The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-09-11
DIAL REPLIES TO TILLMAN.
Rcscnts Attack of Senator - Denies
He Supported Haskell.

| published In full in The News and
Courier and in part in the Stare, and
perhaps other papers. There is a
contest pending before the State Dem
ocratic executive committee touch
ing the subject matter, and, there
fore, it would be improper for me TO
comment upon the merits Of the
case, hence / will only state facts. In
Senator Tillman's interview he tries to
prejudice my political prospects by
stating that / am a Haskellite. wish
to say that my relations with Judge
Haskell were always of the friend
liest character. and 1 am glad to
claim that he was my personal friend
as long as he lived: however, differ
ed with him in his political course
and urged him not to make the race.
and did not support him.
Senator Tillman has seen proper to
resort to the lowest kind Of political
triokery in mentioning my sons name
In connection with this race. Hence /
give the facts. My son desired to en-
ter the navy. and upon Senator Till
man offering a competitive examina-
tion to the State at large the boy sue
ceeded in winning the appointment
He remained at Annapolis something
| like three years. and IL he ever had
! any trouble there 1 was never ap-
prised of it. The last year he told me
he failed to pass one examination
| only. and that the authorities offered
to allow him to make this up the next
year by taking the course over. He
had attained his majority at that
| time and he resigned without consult
ing me. He was desirous Of going
into the pay corps Of the navy. He
| went to Washington and stood a COM
| petitive examination from the United
| States at large, and received the ap-
pointment. From what he told me ]
know he considered Senator Tillman
his friend. The authorities assigned
him to fishing vessel and sent them
out in the Pacific Ocean. 1 knew alb
solutely nothing of the rules and
| regulations of the navy, but presum-
| ed man would have to lead a cor
rect life and observe good habits:
otherwise he would not retain his po-
sition. Some two years afterwards a
friend Of mine wrote me to come to
washington. and upon arriving there
suggested that 1 call on the assistant
paymaster Of the navy. Upon my do
| ing so / was shown a statement sent
in by the boy where he had overdrawn
| his account few thousand dollars.
| This was u great shock and surprise
to me. as l had had no intimation OF
1t whatever. He was at that time in
the Philippines. I asked what infor-
nation they had on the subject and
1t seemed they had none, or but lit
tie, and upon inquiry ascertained that
the accounts had never been checked
up since he left-about two years pre-
viously. / presumed that they had
regular intervals to inspect books. etc.
However, 1 apprehended no trouble.
So far as l knew the boys habits
were good. / was informed that this
is the only ship in the navy where
tn. accounts were not checked fire.
quently. / was outraged at the
whole matter and expressed my views
pretty plainly to the officials about
the carelessness Of allowing an mex
perienced youth to check upon the
United States treasury without any
der bond in some bonding COMPANY
| was not on it. However thereupon
b, rrowed some money from the banks
and the next day deposited an amount
covering the entire balance. and told
them to have him come home so that
the matter could be looked into and
adjusted. Upon his return he was
suffering with tuberculosis l advised
him that the best thing he could do
would be to tender his resignation
ana go home. In the meantime |
| took the matter up with Senator Till
man and told him. in confidence. of
the situation, and asked him not
to mention it. He promised me to do
so. The Senator stated that he was
| not on speaking terms with Meyer,
Secretary of the Navy. and that he
| had little influence there. called
to see Mr.. Meyer. but he was absent.
| So took the matter up with Mr.. Win
| throp, Assistant Secretary Of the Navy
ana ne told me that Tillman's in
| iluence was mil i'm that department;
| thnt ne was not on speaking forms