Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1906-04-11
MIR. LYON MAKES REPLY


First Official Protest Against South
Carolina Senator's Address to the
People on Dispensary Question
Comes From Mr.. Frazier Lyon, Of
Investigation Committee-Says De-
lay is Caused by Search After Facts
in Suspicious Cases, in Some of
Which Mr. Tillman is Named as
the Principal.
Columbia, Specialize first Off
cial protest against the address of
Senator Tillman has been made by
Mr.. Frazier Lyon, of the investigat-
ing committee. 1t is rather lively
letter and reads as follows:
"Your two letters Of recent date
were received by me upon my return
home after an absence of about two
weeks. You will therefore understand
why you have not had all earlier re-
ply. While it is true that I do not
think there is any good reason for
Withholding payment of the claim
of the Cook & Bernheimer Co., of
New York, still, as / have said here
toforc. | will not give my consent to
the payment Of this or any other dis
pensary claim now held up until the
matter OF such payment is discussed
at public session Of our committee.
feel sure. that you will appreciate
my position in this matter, Senator
Tillman's Address to the people of
South Carolina in which he says, Is
there rot plenty of oportunity for
more graft and secret transactions in
regard to the settlement of these ac-
counts9 Will not the legislative COM
mittee be suspected Of corruption if
it does not get in the middle Of the
road and stay there, obey the law
itself and require others to do so.
Why attempt so much delay"
Shrewd Attempt to Shake Public
Confidence.
"You see this additional reason for
my position. 1t is unfortunate for
your clients to have dealings with an
institution which no one eal even in
vestigate without having it suggested
or insinuated that he may be graft
er, or at least has good opportunity
to steal. While 1 regard this confer
ence to our committee as only a
shrewd attempt to shake public con-
fdence in us and intended 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
l see this proneness to criticise us,
wish to be especially careful not to
put myself in position that could,
with even a color of justi, be criti-
cized.
Gin your letter of March 26 You
Dracticall asked the question, and sin
cerily, Why so much delay7' ] know
10 fact that have learned i'll the dis
pensary investigation that I shall iu-
tentionally withhold from the public.
Some times | do not think it best for
the success Of the investigation to re-.
veal facts and suspicious as soon as
they have come to me. CT to disclose
our plans for the future. So in this
case, I will enswer your question only
so far as / think the present statue Of
the investigation justiies.
One Cause of Delay.
GIVE are trying to get the facts IN
regard to several suspicious matters
which We think should be investigat-
ed. Among this is the statement. as |
recall it, of Senator Tillman that he
returned certain rebates to distill-
cry. We wish to find the credits OH
The books of the distiller showing the
amount OF rebates which Senator Till
man said he returned as a gift for the
gratitude he felt to The liquor con-
Germ crediting the State of South Car
olina. Besides this there has come to
my ears a rumor, the source Of which
I do not now recall but which l think
should be looked into, that Senator
Tillman, when Governor, was present.
cd with piano by Il liquor concern.
II may be that receipts may be shown
iol tlle rebates, which may have been
returned. and for payment OF this
piano, which may have been received.
rs was rumorcd TO be the satisfac-
tory explanation IN the case Of the
rowill horse matter. Still, we 'lo not
know the facts in regard to these
things and think the Legislature III
tended for MS TO investigate such
transactions as these, as we'll as other
vague and uncertain matters iu whlcll
common rulnor gives currcncy. We
must do our duty in looking into these
things and YOU may judge by the
above samples that we must lave
much time III doing it. Furthermore,
it is not expedititious and would not
be approved if the committee held g
public session every time.