The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1908-07-10

MIer my return. ANY statement
that sought for myself except
with the committee, a private in
tcrview with the presidcnt-that
was a candidate for postmaster
ut Horence-that | made anv
statement that justified the article
in the News and Courier" is alb
solutcly false.
DIR HICKS STATEMENT.
Florence. S G. May 10, 1908.
have read the above statement
Of Mr. j w Rarsdnle and noted
ms references therein to me. The
The conversations alleged to have
ta',cn place in my presence and
the statements credited to me arc
properly stated by him and his
statement is entirely true in so far
rs my knowledge goes. | went to
Washington instead Of sending the
2etltltlon as req rested as requested
BY Mr. Ragsdalc because from cor
rcspondence from Mr. Ellorbe and
from other information | believed
him to be pledged to Mr. CP Der
ry and rot Keeping faith with rs
ard was unwilling to trust Mr.
Stroud's petition in his hands I'M
til ne had assured me in writing or
in the presence Of witnesses that
he would use his endcavor to Sc
cure Mr. Stroud's appointment.
After returning to Florence ut the
request Of Mr. Ellerbe I went with
y y Smith to WASHINGTON after
the publication Of Mr. Ellerhc's ar
ticle in I'll News and Courier and
Mr. Ellcrbe stated to me that Rags
dale requested him to support Mr.
Stroud at the first interview that
was held in Washington and that
he committed himself unrescrvcd,
" to Mr. Stroud. From my know
ledge Of all the facts in the case
including my correspondence with
MIR Ellerhe and the information
derived on my two visits to Wash
ington lbclieve that Mr. Ragsdalc
was acting throughout in good
faith and cndcavcring at all times
to secure the appointment Of Mr. j
w Stroud.
(Signcd) n w Hicks.
MIR DIVERS STATEMENT.
Onthe llth dav Of January of
this year, DR. n VI Hicks met me
on Evans street in Florence. S G..
and asked me to come to his office
that afternoon to meet and talk
with other citizens Of Florence
concerning the post Office situa-
ton and Mr. j w Stroud's candi-
dacy for the postmastership.
There were n dozen or more
gentlemen present at this confer
cncc at DR. llicks's office, all, with
the exception Of myself, business
men of the city. MIR w II Bar
ringer was asked to act as chair
man and did so. The object Of
the meeting was stated as being
two-fold-primarily, to try to Sc
cure a white postmaster. Second
arily-ifany method could be devi-
sed to secure assurance Of n white
postmaster, to urge the appoint
ment Of Mr. Stroud who was the
nominee of q general citizens mass
meeting, held some days previous
to this conference. These two
propositions we're freely discussed,
every man present taxing part in
the discussion-and as the first
proposition was logically and by
stress OF circumstances the chief
topic, it vas given principal con
slderation. Various ideas were adj
Wnccd, considered and discarded.
Several gentlemen feared that vi
olcncc and race antagOnism might
result should II negro be appointed
or re-app0intcd; but all expressed.
a desire to avoid any trouble and
a Willingness TO do anything rea-
sonablc to prevent it. Finally it
was agreed that a committee, sup
Elementary to the committee ap-
pointed by the above mentioned
mass meeting should be sent to
Washington to lay the situation
before the Presidential an inter
view could be had with him and to
appeal to his sense Of fairness and
his power to relieve the us, both
Df 0vicfinr ,,nrlnoc,@ .o,1..-