The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-09-08
PATTERSON OFFERS REWARD.
Speaks His Mind About the Circular
With Forged Name of Byrnes.

Edgefeld, September 1.-Hon. J.
O. Patterson, of Barnwell, candidate
for reelection to congress from this
district, spent portion of the day
in Edgefield receiving the congratula-
tions of his friends upon the splendid
vote he received through the district
and especially in this county. He
learned here for the first time that
his name was being connected with
the widely discussed Byrnes circular,
as having something to do with it's
being sent out. This he denied most
emphatically.
The county Democratic executive
committee was in session at the time
Congressman Patterson was here, and
he was invited to address the COM
mittee concerning the circular, which
has caused such widespread COM
ment. He accepted the invitation,
being introduced by E. A. Padgett,
member of the committee.
He stated that he was surprised
to learn upon arrival in Edgefeld
that his name had been connected
with the circular in any way, and was
glad of the opportunity to make
public denial of having had any
knowledge OF the circular which was
slanderous in the extreme, rejecting
in the severest terms upon Mr.. Garris
as we'll as upon himself. Just before
leaving Mr.. Patterson gave out the
following statement to all the news
paper correspondents:
"a circular or letter has been cir
culated throughout the second con-
gressional district purporting to have
been written and signed by James F.
Byrnes, a candidate for congress, in
which serious and scurrilous charges
are preferred against C. W. Garris,
a candidate for congress, and also
against me.
"NIr. Byrnes has issued a circular
denying the authorship of such let
ter or circular and declaring the same
to be forgery and Mr.. Garris has
likewise issued a circular denouncing
the statements made against him and
both of those gentlemen have Offer
ed reward for the conviction of the
party who wrote and circulated the
letter referred tc. I am informed
that this letter has ben used against
me in the primary election just held,
it being charged that such letter was
gotten up and circulated in my in
terest.
Il desire to say to the people of
the second congressional district that
such a statement is absolutely false,
and any intimation from my enemies
that the letter was written or circu-
lated by myself or any friend of mine
/ denounce as untrue and as absurd
on it's face, and I further state that
I have no knowledge or information
as to who is the author of the letter
or by whom it was circulated.
"As to the charge of forgery have
no knowledge or information. All
l know of it is saw copy of it with
the name of James F. Byrnes signed
thereto.
II am informed that an effort is
being made to find out the perpetra-
tor Of this crime, which effort I hope
will meet with success. l will bring
this matter to the attention of the
post Office department at once and
see that a thorough investigation is
made with a view to having the
guilty party punished.
''In addition to this I hereby offer
a reward of $500 for the arrest and
conviction of the party or parties
who wrote and circulated the scurril-
Gus letter above referred to, signed
James F. Byrnes and dated Aiken,
S. c., July 8, 1910 and addressed to
Senator Geo. H. Bates, Barnwell, S.
c., bearing post mark Aiken, S. c.,
August 29th, 1910 and received at
the post Office at Barnwell on the
same date. 1t has always been my
purpose and effort to conduct a clean
and high campaign and I feel conf
dent that those who know me. know
that 1 would not under any circum-
stances stoop to such dirty and out
rageous political tactics.
(Signed) -. O. PATTERSON"