The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1906-07-20
LYONS REPLY
TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF sENA.
TOR Il. IL. TILLMAN.
He Admits that the Committee Found
Nothing Against the
Senator,

Nothing Against the
Senator.
To tho Editor of Tho State:
NoG having been present ut the
meeting at the State house Monday
night 1t was impossible for mo to
know just what remarks had been
made by Senator Tillman in regard to
myself, but assuming tho reports in
the morning papers to be correct, I
Will say that ID is quite lattering to
know that the senator has approved of
every position l as one of the minor
ity members of the committee have
taken. l am glad to feel that al
though denOuncing me, Senator Till.
man practically approved Of all my
work and Efforts on the Investigating
committee-if not directly, then In
directly.
He wanted to know why we did not
examine witnesses brought here from
Newborry In February. The ansm er
he should know. Had my vote been
sufficient, tho committee would have
insisted on the evidence from these
witnesses being made O. part Of our re.
cords.
He wanted to know why the COM
mittee did not ask Mr.. l.. w. Parker
who Lanahan's political agent was
last year. Senator Tillman should
nave known by the published vote Of
the committee that l was not respon-
sible for this failure. l did ask those
questions. The majority Of the COM
mittee voted that Mr.. Parker should
not answer.
Senator Tlllman sustains me In my
position In those contentious as we'll
as In the matter Of the suspended pay
ment Of the 800. 600 worth Of claims.
He asked why vas not the manager
Of the Rjohland distillery kut on the
stand to corrOborate the evidence of
@, O. Davis that II. ii. Evans had
told Of Wilson and himself climbing
on q table TO watch through q tran
som to see rebates paid to others.
The reason is that Briggs Wilson, at
has moved to Georgia and we have
not been able to get information from
him. That, Senator Tlllman is one
OF the reasons why he was never put
on the stand.
About the piano incident. The
committee employed q detective to
report on what he could find relative
to all dispensary afr sirs. This detec.
tive formally and In writing reported
to the subcommittee that he had
n.een told by Mr.. Hayes, who was at
5hat time connected oniclally with the
Mill Creek DlstillinR company had
given to Gov. Tillman a piano. II
was the duty OF the committee, as /
saw 1t, to inquire into such q report.
Mr.. Hayes was seen and failed tt
confirm the report submitted to the
committee. After inquiry by the
committee had failed 10 secure any
creditable evidence, the piano incident
was dropped ard forgotten, especially
as Mr.. NJ. A. Malone had previously
fully explained the purchase Of the
piano in 1891.
1t was never charged or stated by
me that Gov. Tillman had received q
piano from q whiBkey house, but there
was a rumor to that effect, aud that
there was a rumOr to that effect the
official records Of the subcommittee
Will show. That was all that was
ever said about the piano. Even
Senator Tlllman insisted upon full In
vcstigation Of his every act connected
With the dispenSary and yet fail to
see the harm OF this Inquiry, but Sen
atOr Tillman should rejoice at the
flilure to find confederation Of the ru
NOR that a piano had been sent him
by the Mill Greek nistilling company.
1t would be humiliating to me to
| KNOW fh0t Qt q nnhlio ponntjur ! ho1
been ri8htfully accused Of stating a
falsehood; but knowing that l have
always stated the truth and that the
frate Senator cannot substantiate his
charge in this respect-he not even at.
tempting to do so-the shaft which
he had intended TO be deadly to me
will fall harmlessly at my side.
L cannot believe that tho Justice
loving people Of South Carolina would
aid Senator Tillman in the accomp.
lishmeDt Of his purpose to defeat me.
10 the people Of South Carolina | will
say that IT is my purpose to continue
IN The course | have heretofore pur.
sued and Will not be moved by person.
al attacks, nor will l handy abusive
epithots with any one. l regret that
Senator Tlllman feels personally az
grieyed on account Of his being inves
tigsted but that has not been an I'm.
common happening to us In our work.
However, Senator Tillman ls the only
one known TO me seeking revenge on
account OF it.
Senator Tillman might have In
CURED what the committee had found
In tracking down this one Of many u
mors and i gladly would have told
him the result OF our inquiry. But he
may have preferred to fondle the i'm.
aginary grievance to have q hook on
which to hang abuse Instead Of argu-
ment. Or Is he really mad because It
"as my duty to present to the people
or the State convincing evidence OF
the Inherent corruption Of tho dispen.
sary system which he is working 80
hard to save. L wonder, had | agreed
to w~hitcwash the ~dispensary system,
would such d TRADE have been direct
against me, j FRASER LYON,
Given Damages.
The Columbia Record says for In
jurie8 caused by a pulley set screw,
"hich caught In bis sleeve and caused
Cho manning OF his hand, Melvin
Williams, cOlored, was given In com
mon pleas Wednesday a verdict against
fhn S~GuEharp GpttOD q cOnponu fo.