Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-12-02

There has been many colder night, and
comparatively, this was hardly circum-
stance; but when we wish to speak
of sharp, quick fall in the mercury Of
something like 40 degrees in 48 hours, the
past few days must certainly figure in the
record.
Last Sunday morning it was summer
time IN these parts /; but today there is no
disputing the fact that we are confronted
with something like winter. The wealth
erman may be little slow with his cold
waves sometimes; but eventually he gen.
orally gets there all the same.
SOUTHERN EXPRESS BUSINESS.
The Southern Express company is
either badly abused or an unusually sem
sitive corporation. THE ENQUIRER has
had notion of this kind all along. And
that notion has been confirmed as fact.
But as to whether the company is suffer-
ing most from abuse or sensitiveness, we
are still somewhat at sea.
1t was on last Monday that we were
more mixed up than ever. The occasion
was visit from representative Of the
company. The representative was accom-
panied by Mr.. Fl. H. Beard, and was in
troduced as Mr.. Richardson of Columbia.
After the Formally of introduction was
over, and while the editor was wonder
ing as to why he had been honored with
the visit, the express man started up a
conversation with an inquiry as to wheth-
er or not the editor had gun. Looking
Mr.. Richardson over and finding that he
was apparently mild hammered, pleasant
spoken gentleman, the editor swelled
up to his largest dimensions and calmly
remarked that he kept such an implement
within easy reach. 1t developed, however,
that the genial express man did not want
the gun. He only desired to assure him
self as to whether or not the editor was
heeled. Then he opened up his business.
In effect he said {:
I noticed in your paper the other day
that you have made very severe attack
upon the Southern Express company. At
first I was not inclined to pay attention
to it. But upon making inquiry as to
who you were, among others in Colum-
bia, 1 chanced to ask Judge Townsend.
He said he knew you, and remarked an
incident that occurred while he was pre-
siding at court up here. There had been
a development about which there was
considerable misunderstanding, and
The ENQUIRER, before publishing any
thing, had came to him and gotten the
facts. He, therefore, considered that you
people were very careful about what you
published, and that if you had made all
incorrect statement, he was pretty sure
that you had been misinformed. spoke
to others on the subject, and found that
they agreed with Judge Townsend. Now
the Southern Express company has never
maintained paid or any other kind of
lobby in Columbia, and any charge of that
kind is grave injustice which I would
like to have corrected. Of course un-
derstand that my bare statement does OF
prove anything, and, therefore, there is
no use in making denial; but want
you to give me your sources of informa-
ton in order that may 60 to the parties
and either refute this charge or have
them substantiate it.
This was all very fair; but having the
endorsement of men like Judge Town
send and others unnamed; but who were
admitted to be reliable, the editor could
not see that he was as yet called upon to
divulge his source Of information. So
he evaded the matter in this wise:
my dear sir, we cannot say that we
have any special grievance of our own
against the Southern Express company.
But complaints have been made to us
from time to time by different reliable
individuals, and the story of this lobby
business was told US by reliable gentle
man who Is in position to know exactly
what he was talking about, and who, so
far as We know, had no personal motive
in giving US anything that was not true.
We have no reason to doubt what he
said, or even believe that he was mis-
taken. If absolutely necessary, we can
give his name; but until it is necessary,
we prefer not to do So"
At this the genial expressmah again
denied that his corporation had been
guilty of any lobby business; but sug-
gested that he probably knew where the
story originated. There had been a sup
per in Columbia at which there were
several representatives, and afterward,
about the Statehouse corridors, members
accused each other of having sold out,
etc. But this was all in joke, Of course,
for if there had really been anything OF
it, nobody could have afforded to have
talked that way.
All of this the editor accepted as infor-
nation, and next the expressman wanted
to know the names Of individuals who
had made complaint. He explained that
if their complaints were unjust he want
ed to show them where they were wrong (;
and if they were just. he wanted to re-
move their grievances. His company,
he said, is q servant of the public, with
identical interests. If the public is bene-
fitted, the express company is benefited
also. Therefore, it is to the interest OF
the express company to look after the
best interests of all its patrons.
But again the editor was forced to
dodge. He replied: I'm almost every
instance the individuals who have made
complaint, while thoroughly reliable,
beg us not to use their names. AS rea-
son, they admit that they are in the pow
or of the express company, and whether
right or wrong in such conclusion, they
fear that instead of having their alleged
grievance adjusted, they will be treated
even worse than before. Therefore, the
editor did not feel justified in giving them