Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-02-02
Mistllaneous Reaaina.:
WHO "LIEo" WATTERsoN ASKS.

WHO "LIEo~ WATTERsoN ASKS
Sole Issue Between Him and Wilson
Says Editor.
Washington, January 29.-Col. Hen
ry Watterson, in a statement issued
tonight and intended to bring a dis
tasteful episode" to an end, so far as
he was concerned, declared that the
issue between him and Governor VIII
son was solely as to which one had
lied" Col. Watterson said he had
, engaged conclusively to show" that
Governor Wilson had lied, and charged
that the New Jersey executive "dare
not face the facts"
Col. Watterson declined to make pub
lie any proofs In his possession. He
denied that Thomas F. Ryan had ever
been approached fo4 campaign contri-
buttons for Governor Wilson, but
stated that the matter had been talked
over with Governor Wilson and the lat
ter had expressed the fear" that II
the collecting Of contribution from
MIR. Ryan got abroad, 1t might do
more harm than good.
Col. Watterson's Statement.
Col. Watterson's statement, ad-
dressed ITO the Democrats Of the
United States" follows:
1.-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, shall bring this most
distasteful episode to close as far as
| am concerned.
AGAIN Declares Has Proof.
'The claim that / must rush into
print with this proof emanates either
from the perverse or the malignant.
l have 1t, am ready under proper SUI
pervision, to produce 1t, and can be
asked in reason to do no more. II
should publish it, the very men who
are demanding that shall do so, would
be first to accuse me Of reckless disre-
gard of what they would call party
prudence and private rights. The
sole issue is whether l have lied, as
Governor Wilson says have, or he has
lied, which 1 have engaged conclu-
sively to show. He dare not face the
facts.
with as brief review as may be
of the circumstances to which owe
the misfortune Of having made Gov
ernor Wilson's acquaintance, not to
mention my endorsement Of his plausi-
BILE but specious pretensions. I shall
cease to trouble the public with a
controversy no wise Of my feeling.
introduced to Or. Wilson.
During the early summer Of 1910,
was passing a week end with Col
George Harvey, an old friend, at
Deal Beach, his home, In New Jersey
There arrived for dinner DIR. Wood
row Wilson, then president Of Prince
/ ton, and the Hon. James Smith, Jr.,
late a senator In congress. DIR. Will
son had never met before. The talk
at table was mainly about the prospec-
tive nomination of Democratic candi-
date for governor Of New Jersey
Drawn into the conversation, I ven-
tured the opinion that II nothing more
than a governorship was in sight, 1t
would be a sacrifice for Dr. Wilson to
quit his exalted station at the head
of a great university and get down into
the bull ring Of politics to struggle
for preferment 80 ephemeral and un-
certain.
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 1t, and the like.
In due season DR.. Wilson was nomi-
mated and elected.
Not long after was called to New
York. The situation in New Jersey
was explained to me. l was told that
Mr.. Smith wished to return to the SEN
ate, despite his declaration that
wanted nothing for himself; that Il
had been a primary election, whh
had gone by default, in which a per-
son of the name Of MARITIME. represent
ed as wholly unfit, had obtained a
rather meager 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.
Became Intimate Friends.
The presidential campaign. to which
the gubernatorial election had served
as prelude began. In a manner l had
been dragooned, l will not say decoyed,
into the service of Governor Wilson
and Col. Harvey. The succeeding ten
months brought me into confidential
relations with Governor Wilson. Let
ters passed between US. Upon his In
vitation, and on his business, i visit
ed his home In Princeton. He was good
enough last winter to come to the
steamer to see me off for Europe. We
were even caught by the inevitable
kodak fiend. and pictorialized side by
side, making quite touching group
II found him a man OF polished man
ners, scholarly attainments and unde-
niable talents.
On my return from abroad the gov
ernor met me in New York. Again.
in November and December we fore
gathered there. In short, nothing was
wanting to the most cordial and un-
restrained intimacy.
Il make this detailed statement be-