Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-07-29
COL. HASKELL REPLIES.
To THE EDITOR OF THE STATE:


Gary Evans is reported as saying
"John Haskell says the Evans boys
howled Hampton down, but he
knew it was a lie." For several
years | have carefully avoided ex-
pressing in pablic my opinion of
the. humiliating events that have
occurred in our old State, culmi-
mating in the deep dlsgl ace which
put this vile little demagogue in
the governors chair. He has gone
out OF his way to make wanton
attack on me and seeks to make
political capital out oft. | don't
believe that the people of our State,
if they knew him, would support
him for any position and l believe
that many who disagree with me
in politics, will not hesitate to be-
lievc anything that say and this
induces me to take notice of what
l would otherwise treat with the
utter contempt that [ feel for this
per son.
First, as to his charge, when he
pretends to quote me, he knows
that he willfully lies. General
Hampton went to Aiken, not as a
candidate, but as an invited guest.
A few of the audience treated him
with great rudeness; no man, who
knew anything of the facts. doubt
ed that Evans encouraged them in
this conduct. He has denied it
then and doubles :, if it serves his
purpose, will lie about it again. /
never spoke If the Evans boys, for
| did not suppose that he had any
followers, even among those who
insulted General Hampton,
And now word to his career. |
was a member of the legislature
when he first came there and was
counsel fo- tn. Richmond and
Danvillc road. heard of him as
a lawyer of rather low standing at
the Aiken bar. From conversa-
tions | had with him | came to the
conclusion that he wanted t, be
employed by the railroad. Soon af-
ter my professional connection
with clearing the titles of coal and
iron property in Virginia and North
Carolina took up SO much of my
time that | resigned as counsel
for the Richmond and Danville
railroad. 1 was consulted by the
officers as 10 who to retain, and
among others, advised them to
employ in some capacity Mr.. John
Gary Evans, as | warned them he
would give trouble if not bought.
Very soon he was put on as & di-
rector of one Of the branch roads
in Carolina. Within a few days
of his appointment, his bro her
from Edge6eld and his uncle from
Georgia, appeared for the first time
IN the general assembly as a,tor-
neys for the Danville railroad.
They did the same at the ensuing
sessions until Mr.. John Gary
Evans was dropped from the
board.
: Now l challenge him to write to
the party who employed him and
7ssa il he wlH th
ment of brother and uncle was not
made to secure his influence
against hostile legislation. Don't
let him just deny; of course he
will be ready to lie out of it. He
knows who employed him; let him
ask that man in writing.
AS to the bond matter, Mr..
Rhind stated to the syndicate that
of the large. commissions which he
retained, the bulk had to 60 to
parties whose influence was reed
ed in the South Carolina genera:
assembly. 1.-The dares to do it, let
him ask Rhind who he referred to.
If be dares to do it, let him ask
DR.. Bates to answer. the categori-
cal question as to who got the
money. If he dares to d. it, let
him have the checks for payment
produced and see who endorsed
them. Any man who will act dis
honestly will lie to protect him
self. Don't let him stand on Till
mans letter until Tillman has
cleared his own skirts of partici-
patton in the job.
DIsPENsARY AND INSURANCE.
He has never dared to deny that
since he became governor the
State and dispensary insurance
has been taken from reliable agents
and given 10 his brother immedi-
ately after his coming to Colum-
bia as all insurance agent. 1t won't
do for him to say that this was
done by his subordinates; no SEN
sible man will be deceived by such
a'statement as that for one in
stant. No one will doubt why all
bonds of keepers of dispensaries
were suddenly required to be exc
cuted by surety companies, who
were represented by the same
brother or why his blanks were
enclosed in official envelopes for
execution. l see it is said there
was $4,000 in it for the family. 1t
is impossible to legally convict any
party when they have the records
| in their own hands and will not
let them be seen but by partisan
friends. But for this l feel con-
fdent in the whiskey rebates, fees
in the phosphate business as well