The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-07-04
l. SUMTER. S. G. WEDNESDAY. JULY 4. 1906.

asked if he might answer IN oelsAl
from the record, and if so he would
gladly do so. Chairman Efrd held
that he could not permit any extended
statement. Mr.. Lyon refused TO an
swer yes or no, without an explanation,
and then Mr.. Ragsdale piled into him
and said here was great purifier
and chaser of graft taking 81 a day
as a, legislator and 81 a day at the
same time for service on the inves-.
tigating committee. He said that Sen
ator James Stackhouse, Of Marion,
had told him that Mr.. Lyon hadNsaid
he received the extra pay.
Makes Many Charges.
AS to the itemized statement not be-
ing filed, he got his information from
MIR. Blease. If such statement had
been filed, then it was all we'll and
good. Then Mr.. Ragsdale said Mr..
Lyon had been elected to the house
from Abbeville as a dispensary aclvo-
cate, and he wanted to know what
pledge the people had that he would
not have change of heart in his pur-
suit Of the grafters. No man should
change his views without first consult
ing his people. The Attorney Gen
eral at best had little to do in such
cases. The solicitors do the prose-
cutting, and if Mr.. Lyon will only give
the evidence the prosecution could
now go on. He said Lyon was simply
making a grand stand play talking
about pursuing the grafters. He said
Lyon was waiting to say: ''I'll unfurl
this banner. I'll be the leader against
graft" and incidentally draw $1,000
salary, which, he said, was more than
Lyon had ever made before, for but
la few years ago he was satisfied with
Senate clerkship at 81 day. No
man, he said, ought to be elected who
could not get the support of his horne
people, and he did not think Lyon
could now carry Abbeville. Lyon
should have resigned his place in the
House if he meant to fight the dis
pensary.
Pokes Fun at Bristow.
He made merry Of Mr.. Bristow and
the evidence of Mr.. Bristow and IN
sisted that it was all worthless and SO
indefinite as not to be worth a penny.
He had ca lot Of fun ridicullng the
Bristow evidence as type Of the work
of the committee He said he was in
earnest in Offering to get out Of the
way of Gen. Youmans and knocked
hard at the suggestion that he was
put up as a decoy to take Lyon out
out Of the race.
Lyon Makes a Statement.
Some of the audience wanted Rags
dale to talk on, but he only spoke
briefly over his time. After all the
speaking and when but few remained,
Mr.. Lyon said that it was an almost
universal precedent for members to
accept pay as legislators and also as
members Of special committees that
served during the meeting ofsthe Leg
islature. The question came UP before
the investigating committee and, with
but one exception, as he RENE mbered,
all voted to accept the pay, as it had
always been done before. He accepted
bothssalaries. as has always been done.
Tht Legislature had ruled directly
upon such bay and all Legislative
committees working during the session
were provided with pay and have been
paid. In rare instances recently such
paw had been declined, he understood.
AS to the itemized statement, it was
published in the Journal Of 1905, and
that ought to end it with any honor
able man.
The House and Senate by vote ac-
cepted this statement as satisfactory
and directly refused to ask for any
further statement. Any one could have
easily found that this stattment was
printed in the official Journal. The
only issue in Abbeville was on the 1-2
mill tax in the Brice law. He favored
it. Mr.. Lomax opposed this special
tax. Both were elected; therefore,
what was the position Of his people?
He did know his people stood for hon.
esty and right and that was his oo-
sition. and all he asked was justice.
Mr.. Lyon made his brief statement
without any furry, quietly, and i'm
pressed those who remained with his
c;roorit1- ord honesty