The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-08-06
G. Med. HAMPTON'S STATEMENT.
Railroad Commissioner DenOunces
Reports From "Fertile Imagina.
ton of Diseased Mind"

To the Editor Of the State:
I note in the issue of the State OF
July 81, 1912, an article with the fol-
lowing conspicuous headline: "Grace
Repeats Tales He Says Blease Told
Charleston Mayor Relates Interesting
Conversation With the Governor
Southern Railway Money Was Used
in Campaign-Says Blease Credited
Southern With Practically Paying Nc
Duffie Hampton's Campaign Expenses
for Railroad Commissioner.""
This article reports a purported
statement from Gov. Blease to Mr..
J. P. Grace, mayor of Charleston, and
reflects upon my integrity and honor.
My first impulse was to treat these
base insinuations and this dastardly
attack upon myself with the silent
contempt which it deserves, but out
of respect for myself and reverence
for my name, and my appreciation OF
! the trust imposed in me by those who
honored me with their suffrage and
elected me to a responsible State Of
fee, 1 feel it my duty to make a
statement. In the article alluded to
] find the following as quoted by Gov.
Blease to Mr.. Grace: "Why I prac-
tically paid the campaign expenses OF
McDufie Hampton out OF money fur
nished ID me by the Southern railway
and gave them vouchers signed by
McDufie Hampton for the amount
These words convey in themselves
d manifest falsehood with absolute alb
surdity on the face AS a matter OF
fact, Will state truthfuily and posi-
lively that I never received any mon-
ey from the Southern railroad or any
other railroad through Gov Blease or
any representative of the Southern
railroad, nor did 1 receive any fnan-
cial assistance from tn Southern or
any other railroad directly Or indi-
rectly in any way for my campaign
expenses of 1910 I never met Gov.
Blease until a short while before the
campaign in 1910 and he never ten
dered me any money in any shape or
form for campaign expenses either be-
fore, during Nor since the campaign of
1910. However, l will frankly. state
that Gov. Blease was courteous and
polite to me during the campaign, for
which I thank him, and accepted it
in the manner in which it YVES intend
ed. Any political assistance Gov.
Blease may have rendered me in this
campaign 1 certainly appreciate.
AS to the untruth and unwarranted
charges as to my habits, will say that
this is better judged by personal OBJ
servation than by originating and pro-
mitigating false charges and base in
lsinuations.
Whatever money I borrowed for my
campaign expenses was furnished me
by the Palmetto National bank Of Co.
lumbia, S. c., for which amount gave
my individual note with ample secur-
ity. This amount has been repaid to
the bank by myself and I hold their
receipt fer same. This statement can
be verified by any one. desiring to in
form himself by inquiry ct the bank.
I regret exceedingly that for some
occult and political object my name
has been dragged into the present po-
litical campaign. Although these per-
nicious reports from the fertile mag
ination of some diseased mind are un-
pleasant, they are nevertheless untrue
and unjust and will not injure me as
intended.
G. Med. Hampton.
Columbia, August J., 1912.