The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-02-02
WHO .LIED?" WATTERSON ASKS.
Sole Issue Between Him and Wilson,
Says Editor-"Marse Kenry's"
Statement.

night anu 1uIenQeQ W U11uS q U1S
tasteful episode" to all end, so TAR as
he was concerned, declared that the
issue between him and Governor Will
son was solely as to which one had
"lied.'' Col. WattersCn said he had
engaged conclusively to show that
Governor Wilson had lied, and charg-
ed that the New Jersey executive
"dare not face the facts
Col. Watterson declined to make
public any proofs in his possession.
He denied that Thomas F. Ryan had
ever been approached for campaign
contributions for Governor Wilson,
but stated that the matter had been
talked over with Governor Wilson and
the latter had 'expressed the fear"
that if the collecting of a contribu-
ton from Mr.. Ryan got abroad, it
might do more harm than good.
Col. Watterson's Statement.
Col: Watterson's statement, address,
ed "To the Democrats Of the United
States," follows:
"The time limit set upon my stay
in the CAPITAL being about to expire,
and Governor Wilson having refused
my offer as to the issue of veracity he
has raised between us, to submit proof
Of the truth of my averment to party
associates competent to judge both OF
it's character and the expediency of its
publication, I shall bring this most
distastefui episode to colse as far
as I am concerned.
Again Declares Has Proof.
"Tre claim that must rush into
print with this proof emanates either
from the perverse or the maligna Mt.
have it, am ready, under proper su-
pervision, to produce it, and can be
asked in reason to do no more. If I
should publish it, the very men who
are demanding that I shall would be
first to accuse me Of reckless dlsre-
gard of what they would call party
prudence and private rights. The sole
issue is whether I have lied, as Gov
ernor Wilson says I have, or he has
lied, which I have engaged conclusive
" to show. He dare not face the facts.
with as brief review as may be OF
the circumstances tc which I owe the
misfortune of having made Governor
wilson's acquaintance, not to mention
my endorsement of his plausible but
specious pretensions, I shall cease to
trouble. the public with controversy
no wise of my feeling.
Introduced to DR.. Wilson.
During the early summer of 1910, I
was passing week end with Col.
George Harvey, an old friend, at Deal
Beach, his home in New Jersey. There
arrived for dinner DR.. Woodrow Will
son, then president of Princeton, and
the Hon. James Smith, Jr, late Sen
ator in congress. DR.. Wilson I had
never met before. The talk at table
was mainly about the prospective nom
ination of Democratic candidate for
governor of New Jersey. Drawn into
the conversation, T ventured the opln-
ion that if nothing more than a gov
ernorship was in sight, it would be
sacrifice for DR.. Wilson to quit his
exalted station at the head of great
university and get down into the bull
ring of politics to struggle for pre-
ferment so ephemeral and uncertain.
Wilson States Only Hope.
'"That was probably what Col. Har-
vey, who seemed under some spell
wrought by DR.. Wilson, had planned:
Mr.. Smith declared that he wanted
nothing for himself, only to see the
State redeemed; that no one but DR..
Wilson could redeem it, and the like.
In due season DR.. Wilson was nomi-
mated and elected.
tNot long after I was called to New
York. The situation in New Jersey
was explained to me. I was told that
Mr.. Smith wished to return to the
senate, despite his declaration that he
wanted nothing for himself; that there
had been a primary election, which
had gone by default, in which per
son of the name Of MARITIME, represent
ed as wholly unfit, had obtained 2
rather meagre vote; that Governor
Wilson held Senator Smith to his bond,
and stood by the party pledge touch
ing primary elections. IN this he was
clearly right
Dnoon,o Ip&;mota Er;on6c