The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-03-31
AIKEN REPLIES TO HLtMhN.
SAYS SENATOR'S LETTER Is
amusing AND AMAZING"
Congressman From Third District
Gives His SIDE Of Fight for New
Federal District.

ago in reference to the eStab-
lishment Of the new federal court, in
the light Of the facts known to all
the delegation, is amusing and amaz-
ing," says Wyatt Aiken of Nbbeville,
member of congress from the Third
district, in a letter received in proof
sheet form yesterday by The State.
His painstaking effort to deny me
credit for the passage Of my w bill
would SEEM the congressman says,
Ito leave no question but that the UNI
DERIVING purpose of his article is to
minimize my work in the interest Of
some in whom he may be more
vitality interested. This taken in
connection with the announced pur-
pose of his own son to offer for
congress in this district next term,
might, in the minds of uncharitable
people, lead to the conclusion that
the senator is using this juicy fed
eral pie. indirectly, in the interest of
still another of his personal or politi-
cal family. Some people might
think that Mr.. Byrnes' residence in
another district added something to
the glory Of his work in the scna-
tors mind"
That Congressman Byrnes was
very active and helpful in the pas
sage of the bill no one will deny"
Mr.. Aiken. continues: but hat he
deserves more credit than l, it's au-
thor and promoter, he will not even
claim, with his knowledge of the facts
for Mr.. Byrnes is a fair minded mar
who would not attempt unjustly to
rob a colleague Of that which is due
him.
Il am charitable enough to believe
that Senator Tillman could not
have been thoroughly conversant
with the facts further than. that Mr..
Byrnes was generally the mediary
between the senate and the house ne
gotiations in all of which Mr.. Byrnes
and L had q thorough understand
ing and a mutual interest along
with all the other members Of the
delegation"
Elsewhere in his letter, which is
three and one-half columns in length.
Mr.. Aiken says:
Senator Tillman seems to be la
boring under the impression hat ho
handled both the senate and the
house in the management Of this
bill, when if he had known the facts,
he must have admitted that the
senate action was directed to some
extent by house influences, and
that Senator Smith too rendered
most valuable and telling assistance
in the final passage IF the act. which
act he seems entirely to have over
looked"
"Of course says Mr.. Aiken, these
details are not interesting to the pub
lie, but candor compels their recital,
to prove, as the lawyers would say
that I was around there when the
new district was daddied."
Senator Tillman denies with a
vehemence bordering on hysteria
that the parceling out of, the courts
positions was a family matter
think Mr.. McGowan's suggestion
along that line was unfortunate and
uncalled for, but 1 also think that
when Senator Tillman rushed into
print about it, he should have been
frank and fair. 1t is true that the
parceling put Of the positions was
not a family matter, but Senator
Illlman deserves no credit on that
account. Rumor about the capitol
a it that he became very much
wrought up when he could not exact
a pledge that his son, B. Il. Tillman,
Jr., should have the clerkship. 1 pre-
sumo that he will not deny that for
more tina a year his son, Henry c.
Tlllman, counted confidently on being
made assistant district attorney. upon
which position he held so tight a grin
as to be able to transfer it to his law
partner, Mr.. Mayes. 1t is stated that
Senator Tillman's private secretary,
}. B. knight, will be appointed clerk.
L don't know whether Mr.. Knight
Will be appointed or not and / don't
care, but the point 1 am trying to
make is hat when Senator Tillman
undertakes to make a statement in
regard to this matter, he should not
only tell the truth but the whole
truth"
Activities of the several South Car
DINA members in behalf Of the West