The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1910-08-18

false and malicious; raises an en-
tirely different issue, and then
proceeds to disprove what my cir
cular letter never charged. He
read certificate from ]. A. Drake,
Clerk of Court, showing that no
Judgements were open against him
in the year 1908, as l had charged
such to be the fact in my circu-
lar letter. He knew as we'll as he
knew anything that l had made no
such charge, but on the contrary,
stated in that circular letter that
all the judgments against him had
been previously compromised. The
real issue raised by my circular
letter, which was in direct reply
to circular issued in his behalf
was, did he or did he not pay his
creditors every dollar he owed
them under those judgments? He
having used as campaign literature
the circular containing the state
ment that he had paid every dol
lar he owed his creditors, and
thereby prevented them from los
ing. While l, on the other hand,
had replied thereto and denied
that he .had done any such thing.
and alleged that he had compro-
missed with his creditors at less
than thirty per cent of what he
owed.
Now in order that the public
may see for themselves what the
true issue was, and whether lies
were circulated by me on Hodges, |
submit, both a copy of the para
graph OF the circular issued in
Hodges interest, to which my
circular was a reply, and a copy of
my circular letter. and a second
certificate from J. A. Drake, Clerk
of the Ciourt, and then leave it to
each man to decide for himself
whether or not have circulated
lies OH Hodges, or he has lied in SO
charging. / leave it to the public
to decide further, whether or not
he is now acting in good faith with
the public by meeting the issue
square and fair, which, after two
years he sees fit to revive, or il
he is not raising a false issue, and
thus doubly lying. The following
is the paragraph in Hodges circular
to which i replied, taking from an
original now in my possession, and
which any man can see by coming
to my office.
Paragraph From Hodges Circular
in Full.
Mr.. Hodges Is a man OF recog-
nized business ability and integri-
ty. Several years ago, when he
was just beginning what promised
to be a successful mercantile ca
reer, there came a panic anu two
bad crop years, and the failure of
those whom he had furnished sup
plies to pay their accounts caused
him seriouus financial embarrass-
ment for a while; but he was not
satisfied for his creditors to lose,
and he went to work, and settled
every dollar of Indebtedness against
him. although it took him several
years to do it,
Following is my circular letter
in reply in full:
Rogers Circular Letter i'm Full.
"Bennettsville, S. C., August
Is, 1908. Mr. Dear Sir: As a
friend of Congressman Ellerbe,
and without intending to do injus-
tice to any one. but desiring that
no competitor shall be given credit
which is not deserved, l beg to sub
NIT few comments upon a certain
circular issued in Mr.. P. A. Hodges
interest, and signed by certain cit
izens of this community
These friends have perfect
right to praise Mr.. Hodges as
loudly as they please, but no right
to make incorrect or misleading
statements OF fact. We find in said
circular the following:
But he was not satisfied for his
creditors to lose, so he went to
work and settled every dollar of
Indebtedness against him, although
it took him several years to do it."
ANY one reading the above is
led to understand that Mr.. Hodges
paid every dollar he owed and
that his creditors lost nothing on
him: and II such were true 1t would
be greatly to his credit. But such
is not the fact. The records show
that a score or more of judgments