The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-10-14

tnOElty ~ pfapP!e WI" Iuto ud@'ot @uo
expose damaging facts if any exist.
While 10 Cincinnati We approached
other parties who had had dealings With
the dispensary, but with unsatisfactory
results.
(Signed) L. J. Williams.
OF the Board of Control.
(Signed) Francis H. Weston,
OF the Legislative Committee.
THE wu1sKEY MEMS LETTER.
The following letter is the principal
one of those referred to 10 the report:
(Dics.)
CINCINNATI, Sept 25, 1895
Messas. Williams and Westoo, Com.
mittee OF Investigation. Columbia,
Sc:
Gen.lemeu-As we have made you
assurance that We would Investigate
all the matters you have madea trip to
Cincinnati to look inte. We now pro-
pose to put 10 writing the result Of our
Investigations. concerning the affairs of
the two undersigned companies with the
State Of South Carolina We are prompt.
ed to do this with full appreciation of
the Importance Of your visit. and with
full knowlege that the people of South
Carolina. through their properly ccn-
stituted officials. are DOW investigating
the conduct of some of the State off
cials with a view of getting at exact
justice, and right aud truth.
We write this statement with the
hope that you will fully understand the
position of our two companies for fair
dealing aud honesty The Joseph R.
PEBBLES Sops Co. (undersigned), has
been 10 business for Sc years. II has
grown to be large private corporation.
With a capital stock as large as most of
the large banks, and its affairs are
managed by board Of directors.
The Live Oak Distillery Co., is a
similar private cooperation. operated uo
der the management of a board direc-
tors. all of whom are gentlemen of in-
tegrity and high business reputation 10
this community. Both Of these con-
cerns have an aggregate capital of four
huadred thousand dollars Goo, ,0O0)
paid in, aud have 10 their employ over
125 people. Of this number moro than
one half are sales people. Our bust.
ness relations with the State dispensary
Of South Carolina has passed through
the hands of pumber ofthese people
Now, gentleman, we propose to say
to you, and through you to the people
of South Carolina, that if anything that
is even slightly dishonest Or tainted
with corruption has been indulged 10
BY any couu'Vauce Of any employee aud
any official Of the State CT South Caro-
lima, we only wish to know who it is.; as
we can not tolerate any such conduct Oh
the part Of any oue connected with our
business, whether 10 your State or auy
other State
We are aware of the fact that. the
southern States have been industrious
ly drummed by a line of commercial
travellers, some Of whom are irresponsi-
BILE. We are fully convinced Of this
fact; that no responsible establish men'
can do large business through travel
ling statesmen without having imitators,
and without having their reputation as
sailed at some time or other.
The undersigned TWO companies have
beth been successful and have sold to
the State, of South Carolina large guam
titles Of high grade goods; uniformly at
the lowest prices consistent with quality
We claim, without exception, that We
have sold the State of South Carolioa
at the very lowest margin at which We
could afford to sell. If, 10 connection
with this business and the desire to re
tain it, any one of the statesmen or en-
pleyees or commission agents or brokers
Of the undersigned companies have
made any mistakes We wish
you gentlemen to consider that We have
to be little charitable With our en-
ployees, who are pushing the sale Of
our goods. with as high degree OF
responsibility provided they act honor
ably in all their dealings with our Gus
toners, and do not misrepresers the
quality Of our goods.
A committee of our board has now
advised that one OF the members of the
company, who is also a lawyer, give a
thorough Investigation to great macy
of the matters We have from time to
time learned from the South Cal o'ina
newspapers.
We have ascertaiued the fact tha:
Mr. Yost. who ia one Of the southern
managers Of the Live Oak Dis'illery
company, did have personal Interviews
on one or two occasions with James W.
Mixson. at Cincinnati, Ohio You