The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-08-07
possible, for his associates.

1.-The evidence, after a number of
years, is naturally hard for either side
to get at. The coming contest over
the efforts to convict some of the off,
cials of the dispensary system will be
watched with keenest interest over
important effect on the political future
OF South Carolina. Those closest to
Tillman and most familiar with the
details of his career have no doubt
that for himself he will secure the
most complete vindication of any
charges. They are mainly concerned
about the possibilities that there may
be developments to the discredit Of
MS administration. Charges of re-
oates and private profits to public SER
wants have especially entered into the
affair.""
AS far as is known in Columbia, the
dispensary commission has never at
tempted to bring Senator Tillman in
to the investigation, which is pending.
But the investigating committee.
which was appointed by the legisla-
ture, did have the senator before il.
The examination was very brief Till
man stated in answer to questions
that he knew nothing concerning re-
bates, etc., and had no information
which would be of benefit to the COM
mittee in it's work. All these matters
are we'll known to the people of this
State. having been published at the
time. The tilt between Senator Till
man and the present attorney general
about the investigation are all back
history" of this work. But the COM
mission has been working along the
lines wished for by Attorney General
Lyon and counsel for the State. The
civil side of the winding up of the dis
pensary has been in the hands of the
commission, but it is well known that
there has been other work going on,
and this Is the part of the affair that
there has been other work going on,
and this is the part of the affair that
has had most people guessing.
Of course, it is possible that South
Carolina's Senator is gathering data,
but this is not thought to be the case
here. 1t is not felt, in the first place.
that Tillman would bother ak out the
situation. which apparently, does not
affect him in any way just now. The
State dispensary is past history and
it is removed from the political situa-
ton in this State in every respect. The
present investigation and winding up
of the affairs of the old State dispen-
sary has not to the people of the
State and political significance. why
then should Tillman worry himself
about the institution which has long
since been buried? Even il a few
years ago it might have hurt to see
the dispensary crumble. now that it is
gone the work of winding up it's az
fairs can have hardly any political
significance. There is another side
to the matter which would seem to
preclude any idea of the senator's
taking hand. The work of the inves-
tigation has been confined to the last
board in office, and those who were
connected with it. In the list of those
charged there are none who had any,
thing to do with the dispensary in
the days when the purchasing board
was composed of the Governor, the
Secretary of the State ct al, or later,
when the power was vested in a State
board-save for those in the last board
of directors. The belief is that Senator
Ifllman has taken as much interest
in the State dispensary as he will
ever again actively take, and that he
has no occasion to be hunting data,
as is stated
In the meantime the affairs of the
defunct State dispensary remain in
about the same shape as they were a
few months ago. The commission is
now reading over the testimony and
getting in line for final determina-
ton of the various claims. The $780,
600 fund is in the banks of the State,
and the amounts will be paid out in
accordance with the findings in the
respective concerns cases. This is
the work of the dispensary winding
up commission until after the Sep
tember term of court. The final re-
suit of the whole business is eagerly
awaited by the people of the State
and the world looks on.
Henry p. Searles, Charleston