The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-16
LETTING IN MORE LIGHT.
COMMISSIONER MIxSoN REPLlEs TO
GOVERNOR EVANS.

-
Ressrs. w. T. Mixsop, Is. Il. EVAN" And NJ.
| Julian Yates Now Figure In tho Dinpsn-
| sary Rebate scandaI---Revslationn that
Will AstonIsh the People.
COLUMBIA, Sept. 7.-The following
letter was given out last night by
Commissioner Mixson:
To the Public:
1t was understood between Mr.. Trax'
ler and myself if he rendered his res
ignation before the expiration of his
term as State commissioner, l would
10 all applicant, and when his reslg-
nation was rendered / informed The
State board that | was before them.
Some action of the Legislature, how.
ever, caused Mr.. Traxler to re enter
the race, thus making three applicants,
viz: Trax er of Florence, Dukes OF
Orangeburg and myself. The election
came OIL some time in January, the
exact time | cannot say. as Mr.. Gun
ter, the governors private secretary,
informed me no minutes were kept OF
this, the only meeting of the board
held during the year. 1t was generally
known that Traxler's resignation had
gone forward and I was a candidate {.
Among my most Jealous advocates for
this appointment was Mr.. Barnard 3.
Evans, who did me, I think, good
work in securing the election before
the board, speaking in my praise on
every occasion could hear.
1 have two sons-J. W. and w. T.
III. w. was at that time about % years
old; w. T. about 81. Soon after 1 had
entered the race my son, W. T.. told
me that Mr.. 3. B. Evans and himself
were talking of going into deal and
make something off of the whiskey in
case I was elected. [ told nv son that
he could not afford to have anything
to do with such q deal; it would be
Iruinous, and | would not buy from
lany house that they made arrange
ments with. lie informed me after.
wards that he had given up the mat.
ter and had so informed Mr.. Evans. L
had no reason TO think otherwise.
Some time in January, after my
election, Mr.. Hubbell of the Mill Creek
lDistilling company, dropped in TO see
me. This was the time asked him
for the same whiskies or better; same
prices or less with 5 per cent. off, and
which he so Indignantly refused to
give. As stated in former letter,
however, did order one Car of whis.
kies by wire, saying same price; same
whiskey, per cent. off. Ship 25 bar
rels K Bourbon and 25 barrels Xxx
Bourbon. This is the only order ever
given Mr.. Hubbell by me. In settling
up Mr.. Traxler's balances, Mill Greek
put in a claim for a balance on accu-
mulated interest, of which the public
are already informed, through letter
OF mine and which paid. This was,
I think, in April, 1895. and is the time
of the sample room offers. Governor
Evans was informed at the time of
that offer and agreed fully with me in
its construction. am sure that Hub
bell has never approached me since to
sell his goods.
Only few days after assuming the
duties of commissioner, was in Gov.
iernor Evans Office and he there and
then told me in unmistakaDle Ian
guage: Don't buy from Mill Creek.
The people are saying that Tillman
and Traxler got rebates from them,
and it must be so, else how could Till
man meet his expenses, with one
daughter in Virginia at school, a son
at Clemson and living as he does"
Mind now, this took place only in
February, 1895, when we were all
elated over our successes. l went d.
|rectly from Governor Evans office to
that of w. D. May6eld and thence to
that of d. HI. Tompkins and told them
of this conversation and can furnish
their atfldavits, which will disabuse
the minds of the people that l made
this up and told it on Governor Evans
after I had reasons 10 be mad with
him, as is said by Senator Tillman.
Senator Tillman also says, "Mixson
has never had the manliness to either
affirm or deny" must ask the sena-
tor if he or Governor Evans either hah
the manliness to ask of me confirma-
ton or denial. He (the senator) was
in possession of this change against
him for months before it was made at
Barnwell. He has never asked me to
confirm or deny. Things moved
along smoothly for some time. About
June /, my two boys entered into a
copartnership under the firm name of
J. w. Mixson & Co., bicycles, and
the latter part of that month j. w.
went to Cincinnati to keep an appoint
ment with a bicycle manufacturing
firm. Sea his statement herewith:
Governor Evans in his letter of yesterday
SAYS: That the two SONS of Nilsson were &C.
cepting presents from whiskey drummers in
the shape of diamond pins, gold headed
canes, ETC.
"Replying to this, l would soy that some
time in the spring of 1895, think in March
or April, Mr. John C.. Yost of the Live Oak
Distilling Company and Mr. Jos. R. PEBBLES
of the Jos. R. PEBBLES Sons Co., both of Gin
cinnati, were in my fathers's office. AT that
time had my desk and typewriter there.
Mr.. Yost and Mr. PEBBLES were introduced to
me along with my father. After few min
utes conversation, Mr.. Iost requested me to
make and send 10 him at Cincinnati a list Of
the dispensaries and the names of the dis
pensers and their addresses. | told him
would take pleasure in obliging him, and
some time after that ! made the list request
ed and mailed same to Mr.. Yosts address
Several days afterwards received letter Of
thanks from Mr.. Yost, in which he asked me
lif would be in Columbia at an early day.
| replied that would be in Columbia very
soon, and on reaching that place found Il