The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-08-24
UNUs I . IIIOhMAN3
"Sec'y. Tenn. Board of Pen. Exam.

Mr.. Hickman has been the secretary.
of the Board of Confederate Pensions
since its organization, and has been ac-
tive in behalf of the old soldier from the
beginning
AS have stated before, voted for,
and actively worked for ,and helped to
secure the passage of bill increasing
the pension appropriation from $4,000
to 500 cooper year.
1t wIl be noticed in Mr.. Hickman s
letter that application was made to the
Legisla ures of 1893, 1895 and 1897 to
inc' ease the pension appropriation, and
that it failed to pass. Maj. Whitthorne
was member of the Senate in 1893 and
| 1895, and failed to secure the passage of
bill increasing the pension appropria-
ton. 1t seems that | was more efficient
and helpful to the old soldier than he,
| fail to see how | was guilty of 80
| frightful a sin of omission" in failing to
/ vote against said bill, or why | should
be ignored by the sons and friends of the
old soldiers.
Maj. Whitthorne's extreme and vim
dictive language shows how careless he
is in his criticisms, and turns against
him with fearful force in the light of
the facts.
Maj Whitthorne in his card says:
Mr.. Padgett very adroitly states that
he never attended any secret negro
league meetings OF course not. The
secret negro league meeting was thing
of the past, creation of the carpet
Dagger and the scalawag, but the feeling
of race prejudice existed in 1882, anc
Mr.. Padgett cannot deny that in his race
for the Legislature at that time he
sought and addressed meetings at night
composed almost exclusively of negroes
[ found him one night shortly b. fore the
election at Canaan Church in this
county. The church was packed with
negroes. Felix Mayes, colored, " as pre-
siding, AID not white man presen
but Mr.. Padgett. 1t was not a secret
negro league meeting,' but it was ;
negro political meeting, with Mr.. Padg
ett as Orator of the Night of which
meeting was advised about nighIfal
and proceeded to investigate in com
pany with another Democrat. Shortl,
after our appearance at the church tn
negro presiding officer ordered the light
blown out and pronounced the meeting
'reiourned.'
Said statement is untrue. The fact
are, Col. Duncan b. Cooper, who was ;
, Democratic candidate for the Senate
and myself, Democratic candidate TO
the Lower House, together drove out :
, Canaan church and spoke to tn
negroes. There were many other whit
} people present. l remember MIR. Sim
r Latta, formerly Democratic sheriff G
Maury county for four years, went on
with US. There was no secrecy abou
| it Col. Cooper and myself were urgin
the negroes not to vote for Alvin HaN
kins, the Republican nominee, but
; vote for 10 II. Russell, of whom tn
/ Major speaks in such high praise n
such thug as blowing out the light
E and announcing the meeting "reiourr
ed" occurr, d.
1 will add that in the same canvas
E Mai. John T. Williamson, Democrat
nominee for the Senate, and Hon. W.
; Porter. Democratic nominee for th
I House, on the Bate ticket, addresse
: several negro meetings at night, urgin
' the negroes to support Gen Bate. |
E fact, in nearly every campaign In II
county many Of the Democratic speal
r ers in the county have addressed Il
= negroes to get them TO vote for Dem'
: cratic nominees.
D All the other matters in his reply al