The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-16

| which resulted from his pery
conducted investigation conce q
statement reproted to have ! .lade
recently by Governor BleA in a
speech at Spartanburg, for which
the Governor gave as his authority a
United States Senator.
The statement, as reported, was that
a United States Senator told him
Governor Blease) that Congressman
Joseph T. Johnson had more sense
| than all the other South Carolina
Congressman put together" which,
| the Governor is reported as having
said. confirmed his own Judgment.
| Representative Aiken, in an effort
to find out what Senator was re-
sponsible for the remark quoted by
| Governor Blease addressed on July
this note to Senator Tillman, also
enclosing newspaper clipping of Gov
ernor Blease's reported statement:
Surely Senator Tillman did not
say this. (signed) Wyatt Aiken"
| similar note and clipping were
sent to Senator Smith. from whom no
reply was received.
Senator Tillman replied as fol-
lows:
Trenton, c., July 10, 1911.
| Hon. Wyatt Aiken, House of Rep
resentatives Washington, D. c.
Dear Wyatt: I have received the en-
closed which speaks for itself. do
not know from what paper you took
the clipping, nor even do j under
| stand who was speaking. But that
does not matter. / have never said
that Joe Johnson has more sense
than all the other Congressman from
South Carolina for it would not be
true. He is not naturally brighter.
If as bright, as several of our Rep
resentatives. have complimented
him on his industry and persistency
IN working for his constituents. That
is all. / am surprised that you ap-
| pear so thin-skinned, and the hot
weather must be getting in its work
| on your brain, for heretofore / have
| never found you very sensitive or
| willing to fly OFF, like this. hope
You will soon be we'll ali in and will
| settle down and resulne the even
| tenor of your way
| Have just returned from Orange
! burg, where l had a delightful time.
All the people there seem to be Till
NANTES now. Very sincerely yours.
| (Signed) "B. r, Tillman."
| The following letter was sent TO
| Senator Smith by Mr.. Aiken on the
Srd of August, 1911:
| House Of Representatives,
Washington, D. c.
August 8, 1911.
Dear Senator: Not long since
when Governor Blease spoke at Spar
| tanburg, the newspapers stated that
| When Congressman Joseph r. John
son Came upon the rostrum he said
! that United States Senator had told
him that Mr.. johnson had more sense
than all the other South Carolina
Congressman put together, and this,
| he said, confirmed his own Judgment >
while 1 am not thin skinned at
all, l felt that it was nothing but fair
| to you and to Senator Tillman to in
| quire if the above report emanate ed
| from either Of you gentlemen. Sem
ator Tillman promptly replied deny
| ing the statement so far as he was
concerned and stated further that he
did not believe the Governors asser-
ton to he true.
About that time I also sent the
clipping to YOU pinned to a separate
sheet of paper and wrote on tie pa
per something like this: Surely SEN
! ator Smith did not say this and Sign
ed my name. ! have heard nothing
from YOU. and thinking perhaps you
did not receive the clipping and note
| have concluded 10 write You again
and ask that you tell me whether or
not YOU made such a remark to the
Governor
With regards, yours very sincere
ly,
tSigned) Wyatt Aiken.
Hon. +. ID. Smith, L. 5. Senate,
Washington, ID. c.
The following reply was sent by
Senator Smith To Representative
Aiken:
washington, ID. c.. Aug. TO, 1911.
Hon Wyatt Aiken, House Of Repre-
sentatives, Washington, ID. C.--Dear
Aiken: ON account Of illness at
home and, having just returned to
III" city, this Is my first opportunity