The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-04-10
Mr.. FRASER LYON
PUTS A HOT SHOT
SAYS TILLMAN IS TRYING TO
BELITTLE COMMITTEE.
They Will Investigate Him-The
Dispensary Is So Corrupt That
Even the Investigators Are
Suspected, BE Writes.

Senator Tillman in a manifesto
which he gave to the public recently
attacked a great many people and
officials, not even sparing the mem
bers Of the committee appointed to
investigate the affairs Of the state
dispensary. That reference has been
taken by Mr.. J. Fraser Lyon as an
effort to discredit the investigating
committee and in a letter to the at
torney for liquor house Mr.. Lyon
has expressed himself rather forcibly
in regard to Senator Tillman's state
ment.
The letter Of Mr.. Lyon has been Sc
cured for publication after some effort
on the part Of the State, but the at
torney to whom it is addressed asks
that his name be kept out Of it. Fol-
lowing is the communication:
Abbeville, S. C. April 8, 1906.
Nv Dear Sir: Your two letters Of
recent date were received by me upon
my return home yesterday after an
absence Of about two weeks. You will,
therefore, understand why you have
not had an earlier reply. While it is
true that I do not think there is any
good reason for withholding payment
of the claim Of the Cook & Bernheim-
er company Of New York still, as I
have said heretofore, [ will not give
my consent to the payment Of this or
any other dispensary claim now held
up until the matter of such payment
is discussed at public session OF
our committee.
I feel sure that you will appreciate
my position in this matter, especially
since the publication Of Senator Till
mans ssAddress to the People OF
South Carolina,' in which he says:
SIS there not plenty Of opportunity
for more graft and secret transactions
in regard to the settlement Of these
accounts? Will not the legislative
committee be suspected Of corruption
If it does not get in the middle Of
the road and stay there-that IS,
stand by the law, obey it itself and re-
ouire others to do so? Why so much
delayg'
You see this additional reason for
nv position. It is unfortunate for
your clients to have had dealings with
an institution which no one can even
investigate without having it suggest
ed or insinuated that he may be a
CRATER, or at least has good oppor-
tnnity to steal. While I regard this
reference to our committee as only a
shrewd, attempt to shake public conf
dence in US and intend to obstruct
and interfere with our work, which
is evidently becoming distasteful to
many of those who are irrevocably
welded to the dispensary, still when
I see this proneness to criticlse US
wish to be especially careful not to
put myself in a position that could
with even a color Of justice be crlti-
cised.
In your letter of March 26 you
practically asked the question and
sincerely, "Why so much delay?'' l
know Of no fact that have learned in
the dispensary investigation that I
shall Intentionally withhold from the
public. Sometimes I do not think 1t
best for the success Of the investiga-
ton to reveal facts and suspicious as
soon as they come to me, or to disclose
our plans for the future, so in this
case will answer your question only
so far as I think the present status OF
the investigation justifes.
We are trying to get the facts III
regard to several suspicious matters
which we think should be investigat-
ed. Among them is the statement as
I recall it, Of Senator Tillman that
he returned certain rebates to a dis
tillery. We wish to find the credits
on the books Of the distillery showing
the amount of rebates which Senator
Tillman said he returned as gift
for the gratitude he felt to the liquor
concern crediting the state of South
Carolina. Besides this there hac
come to my ears rumor-the source
Of which I do not now recall, but g
rumor which I think should be lookej