Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-05-26
a3tiseellameous 8eadimg.
TILLMAN TO BLLbRBE,
The Much Talked Letter
Made Public.
IN, A SLIGHTLY ALTERED SHAPE.
Abuse For Judge Simonton and the Daily
Papers-Investigatio Demanded.

Senator Tillman has given out for
publication his now famous letter to
Governor Ellerbe. He made it public
at spartanburg last Friday in the fol-
lowing shape:
Governor Ellerbe having declined
to give my letter to the press as l re-
quested, waited to hear from him be-
fore giving it out. 1t was written very
hurriedly, and some things in it SEEM
ed to him to be a reflection on his ad-
ministration, and he also objected to
my structures on some men and things
as coming through him for fear they
would be considered as receiving his
endorsement. AS I intended no re-
Election on the governor, and had no
purpose of "striking others over his
shoulder" I have modified the lam
guage which he considered to reflect
on him and give the letter to the pub
lie in the form of a statement. only
addressed it to him, in the first place,
because, being governor, he alone
could order an investigation. 1t is
substantially as written, except that l
have changed my comments on the
Agricultural Hall matter some, since
reading the opinion of Justice Harlan,
and left out one or two sentences
which might be considered as making
boastful comparisons.
The dispensary scandals and the re-
cent decision in regard to the Agricul-
tural Hall case have excited deep
feeling of concern in the minds of the
people of the state, and have given
my enemies a good excuse to engage
anew in the pleasant pastime of abus-
ing and slandering me in connection
with both. I commend heartily the
governors acton in pressing the re-
cent investigation and join in the SEN
timent: "Let no guilty man escape.
1 have no desire, nor do I believe has
the governor, to make scapegoats of
anyone, but if there are any big fish in
the net, let them not break through
and punish only the little ones.
There has been more or less loose
ness in vogue in regard to samples
from the very start, and it is probable
that contraband liquor and samples
became mixed in the minds of men
connected with the dispensary, SO that
due regard to law has not been had in
the disposal of contraband seizures.
But if there are no graver crimes in
connection with the management than
these with which they have thus far
been charged, do not see that much
good will come, even if Scruggs and
CASTOR are punished to the fullest ex-
tent of the law. In this connection, l
would suggest that too much stress
seems to be given to the having of a
"hocus pocus" key. Scruggs was the
trusted agent of the board of control,
so much so that they refused or failed
TO elect a commissioner, and cannot
see what need he had for key.
Shipments must have been received
constantly, and I do not know how
they could have been placed in the
contraband room Unless there was a
key always in his possession to open it
with. 1t is possible, at this distance,
however, and for the lack of familiar
ity with the present workings of the
dispensary, that my criticisms along
this line are worthless. Samples were
sent in great quantities when was
connected with the dispensary, and
not knowing what else to do with
them, they were freely distributed
among the visitors to the institution,
as one means determining the qualities
of the liquors, and also as courtesies.
l carried some to my house and used
them, as did Governor Evans, and
also, l presume, the present state board
of control have done likewise, and 1
have no apology to make for it. Dur
ing my term there were very few other
articles than liquor seized, though |
recall the fact that kegs and small
barrels of liquors were found packed
in rice barrels and also in casks OF
hams. l instructed Mr.. Traxler to
take account of all contraband articles
aud dispose of them according to law.
While there is great howl raised
in regard to the dispensary by the old
barroom advocates, it is done with
the view of undermining and destroy
ing the dispensary system, and they
do not care so much for the punish
ment of these men as they rejoice in
the opportunity the recent exposures
have afforded them for revamping the
old ISLANDERS about "rebates."
The obvious purpose of the anti
MISREPRESENTATION, anti-temper-
ance and anti-decency-their obvious
purpose, I say, is to follow up the line
of fight laid down long ago; to be-
smirch the character of any and every
man connected with the dispensary,
and to magnify, everything which can
be criticised in its management in or
der to break it down in the affections
of the people and to accomplish the
restoration of barrooms in some form.
The system has no inherent vice
which ought to work its dissolution,
and it only requires to be conducted
as the asylum or as the tax depart
ment is run to command the respect
and support of the people. No one
can claim that this is a matter of i'm
possibility, and if the system finally
fail it will be owing to the improper
administration of the law.
So much for the general subject.
Now, for particulars. I have waited
to see this weeks Headlight, so as to
have Gantt's specific charges covering
the administration of the law under
"Ben Tillman and Traxler; and, like
others, I have been astonished at the
effrontery which gives out so much