Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-23

thing whatever to do with their passage
through the legislature. He said he had
acted as agent of Rhind, the man who
formed the syndicate and who is said to
have divided his spoils with people of in
fuence in the general assembly and state
government. In test cases brought be-
fore the state supreme court he had been
paid a fee of $50 in one case by the state
and of 800 in the other by the syndicate.
He also submitted Mr.. Rhind'S testimO-
ny taken in Baltimore that he had en-
gagged Evans as his attorney and had
agreed to pay him fee, but had not yet
fixed the amount of it. He had suggested
to Governor Tillman that Rhind, whom
he knew to be an honest and competent
man, be employed to float the bonds. He
had retired from the employment of the
syndicate upon his election as governor
He was very severe upon A. B. Williams,
whose article in the New York Times has
caused the bond business to be the sem
sation of the hour. He said there was no
necessity of anyone of political influence
being brought up by the syndicate. He
could not see that any fair-minded person
in South Carolina will assert that he had
been guilty of any wrongdoing In accept
ing a fee for his services. No one be-
lieved that he would do anything to bring
down his fathers name in disgrace.
Mr.. John T. Duncan then announced
his candidacy He is at present the chief
clerk in the office. of the secretary of
state. He felt that 1t was his duty to
come forth. Tillman had not known that
Evans had contract with Rhind in any
capacity. Neither Bates nor Tillman,
whom he believed honest men, had any
thing to say in behalf of Evans in this
bond matter. If Evans had asked Till
man for pay, would he not ask Rhind for
'favors'' for getting him the job? Gov
ernor Evans recommended Rhind. Now
the suspicion was this Did not he have
an understanding with Rhind? There
was only circumstantial evidence, but he
promised to add to it from day to day.
Tillman had said the condition of the
party now was bad and Evans was the
head of the government. He referred to
the fact that Evans had been defeated in
his effort to hold onto the dispensary.
HE comes out of that a clipped cock"
Evans-I'll see who is clipped
Duncan-I'm in the clipping business
myself used to it.
Governor Evans then took the stand
and said he had no ill will towards Dun
can. He owed him thanks. He had made
no charges; all he said was in the nature
of innuendo. He had already said he
would not notice dirty nominations. The
trouble was he would not ask politicians
to let him run for the senate. "To hi
with the politicians; here are my mas
ters-the people,"
The incident passed off without any
trouble. It was pretty exciting. Evans
had the crowd with him. Duncan and
Evans are the only candidates left in the
race.
Congressman McLaurin, for reelection,
made a strong speech, severely handling
one who announced his intention to op-
pose him. He regretted all the talk of
political rottenness when there was no
healthy opposition.
He referred to "those rascals around
his district who had failed to make use
of him."
Tonight Col. John G. Haskell, who is
referred to in the several statements re-
Gently made about the bond matter, is
out in an interview declaring that John
Shelton Williams, one of the members
of the syndicate, had said to him and
others, using no names, had stated that
he (Rhind) could not allow as much COM
mission as expected, because large por-
tion of it "had to be paid to parties whose
services and influence were necessary in
the general assembly,"