The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-06-02

His Lette: Declining to Appear in
Response to Resolution of the
Commission.

up COumlSSlOu dL 1CS 1t1SSL11iS O41 11OA
day, from Thos. B. Fielder, in response
to the resolution of the commission re-
quiring him to appear before the CON-
mission and furnish the commission
all information in his possession:
Col. Fielder wrote as follows tC
Chairman James Stackhouse and tc
the members Of the commission:
Receipt of your valued favor of the
18th instant is hereby acknowledged.
I have been absent from the city for
the past week Or ten days, conducting
some Investigations on my own &C
count anent the matters referred tc
in the second paragraph of the series
of resolutions adopted Dy your COM
mission at meeting held in the city
Of Columbia on the 10Th instant,
copy Of which you caused to be trans
n1itted to me here.
AFTER mature deliberation have
reached the deliberate conclusion that
if your governor could with propriety
create a commission who are all
friends of mine and personal suppor-
ters' to investigate the members OF
the old commission, the attorney gen
eral Of the State Of South Carolina
and the agents, attorneys and en-
Dloves Of the old commission. and to
make a rigid investigation of all my
(3lease's) acts as State senator, pri-
vate citizen and governor of the State,
I could with equal propriety resolve
myself into a committee of one to
make investigations as to the said
Blease, his allies and amliates.
Claims Equal Jurisdiction.
81 think it would be conceded that
ny jurisdiction is equally as broad as
yours; that I have the same authority
to subpoena witnesses, compel their
attendance and to give evidence touch
ing the premises as you possess; and
/ feel that T may say, without undue
arrogance, that my findings of both
law and facts will be just as binding
and carry with them the same degree
;ef weight and respectability as yours.
'In conclusion permit me to say
that my investigations have been
quite extensive, thorough and exhaus-
live and most satisfactory to me, and,
when made public, will, in all human
probability, disqualify for service some
of those now seeking to pass oficia'
judgment upon the acts Of my asso-
eiates and myself
''To some of you this statement may
prove enigmatical, while to others it
will be most clear.
Promises "Veritable Broadside."
1T does not suit the convenience of
my committee to meet with yours at
the time and place indicated, but if
We can mutually agree upon a differ
ent time and place for an Interchange
of views, information and condolences,
I feel safe in saying that the result
will be most pleasing and profitable
to the people of the State Of South
Carolina, if not to you and yours
while making no unconditional
promise to do so, ifor must in these
matters consult and largely yield tc
the wishes of others more vitality in,
terested in the outcome of this con-
troversy than I can possibly be, and
I nay add, whose views have deferred
me in doing so heretofore) still, il
unrestrained, will be my pleasure tt
deliver in the not distant future yer.
liable Fbroadside.'
with the assurance Of my most dis
tinguished consideration, I have tht
honor to be, yours very truly,
'Thos. B. Fielder,
chairman Of the Anti-Blease In
vestigating Committee"
The letter is dated May 26, 1911.
The resolution of the commission
requiring Fielder to appear was a!
follows:
The Resolution.
The following from the News ant
Courier is the call made for Col. Eel
der to appear:
"Be it resolved, That this commits
sion meet on the 10Th day of May, A
D. 1911, and that Thomas B. Fielder
of the firm of Anderson, Fielder, Roun
tree & Wilson, be required to appear
before said commission on that date
and furnish them with all Information
in his possession or in the possession
of his firm, in connection with all mat
tiers and affairs of any and all claims
S,,a nr oui0c tn or bv the State o!