The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-06
AULL's DUAL ROLE.
cheshire Exposes His Double Dealing
and CrOOkcdness.

regret that L have been brought
into this controversy, but since it ap-
pears that the letter written me by
John X. Aull is the foundation for
the whole row, it is up to me to make
a statement In doing so, it is neces-
sary for me to tell some things that
l would not tell but for being placed
in this awkward position. AS is my
custom. 1 am going to be plain and
come clean, regardless of who It
helps or hurts. Before doing SO,
however, I want to state that am
friend to both :ormer Governor
Blease and former United States
Senator McLaurin. Because they
are enemies is no reason why 1 should
fall ont with either.
In making this statement, am 60
ing to show that John X. Aull is a
double-crosser, u liar and a spineless
coward and traitor to his friends.
Tribune readers have often won
dered how get hold of so much dope,
Knowing that 1 remain in Anderson
and put In eighteen hours a day in
the office. but know what is happen.
ing in Columbia and other points. !
would not tell this secret and regret
that Aull has forced me by his own
observation-disclosures to do so, as we'll as
expose him.
Aull uses the office of former Gov
ernor Blease as his Charleston
American" headquarters. In fact. he
Is and has been since Gov Blease
went out of office, his stenographer.
Gov. Blease has from time to time
written editorials for The Tribune. Ii
these editorials met with our approval
and we cared to daddy" them. VIC
don't see that it was anybody's busi-
ness but our own. These editorials
that were sent us by Gov. Blease
were dictated by him and wrote on
Governor Blease's typewriter by Aull.
The account of the fight between Ad-
jutant and Inspector General w. w
Moore and Col. Lewis in which il
was stated that the Columbia corre-
spondent of the Charleston American
(who is Jno. X. Aull) acted cowardly'
In not reporting it. was written by
Aull himself and sent to The Tribune
for publication. Now. our readers
will wonder why Aull should write an
article branding himself a coward
This is easy to explain. The Tribune's
circulation in Columbia is wide. Ey-
cry barber shop in Columbia, wheth-
er Blease or anti-Blease, subscribes for
the paper for the political news il
contains.
AS will be noted by Aull's letter,
he and the other Columbia newspa-
per men had a meeting and agreed
not to mention the fight between
Gen. Moore and Col. Lewis. Aull,
being hostile to the Manning admin
istration. wanted to strike it but
wanted to do so under cover in this
particular case in order to keep the
other Columbia newspaper man in
the dark as to his double crossing, so
he sent the story to The Tribune in
order to give 1t publicity, yet save
his own pork. 1 hadn't been i'm CO.
lumbia and knew nothing OF the
fight between Gen. Moore and Col.
Lewis until Aull sent in his story OF
the affair.
After it's publication. received
the letter from Aull censuring me
for It's appearance and knowing that
everything sent me passed through
Gov. Blease's hands, / wrote Gov.
Blease in regard to the matter, al
the same time enclosing Aull's letter
Gov. Blease di'missed the matter
10y writing me that Aull had proba-
bly, signed the letter while under the
influence of King Corn and that it
was probably written and mailed by
Cormack.
When / received the typewriter
statement from Aull, signed by him
self and Cormack, / believed he was
drunk when he signed 1t, because |
am familiar with his handwriting
and could tell by his signature thai
ne was in the same condition when n
signed the statement as he was in
Washington when McLaurin was
forced TO abandon his trip and brine
him back home.
could go ahead and reveal some
facts that would cause political
sensation I'm this state. but will let
matters rest where they are until