The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-12-12
SENSATIONAL CHARGES.
MADE BY 3. F. PERRY AGAINST EX-
Gov TILLMAN.
Ina Letter to Representative Josh Ashley,
Which Has Been Printed and Is Being
Circulated Among the Members.

Which Has Been Printed and Is Being
Circulated Among the Members.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Dec. s.-Last
night considerable sensation was
caused by the circulation of printed
sheet among the members of the State
Legislature. Along with other matter
printed thereon, was the copy of a let
ter written to Representative Josh
Ashley, which is reproduced just as it
appeared on the pamphlet. Here it is
to speak for itself:
Washington, D. c., Dec. J., 1894.
Dear Josh: l suppose you all are in
Columbia trying to do something to
patch up sfoolishness, and get
things straight again in South Caro-
lima. The first step you ought to take
| is to break up the corrupt ring which
has grown up in the Reform party. It
is composed of Irby, Tillman and Ev-
ans, and their henchmen in the differ
ent counties. You remember when
YOU and /, and the great body of far
ners, went into the Reform movement
four years ago, Tillman came forward
IS the leader, and made great fuss
about the ''Old Ring" etc. We went
to work and broke up that ring, and
now he has built up a worse one. The
old ring was at least honest. The pres
ent or new ring is dishonest and cor
rupt, and has brought disgrace on our
movement.
You remember also, Tilhnan made
great promises about reducing taxa
ton, the salaries of officers, cutting
down expenses, giving equal rights to
all, special privileges to none. He rode
into Office on these promises, and
hasn't carried out one of them. Taxes
are higher than when he came into Of
fee, because the assessed value ofprop-
erty has been increased by fifteen mil
lions of dollars. and this falls with
especial hardship on the farmers.
Taxes going up and everything they
| make going down Tillman took care
that salaries should not be reduced
while he was in Office drawing his, and
they have not been. The expenses of
the government are higher now than
when he went into office. and all in
the name of Reform. The equal
rights to all and special privileges to
none dodge, has resulted in about
three families, the Tillmans, Garys and
| Evans holding all the most important
| Offices in the State, and if these fani-
lies are not provided for, I suppose
| new Offices will be created to give the
| other members places. I saw two
years ago they were using the move
ment to get into Office themselves at
any and every cost. and were bring
ing discredit and disgrace upon US.
So I warned good many fellow-Re-
| formers Of what was happening, and
| it has resulted as I thought.
The dispensary is fraud, and has
been used by the ring as political
corrupt machine Tillman denied at
Union, during the canvass that he had
l.egcr received the rebate of z ceAts a
gallon on the whiskey he bought froR
the whiskey trust. am creditably in
formed that he did receive that rebate
and a check was sent to him for the
amount, and he returned the check
and asked them to send the money in
currency by express; that the money
was sent, and received by Tillman,
amounting to many thousand dollars,
that ought to have gone to the credit
of the taxpayers. Furthermore, I am
informed that the railroad company
that transported the liquor, paid TIL
man rebate on the freight. He has
used this dispensary to cheat the tax
payers and to enrich himself, and the
constables and spies as political work
ers and strikers. 1t is dangerous po-
litical machine and ought to be brok-
en- up. 4 friend, just from home, in
forms me there is more liquor sold IN
South Carolina now than ever before,
and yet they claim the dispensary has
diminished liquor drinking. Iunder-
stand Irby has stated that Tillman got
a good slice out of that Port Royal
lawsuit, and that is the reason why
Tillman is afraid of Irby.
There is no doubt that Tillman and
John Gary Evans got a good slice out
of the hundred and eighteen thousand
dollars given to Rhind in funding the
| State debt. Why don't you demand a
committee to investigate these thingsa
| The people ought to know the truth,
and if they are not true, Tillman, Ey-
ans and Irby ought to have the bene-
fit of it. Call for a committee.
| understand gii1man has lately paid
| his brother, George, s14 900 back ra-
tons and has invested St, 900 in facto-
~ stock Where did he get this mon
ev? He has never made anything
| f..rmtng. His salary has been about
ionough to support his family in Co.
l'mbia. Where did he get the money
+: % buy that plantation in Edgeheld at
! S37. 50 per acre? There is something
! rotten, and you ought to investigate
| these rascalities.
/ Write me and give me the news. l
am getting aloug pretty well here, but
| expect to return to South Carolina IN
the spring. Your friend,
| (Sirned. B.F. PERRY.
! Hon. Josh. W. Ashley. Columbia, sc.
You may publish the above, if you
wish.