The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-07
Forced by Political Ezigencies
to Expose Some of His
Friends.
REBATES FROM LARGE FIRMS
Concealed Crookedness That Viii
Probably Cost His Excellency a
Seat in the Senate.

COLUMBUS, S. c.. Sept. Gone of the
biggest State scandals that has occurred
since the days of negro rule in South Car
DINA was sprung last night by Governor
Evans. II his statement is correct the
dispensary system seems to have been 8
gold mine to those in charge of it.
Governor Evans, it seems, has been in
possession OF the information he has given
for a long time 1t was entirely unex-
pected, and it appears that the Governors
exposure was due TO the fact that he had
been goaded for not denying a charge
made on the stump in his campaign for
the Senate that he had said that Tillman
had lined his pockets with liquor rebates.
This thing had acted so strongly upon the
former friends of Evans and Tillman that
defeat threatened the former in the race
for the Senate.
The election comes off Friday. Evans
held off until o'clock this morning. when
he came out with denial of the state
ment. He explains that he held back the
denial upon bad advice, and then pro-
ceeds to make his revelations. CommIs-
sioner Mixson and the Commissioner
son, an official court stenographer, are the
objects of his ire. The Governor asserts
that presents were sent Mixson By whisky
houses and that Mixson's son had also &C
cepted valuable presents. He had called
Mixson up, he says, when 1t was first dis
covered, and warned him that the dispen-
sary would be killed if any scandal was
ever connected with its management.
Then he says:
shortly afterwards Mr.. Scruggs, the
bookkeeper, reported TO me that from let
tiers he had received and opened in Mix
sons absence in the course of business and
other suspicious circum stances he was
satisfied that Mixson was dealing with
certain whisky houses exclusively and
was obtaining rebates in consideration
thereof. ! replied to him that he was a
State officer as well as Mixson and Tomp-
kins, and that if he saw anything going
wrong it was his duty to inform me and
to secure the evidence to convict them.
Mr.. ScruggS reported to me that he was
satisfied that he could secure the evidence
to convict these men if l would allow him
10 leave the State. L replied 10 him that
he could go whenever and wherever he
pleased on such mission"
After telling of his discovery that Mix
son was paying higher prices to one house
than other houses offered the goods he
proceeds to tell OF visit of Mixson's son to
Cincinnati, where he was entertained by
whisky people, and adds:
Il may have made a mistake in not
giving this expose sooner. but have been
deceived by these people and badly ad-
vised by my friends, who assured me that
the public took no stock in their state
ments. | may be criticised for not reply
ing sooner, but I have injured no one
save myself. 1t is with reluctance that
do this now, because l know how it will DE
used by the enemies of the dispensary law
and the reform movement.
But in justice to my friends, who re-
quested it, and the public, make this
statement. The parties connected with
this matter are not interested in this
primary, but have another tribunal to
which they can and must appeal"
Tonight Commissioner Mixson and his
son make statements. The latter &C
knowledges that he collected for his
brother $40 so in whisky rebates from tue
Live Oak Distillins Company, but that
their father knew nothing of it.
Colonel Mixson, in his card, accuses the
Governors brother of a disposition to
enter into the business of which his son is
accused and declares that several of the
Governors statements are false.