The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-04-11


one being aroused. Unfortunately, in
the case of our committee, the insinu-
alton of this suspicion is cast upon us
in the public prints by one VINO, above
all others, may know of the innermost
affairs Of the dispensary as transacted
by its officers since IT'S inception.
trust, however, that we will final
ly emerge from our distasteful task
meriting the confidence and approval
of all honest citizens. Believing that
this will satisfactorily explain our de-
lay, am Yours very truly,
J. Fraser Lyon.
Senator Tillman Replies to Mr.. Fraser
Lyons Letter.
C. w. Moorman, the Greenville cor
respondent Of the State sends the fol-
lowing to that paper under Greenyille
date:
Senator B. R. Tillman was seen yes
terday by representative of The
State as the senator was on his way
from Washington to Clemson college
to attend an important meeting -ef tthe
board of trustees. He was asked if he
had anything to say in reply to the let
ter Of Mr. J. Fraser Lyon, published in
the State Saturday. The senator had
not seen the letter, and when copy
of it was handed to him, he read it and
grew wrathy as he read. Being under
the impression that the publication
shown him was only an outline Of Mr..
Lyons letter, he was at first disinclin-
ed to say much. but when he became
satisfied that he was in possession Of
complete copy of the letter, he threw
off the silence and talked With char
acteristic freedom, denouncing the let
ter as sneaking and Mr.. Lyons refer
ence to the runlor that whiskey
house had presented Senator Tillnaan
with piano, as "a dirty, cowardly in
sinuation"
The senator was first approached by
the newspaper man as he sat in the
new passenger station at Charlotte
scanning large number Of South Car
Dina newspapers with which his
travelling bag was packed. The inter
view continued interruptedly on board
the Southern Southwestern Limited as.
far as Greenvi1le.
Grew Indignant.
After reading the letter, Senator
Tillman was indignant and grew more
so as he talked
81 am surprised he said, ~that a
gentleman such as I thought Mr.
Lyon to be would go in the papers in
such sneaking way as this Even
the name Of lawyer to whom he
wrote is not given, bur whether he
authorized its publicity Or not I as
sumo it 20 be authentic.
81 have rot attacked the investigat
ing committee; only warned it in
friendly spirit. And why? Either the
100000 worth Of claims against. the
State board are valid and binding or
they are not I say they are not, be-
cause the whiskey was bought con-
trary to law and the State is not legal
ly bound for payment.
'"The committee knows this now as
we'll as it will ever know it. Messrs
Lyon and Christensen have blacklisted
certain firms; the presumption is they
have discovered evidences Of fraud. If
those firms have acted dishonesty the
Did board cannot be clean; but leav-
ing Messrs. Lyon and Christensen to
hunt for proofs, to which do not OBJ
ject, again I ask: why the delay?'
Whether fraud is proven or not. no
decent lawyer will contend that these
large purchases Of whiskey are legal:
First. because there was not eompeti-
tive bidding, as the law requires; Sec
ond, because the law expressly limits
the amount that may be on hand to
s40o. 600 and instead Of dickering with
lawyers employed to collect the mon
ey, it is the investigating committees
plain duty to repudiate the whole
transaction. forbid the new board to
pay for any liquor and thus have an
end to it. Messrs. Lyon and Christen-