Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-10
#iseellaneoas 8sadins.
DIAL REPLIES TO TILLMAN.
Resents Attack of Senator-Deniss
As Summarized AaskoIl

Resents Attack Of ssnator-Deniss
Hs Supported Haskell.
To the Editor OF the News and
Courier: Please allow me space to
reply to the interview Of Senator
Tillman, published in full in the News
and Courier and in part in the State
and perhaps other papers. There is
contest pending before the state DEM
ocratic executive committee touching
the subject matter, and, therefore, II
would be improper for me to COM
ment upon the merits Of the case,
hence I will only state facts. In Sem
ator Tillman's interview he tries to
prejudice my political prospects by
stating that I am a Haskellite. wish
to say that my relations with Judge
Haskell were always Of the friendliest
character, and 1 am glad to claim that
he was my personal friend as long as
he lived; however, I differed 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
trickery 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-
ton 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 was never appris-
ed Of It, The last year he told me he
failed to pass one examination only,
and that the authorities offered to al
low 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 consulting me.
He was desirous of going into the pay
corps Of the navy. He went to Wash
ington and stood competitive exam
ination from the United States at
large, and received the appointment.
From what he told me know he con-
sidered Senator Tillman his friend.
The authorities assigned him to q
fishing vessel and sent them out In
the Pacific ocean. I knew absolutely
nothing of the rules and regulations
Of the navy, but presumed man
would have to lead a correct life and
observe good habits; otherwise he
would not retain his position. Some
two years afterwards friend Of mine
wrote me to come to Washington, and
upon arriving there suggested that I
call on the assistant paymaster Of the
navy. Upon my doing so was shown
a statement sent in by the boy where
he had overdrawn his account a few
thousand dollars. This was q great
shock and surprise to me, as had had
no intimation Of 1t whatever. He was
at that time in the Philippines. I
asked what information they had on
the subject, and 1t seemed they had
none, or but little, and upon inquiry
ascertained that the accounts had
never been checked up since he left
about two years previously. ] pre-
sumed that they had regular intervals
to inspect books, etc. However, ap-
pretended no trouble. So far as 1
knew the boys habits were good. I
t-R fhto ta tho only
ship in the navy where the accounts
were not checked frequently. I was
outraged at the whole matter and
expressed my views pretty plainly to
the officials about the carelessness Of
allowing an inexperienced youth to
check upon the United States treasury
without any restraint whatever. The
boy was under bond In some bonding
company-I was not on 1t. However,
thereupon borrowed some money
from the banks and the next day de-
posted an amount covering the en-
tire 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. I advised him that the
best thing he could do would be to
tender his resignation and go home.
In the meantime took the matter up
with Senator Tillman 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 I took the matter up with
Mr.. Winthrop, assistant secretary Of
the navy, and he told me that TILL
mans influence was "nir' in that de-
partment; that he was not on speak
ing terms with the secretary, and that
great animosity existed between them.
He advised me to see some one else
Senator Smith being absent, I called
upon an old personal friend In the
senate. He went over to the navy de-
partment and had the resignation ac-
cepted. The young man had associ-
ated with older men who, no doubt,
had plenty of money Of their own.
and probably he thought 1t was his
duty to try to entertain upon as Law
ish a scale. He had handled thous-
ands ard thousands Of dollars Of the
governments money and 1t took con-
siderable time to figure up an account
owing to the large amounts handled
and the different rates Of exchange
with the different foreign countries
and to his inexperience, some doubt
remained as to whether he owed any
thing. I made things warm around
the department, and a short time af-
ter that I noticed some rather promt-
nent officials were dropped from the
roll. I do not know that this was the
direct result. After remaining in the
state a short time the boys health be-
came so bad that sent him to hos
pital, where he has remained ever
since, his life being despaired Of at
different times. 1 would like to ask
Senator Tillman, or the public. II any
one could have done more than 1 did?
l41<.