The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-07-18
MR.. LYONS REPLY.
Makes NO ATTEMPT TO RANDY
EPITHETS WITH TIILMAN.
Had Heard That Tillman Had Got
Another Piano, But Their lnvesti-
cations Showed no Proof.

tor Tillman's attack on EJr. j. Fraser
Lyon in his speech in. Columbia Mon
day night. It is generaly regarded as
a personal matter, as Senator Till1nan
practically sustained Messrs. Lyon and
Christensen in the several matters in
which they had been overruled by the
committee as a whole.
But, as Mr.. NJ. A. Malone has al
ready explained that Senator Tillman
bought and paid for the piano in 1881.
the matter had been regarded as a
dead issue until Senator Tillman re-
vived it. in his imprisoned speech
Monday night. Mr.. Lyon came here
quite unwen Sunday night and was
unable to hear himself roasted" by
Senator Tsllman. He was not well
enough yesterday to go to Orangeburg
but. will try to make Sumter today.
He gave out the following statement
yesterday:
To the Editor Of The State:
Not having been present at the
meeting at the State House Monday
might it was impossible for me to
know just what remarks had been
made by Senator Tillman in regard to
myself, but assuming the reports in
the morning papers to be correct, I
viii say that it is quite fattering to
know that the senator has approved
of every position I as one Of the mi
nority members Of the committee
have taken. I am glad to feel that
although denouncing me, Senator Till
man practically approved Of ali my
work and efforts on the investigating
eonnmittee-if not directly, then indi-
rec1ly.
He wanted to know why we did not
examine witnesses brought here from
Newberry in February. The answer he
should know. Had my vote been suf-
fcient, the committee would have in
sisted in the evidence from these wit
nesses being made a part Of our re-
cords.
He wanted to know why the COM
nasttee did not ask Mr.. L. w. Parker
who Lanahan's political agent was
last year. Senator Ti1lman should
have known by the published vote of
the committee that was not respon-
sible for this failure. I did ask those
questions. The majority Of the COM
mittee voted that Mr.. Parker should
not answer.
Senator Tillman sustains me in my
position in those contentious as well
as in the matter Of the suspended pay
n.ent of the 100000 worth of claims.
He asked why was not the manager
OF the Richland disti}lery put on the
stand to corroborate the evidence Of
: C. C. Davis that II. H. Evans had told
of Wilson and himself climbing on a
table to watch through transom to
see rebates paid to others. The rea-
son is that Briggs Wilson, at that time
manager Of the distillery, had moved
to Georgia and we have not been able
to get information from him. That,
Senator Tillman, is one of the reasons
why ae vas never put on the stand.
About the piano incident. The COM
naittee employed a detective to report
on what he could find relative to all
dispensary affairs. This detective for
nally and in writ,.,g reported to the
subcommittee that he had been told
by Mr.. Hayes, who was at that time
connected officially with the Mill
Creek DistiIling con. oany had given to
Governor Tillman piano. 1t was the
duty of the committee, as I saw it, to
INQUIRE into such a report.
Mr.. Hayes was seen and failed to
confirm the report submitted to the
committee. After inquiry by the
committee had failed to secure any
creditable evidence. the piano incident
was dropped and forgotten, especially
as Mr.. M. A. Malone had previously
fully explained the purchase Of the
piano in 1891.
It was never charged or stated by
me that Governor Tillman had re-
ceiyed a piano from whiskey house,
but there was runor to that effect,
and that there was a rumor to that
effect the official records Of the sub
committee will show. That was all
that was ever said about the piano.
Even Senator Tillman insisted upon
f,,ll investigation Of his every act
connected with the dispensary and
vet fail to see the harm Of this in
I ouiry. but Senator Tillnan should -e-
ioice at the failure to find c@irobora-
20 +bo r,,Yoor that T. pianO had