The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-04-30
7IL.LMAH 1T MANNING.
EsE SEEMS 70 HAVE BEE.
TAMER TnhN EXPECTED.
Apgeil Presented kmdayits to
Prove His Peaitsntiary Charges.
T,LLaAfv DEH3uNGED Rlo.Aua!N AS
a TRAITOR TO GEMocHAcy

Manning, S. c., April 25.-About
one thousand-some estimate two
thousand people attended tie meeting
here today.
Appelt failed to produce any affida-
Wits supporting his charges against
Tillman, save some bearing out his
allegations as to Tillman getting
things free from the penitentiary.
Applet offered also a telegram from
Tiilman saying he would speak there.
The telegram showed it was sent
dead head, . which proved Tillman
had and used telegraph frank.
Tillman spoke first for half hour
and asked Appelt for his case Till
man read two letters, marked "Pri
vate,'' written him by Applet, and
said be bad right so to 90 because
it was part of the war. He regarded
Appelt as a tool of McLaurin.
Senator Applet at first seemed a lit
tie undecided. but finally he arose and
began to speak:
I will ask, said he. that you take
into consideration the position [ oc-
cupv, that you consider the powerful
adversary that I unfortunately have to
contend against. While l am at home
still l realize what eloquence can do
from a man with Tillman's powers. |
am unaccustonaed to this sort Of thing.
At this point be was interrupted by
the crowd and Tillman came forward
and said that he was not here as a
bull-dozer, but as a prisoner at the
bar on trial for thievery, and that he
wan ed Appelt to have fair play.
Appelt recalled the days when he
was roaring Tillmanite, declaring
that he was still reformer, but that
he differed from Tillman on the pri-
mary. AS newspaper man be had
criticised him as he had a right to do.
His charges were not from personal
knowledge, but on written informa
ton. What he undertook to reason
out was on circumstantial evidence.
There was nothing in his private
letters to Tillman to show that he was
two faced. What he had said therein
about McLaurin he had also said in
his paper, and he would now state
that if McLaurin was shown not to be
a Democrat he would not vote for
him. He would follow the Democratic
party in whatever action it took.
Senator Appel propounded about
two dozen written questions to Senator
Tllman. and offered half dozen afida-
Wits from former employees Of the
state penitentiary, all concerning the
oat crop and supplies furnished I'LL
man by the penitentiary. Neal states
that Tillman got WOOD, coal, vege-
tables, fertilizers, etc. for which be
paid nothing and gave orders that no
charge be made.
Following are some Of Appelt's ques-
tions:
5. When the dispersary system was
inaugurated. did you not make large
purchases of the stock?
6. Did there not exist at that time
"whiskey trust,'' and did you not
make large purchases from a member
of that trust?
7 Did not the trust have an agree
ment to pay its purchasers a certain
rebate?
s. During several months of your
administration large quantities Of
liquor was purchased, was there any
rebates recorded on the books of the
institution?
9. Why do not the rebates appear on
the books?
IS. Was not committee sent to in
vestigate the dispensary transactions
refused the right to examine the books,
and did not the members of the trust
refuse to be subjected to an examlna-
tion on oath?
Senator Tillman took up Appelt's
series of questions and answered each.
Following are his answers to the above
questions:
5. When he took charge of the dis
pensary he secured the country and at
last found one concern in Cincinnati
that offered him unlimited credit to
buv wbiskey for the State. He had
only $50, 600 to start this big business,
and all his enemies were trying to
make him fail. When George Hub
bell declared he had enough faith in
MIN to trust him with all the whlskey
he wanted he then told him that the
Mill Creek Distilling Company was
entitled to a larger price for its wins
kew. and that it was only reasonable
and proper that they should be allow
ed to retain the rebates fo1, the credit
that they gave the State OF South
Carolina. 1t was that or nothing.
He took the responsibility as governor.
is. As TO this question he said be
simply did not know. He held some
tvpewritten sheets covering the testl-
mony in the Mixscn Investigation and
said there was nothing therein to I'M
plicate him. Bills in the legislature
10 investigate this thing had several
times been killed. Iie did not know
that as soon as be went out of office
the Mill Creek Distilling company
which had sold the State on crdelt
and waited nearly two years, was turn
cd down, and no more whiskey bought
from them and they were treated Ike
thieves.
this was al old natter fully Gov
cred by the Stevenson committee.
.Appelt offered no certificates or ath-
davits as to the bond deal, whlskey
rebates or anything else, only offered
a table to show that rebates were PAID