The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-04-18
MIR. LYONS REPLY.
"A Caustic Retort to the Senator's Crit
icisms-The Law Limiting Purchas-
es Not Quoted Correctly-As to Mill
Creek and Rebates.
TO the Editor of The State:

ser y00rSeI or tOuS-SuHeflIlS puo11C'
+ do not think the public interested
in the senator's opinion, either Of my
course in the dispensary investigation
or as to whether it was sneaking and
cowardly to address my reply to an
attorney, in response to an inquiry
giving my reasons for delay, and al
lowing that letter to be published.
However, 7 do not wish to take the
senator at a disadvantage, and if he
thinks it more in keeping with his
ideas of fairness, he may treat my let
Ter as if it were addressed to him
personally, with each statement there
In reiterated.
Senator Tillman says: 3.I have not
attacked the Investigating committee.
only warned it in a friendly spirit. .
HIS reference to the committee in his
address stands for itself, and
scarcely think he can expect that this
latter statement can be understood as
being consistent with his former. In
my opinion, it will be very indulgent
person who does not think, SO.
The senator has made the wonder
ful discovery that,the s7oo,ooo worth
of claims against the State board are
valid and binding, or they are not.
Perhaps the entire committee will
agree to this statement when they
know the senator has said it. But
when he says: Fhey are not, because
the whiskey was bought contrary to
law and the State is not legally bound
for payment" I hesitate, for have no
facts to base such conclusion on the
opinion of person himself under in
syestigation, and know of no law linn
iting the amount Of stock, save the
version as cited by this same person.
II am not familiar with a law that ex-
pressly limits the amount Of goods
that may be on hand to 100000. +
have read an Act relating to dispen-
sary profits, acts 1902, page 1102, in
which it Is provided that the direct
ors Of the dispensay shall pay to the
State treasurer by January, 1904, all
of the school fund reported by them in
excess Of 100000 and making provis-
ion for ascer1aining quarterly thereaf-
ter the net profits accruing to the
State. No doubt the senator will cite
accurately the law he refers TO.
It is somewhat a surprise to know
that the senator has spoken in such
strenuous language, because the pub
lie has been notified, at his request,
that we are Investigating the piano
matter. He cnaracterizes this as a
dirty AMI cewardly insinuation.
agree with him that it is rather dirty
looking thing all the way through and
I may hay. acted cuwardly, but the
senator canaot 7atteI himself that it
vas an insinration. Or. the other hand.
& was plain statement that the piano
raat.er was under Investigation, be-
cause it came to US that it was posi-
bly 'rake eff''-a sufficient reason
fcr investigating it We have investi-
gated at least one other tranaction
somewhat similar to the piano matter.
This latter was investigated largely
for the rason that the senator publicly
expressed his suspicion about it. It
Is only suspicious that we have
TO commence on, and it is not my pur-
pose to tell about suspicious transac-
tons that are being probed unless
those under Investigation ask for in
formation at a time when it may safe
" be given. would suggest, howev-
er, If information is not really desired,
it may be well not to be too inquisitive,
for someone else might be offended.
The interview has represented the
senator as saying that my pretext for
delay is that may look into the
records of the Mill Creek Distilling
Company to see whether there are any
credits Is it not a little strange that
the senator should thus refer to Mill
Creek when no mention OF it is made
in my letter? The statement in this
respect is the product of his own fer
tile Imagination. Is it not singular
that he should associate in his mind
Mill Creek distillery and rebates? This
of itself would warrant the committee
in looking for "a niger in the wood
pile in the back yard of the Mill
Creek distillery.
But now comes the startling denial
that he ever said anything about re-
turning rebates. It may be interesting
to read his interview along with his
sworn statement before the committee.
Interview.
M Lyon heard my testimony in