that the -challeng ed votes be taken up nTst and' that they be referred to the canvassing committee. - William H. Grimball moved .as /a substitute that the contests be heard , by the whole committee. On motion of Mr. Cosgrove the motion was ta bled, a standing vote being taken, the result being 12 to 12. Chairman Logan . casting the deciding vote "and tabj/ng the motion. ' .". / , Mr. Grimball offered a resolution*^ that a stenographer be employed^to report the proceedings in detail, both - of the canvassing committee , and-of the whole executive committee. Mr., ? Cosgrove moved that this motion be tabled and the resulting vote was. 12V to 12, again the chairman casting,the- ? deciding vote, tabling the motion. By the same vote the executive commitee recessed while the canvass ing committee was hearing the con tests. The canvassing committee con sisted of John A. Cordray. John % Cosgrove, J. A. Livingston, F. ? > Hartman, O. H. Bissell, and William Burgeson, andj the city chairman, ex officio. Bissell and Burgeson are Hyde supporters. Chairman Logan and James O'lfrar went in a room across the corridor:. A and inspected the ballot boxes -to ?? make sure that the seals were all In tact. The door of the room had been sea?,ed when/ the ballot ''boxes had .. been stored in' it. The canvassing committee retired to the same room to take evidence . with respect to the challenged votos. -j Reporters were not allowed to enter, .? the proceedings being in camera. At midnight the canvassing com*;, mittee was calling men from Ward 7 and it appeared that the committee ... would he in session for hours vet. Committecmert not on the canvassing, , committee sat about the hall waiing for the canvassing committee to com plete its invetsijyation and report back to the executive committee for final action on the cases. San Diego, Aug. 23.?The search .ontinues for Lieuts. Waterhouse and Connelly, American aviators who have fcven missinjr since Wednesday. that their program will he accept able to most of the senate Democrats, there has been no evidence that Mr. Wilson has given his assent to any such a compromise. . ?