The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-01-30
NattersOn to TiIIman.

for more sense than to try to foist off
a story like this with the material
facts concealed The man who makes
2 public statement with the material
facts concealed is little other than
a scoundrel. I have the right there
fore, to demand Of you upon what war
rant of authority you make this Sc
rious accusation against me, and to
ask a reply through my friend, the
Hon. Swager Sherley, of Kentucky.
with great respect,
Henry Watterson.
"To the Hon. B. R. Tillman."
Tillman's Reply.
s:United States Senate,
washington, D. c., Jan. rs, 1912.
my Dear Sir: "In your note OF
January rs, handed me by the Hon.
Swager Sherley, you call my attention
to an interview which I had given out
in reference to the Harvey-Watterson-
Wilson incident, in which I say, I
had given Henry Watterson credit for
more sense than to try to foist OF a
story like this with the material facts
concealed
"You demand to know, upon what
warrant of authority you make this
serious accusation against me-
IN your statement to the press, you
described in detail the rupture be-
tween Governor Wilson and Col Wat
terson, but said nothing as to what
caused it. All leading papers of the
country seem to know why Governor
Wilson severed relations with Col.
Harvey, and you, as a leading news
paper man and self-confessed expert
groomer of presidential candidates,
must have known it at the time your
statement was published. very prop
erly concluded that you knew the rea-
sons for the rupture, and when you
made public the manner in which it
occurred, without giving the causes,
you we're unquestio rably concealing
the material facts.
very respectfully yours,
"B. R. Tillman.
"To Col. Henry Watterson, Wash
ington, D. c."
Watterson's Rejoindrr.
washington, D. c., Jan. IS, 1912.
my Dear Sir: l have neIer pre-
telded to be a groomer of p1 7siden-
tial candidates, expert or otherwise,
but l desire your good opin on, and
wrote with that, as we'll as the truth
of this matter, in mind.
81 am with you, senator, in wish
ing Democrat, and not pseuCo-Re-
publican, for our presidential loml-
nee. It was no less from a sense of
party duty than Of justice, as between
man and man, that | made the state
ment to which-upon a total misap-
prehension of the facts-you take eX-
ception.
i have been aware for nearly q
week that recognized spokesmen for
Governor Wilson were industriously
circulating the story that the real rea-
son why Governor Wilson broke with
Col. Harvey was that Col. Harvey had
tried to bring Mr.. Thos. F. Ryan into
the governors campaign. But until
you gave credence to the story, it
could not be invested with any re-
sponsible authority. It's origin was
mysterious, it's circulation surrepti-
tious- Consequently, there has been,
up to this time, nothing either to deny
or recognize.
{: Declares Story Untrue.
>'tNow, senator, I know, Of my own
knowledge, that that story is a lie out
Of whole cloth. If any person ven
lures to question this assertion, l
have in my possession proof conclu-
siye, which I hold myself, ready to
place before your honest and truth
seeking mind.
II do not accuse Governor Wilson OF
originating or circulating this inven-
ton, manufactured to make hero OF
him at the expense of the friend who
has most effectually served him. do
not assume that he IS aware of the
dastardly work being done by his al
legged agents, but the fact remains
that Governor Wilson knows as we'll
as do that the story is false. He may
or may not feel that he owes any obIi-