The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-10-14
o the State of South Carolina.

udSC ioqVcoIoA 10 PS' S'o""'') w On
Mr. Yost about any interviews he ever
had with either of the stn' Of + NJ
Mixson. We have the Statements from
Mr. Yost and pow give it TO you-tbat
be saw one of these geetlemeo on two
or three occasions at Cincinn att, Ohio,
and the other Que possibly as many
times at Cincinnati, Ohio. That with
on. any thought: as to any possible COO.
struction that might be placed upon it.
apd in entire innocence as to aoy i'm
proper suggestions be did consent to
give small brokerage com mission to
aaid two. gentlemen. That each of
said gentlemen approached him. We
have the assurance of Mr.. Yost that in
neither of tine interviews with either Of
the sous of F. NJ Mixsou did they
promise or assure him that they would
solicit business from their father.
Mr. Yoss also states that he was led
to believe from conversations with others
whose lanes he cannot recall that the
business as conducted 10 the State Of
South Carolina enabled the different dis
peasers to call for the particular hraods
of goods they wanted or that there vas
a demand for; that these demands of the
various county dispensaries controlled
the orders given by the main dispeusary.
Therefore, as the Live Oak Distillery
Go. aud the Joseph r. PEBBLES Sons
20. had already established The scale of
prices at which they were to sell the
goods. and as the suggestion made by
W T. Mixson bad nothing to do with
a change of these prices Mr.. Yost
thought that by having brokers 10 the
field to assist in creating demand for
the liquors or Fo2ulariziog certain
brands there would be DO injustice to
the State of South Carolina. even if
said brokers were related to the CON.
missioner.
Upon the above theory the under
signed company feel very we'll assured
that We are right in generating Mr..
Yost, one of our representatives from
any wrong intention or disposition TO-
ward the State of South Carolina or
from any attempted corruption or
bribery
We now state to you gentlemen the
fact and assure you of its accuracy that
the prices at which our goods were
sold to the State efSouth Carolina we're
from S to 20 per cent. less for the same
grades as sold by US to other large
buyers thr oughous the United States.
Your committee has asked these COM
pauies the questions in categorical form
as to whether either of the undersigu-
ed companies have directly made to any
officer of the South Carolina dispepsaTy,
any rebates, premiums. commisslos,
drawacks. or other valuable considera-
.ions, sioce these companies have dealt
with the State Of South Carolina up to
the present times.
Now. With the exception Of pocket
knives and other little advertising de-
vice, which We send freely to any Gus.
toner anywhere in the country-we an
swer NO
We regret the absence from CinciD
natl on account of illness Of our MIR.
Jos. F. PEBBLES. We cannot distur b
Mr.. PEBBLES during his illness. But
if there are any other points which
you desire to have covered in cores
poodence if you will address the letter
to either of the undersigned companies
at Cincinnati you will receive frank
full aud complete answers.
Before closing this letter we wish TO
say to you. and through you to the gen
tlemep in South Carolina whom you
represent. that we appreciate the
force Of the request that you made
viz: that you will be furnished with a
stenograpber aud be allowed to ques-
ton and take down in Shorthand the
conversatioD,q Questions and answers made
on your present. visit aud Investigation
at Ciucin uati, Ohio Various mem bers
ofthe undersigned pauies. and in fact
all the gentlemen you have personally ?
met. were quise willing to do this. Bus
We have az attorney who is associated
with the business Of both companies
and it is upon his advice that we pre-
fer to answer 'hese questions in the
form We have As the reputation of
both companies is high aud We desire
to keep it so, we do uot desire to have
our two companies made responsible
for any mistakesiu laug guage oraccideosal
bluoders of the stenographers on mat
ters that are of the greatest importance
to US Besides au Investigation that
would be irqpisi.oc;ai iu IFS o.;a-o a"d
touching upon points eot'ely different
from the matter uuder discussion would
run on to great length aud would De
tedious and involve the time of our