The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-07-20
A Priyate's Standpoint es to the
Money Distribution.
Camp Gso'ee Il. Thomas,
Lytle, Ga July IS, 1898

Lyte, Ga July Is, 1885
To the Editor Of The Item:
Dear Sir: AS much has been writt'o 10
the Sumter papers concerning 'he money 80
generously sent us by the Sumter people anc
ns we are 40 zious not to be misunderstood oF
onr ,ownspeople "a having shown an uo-
grateful spirit towards them, or an improper
one to our officers | write this communlca-
tor, which. hope, will clearly show whsre'
10 all our dissatisfaction lay that 1t was DOT
on accou It of ths distribution OF tals mcoey
being left to our tficers OF at the plao OF
distriba,ion proposed by tbe1 the "t"e"'y-
cent? Judgment plan ss the Herald calls It
These are minor considerations. The point
was one OF principle With us, aad not one of
per cents, ore or less
The cause of dissatisfaction with us was
simply this The manner in aohieh that tete.
cram uos obtained Was it booorabIe, or
highly t,ameable? Let tie facts answer. and
let the iunoceE' go free, and the guilty sbo0l-
der the consequences.
Now for the facts Three or four da,s oe-
fore receiving the check, we had heard thst
the people Of sumter, wishing TO show ns
their appreciation and thongoffu'ness' were
getting up this money Tor Us, and also toa' II
was to be pro rated among us. There were
10y aud pride in our hearts, and gra'e'n.
smiles 90 all faces.
SoHe, in toe course Of our :alk over tols
matter, ut that time expressed themselves as
bitterly opposed TO its being pro rated, and
there was some pretty ho, discussion aoout
it. Thus the matter rested unit! the check
letter and Telegram came. With breathiess
at,en,ioo did everv man prtsenr listen TO the
reading OF .tha, subscription heading to the &C.
companying letter. and at last e the telegram,
which, oy the way, VS. directed 10 Que OF
the ileutenan,s. The suhscriptios h.sdiog
and the letter from the committee both show
I'd that the ,nteation of the coutrloufors aod
Of the comi,uttee at the time of the sending
of ,ce money, was, that II should De pro
rated
Now the question that naturally forced IT.
self upou our inds was this: Why oaJ
that con ittee (or be who -eut the telegram)
even after the money bad been forwarded,
seen at to change the pur. o>e expressed 10
the letter aud subscription neaolng, 400
deemed 80 necessary as 10 go 10 the e1
peose of telesrspbi that cnaoge OF 'nt D.
tiono Conn-ctiug this with what had gone
before. We were forced into toe belle! that
here was something "rot1en in ceamsrk,
and that this telegram had been sent ~
answer TO request froG some ooe oere, WOO
Aid not Wish the money 10 be pro ra'ed-toe
wishes Of the majority.
We hooes!ly believed that The copni,te;
for those who acted in The place OF the con-
m,t,ee) would never have changed their ORG
inal ;n,eor;oo and sent 'nas ,e.eyrsm here,
had they no, been il Hueoced 10 the above
way. which we considered ungeutemanly,
nnf.ir aod under handed Now tbs Ia our
d,ss s,,isfscrion-tnat some one or several IN
this company, IN order TO carry bis or tne'r
po,pt against our wis5es-the wishes o. Toe
o., iority-- desc nded to sncr irlckery, Gut
even then bad we believed there were suth'
Gent :easons whg the ooey sho-ld NOT haVe
oeea pro rated, we would have Kept silent,
and taken ouiet.y the distribution proposed.
When the company was called together the
second time, from our ranks was appoint
cd 20 ssk the commissioned Cfhce:s the fol-
towing question:
800 you koow whether ;his telegram was
sent in response 10 any COMMUNICATION from
any member of this company
The question was not answered TO oaf SAT.
isfacton, aud sace toen We have received
proof ,ha, sous such coDmunicanon was
sent.
NM ,his is al! have TO say io the n,tter,
snd|it is from prisae's standpoint 1t our
officers had just grouods 10 ;Slnk that te!e-
gram was good aut horl'.. and was 5. ut VOL
uutarily 90 ,he par. OF the sende:, ai q that
tne,r plan of distribution Was the wlsest: ::
| give them credit for acsiog couscIsnnous1y
PRIvATg