Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-08-17
Dial Makes Reply to j. VIM.
Thurmond.

to a recent criticism by j. William
Thurmond of Edgefeld, Senator NJ
B. Dial issued the following state
ment:
81 have just read a trade of j.
William Thurmond against me. In
many of Mr.. Thurmond's statements
he is absolutely in error. I do not
suppose the public is very much in
terested in this subject, but I will
-reiterate its history briefly, as he has
mentioned it.
"In 1912 and 1913 several of us
were candidate for the senate. Mr.
Thurmond was manager of Senator
Tilman's campaign both times and
organized the state against me. When
the western district of South Caro-
lima was established, he was appoint
ed district attorney by Senator Till
man, which was perfectly natural.
After Senator Tillman's death in
1918 l was told that Mr.. Thurmond
was speaking good words in my be-
half.
81 am sorry Mr.. Thurmond speaks
of my dining with him, for it forces
me to mention the subject. While at
the campaign meeting in Aiken, Mr..
Thurmond phoned to me to come to
Edgefeld and spend the night with
him. For this I thanked him, but po-
litely declined. After speaking at
Edgefeld, MI. Thurmond invited Sen
ator Pollock and me to dine with him,
which we accepted. The public can
understand my position in this mat
Ter.
During Christmas, 1919, Mr..
Thurmond asked me to have him re-
appointed. l told him / had not dis
cussed the matter at all in Washing
ton, but would let him hear very
soon. After consultation and inves-
tigating the matter here, / informed
him that under all the circumstances
I could not recommend his reappoint-
ment, and that I had recommended
another, whereafter he and his
friends bombarded me with petitions,
the purpose being evident.
'Mr. Thurmond is also in error
about what transpired in Washington.
I suggested the name of my friend,
T. P. Cothran for appointment as
district attorney, he being one of the
strongest lawyers in the South, a
lifelong friend of mine and a strong
supporter in all my campaigns. The
attorney general informed me he
would consider the matter and we
would discuss it further: 1 left word
at the White House that I wanted to
SCI the president at the proper time.
"A few days later Mr.. Thurmlond's
nomination came to the senate. /
communicated with the White House
and they were very much surprised
and asked me to hold Mr.. Thurmond's
confirmation up in the senate, and
also suggested that / see the attor-
ney general. I declined the latter sug-
gestion. Later the attorney general
phoned me to come up, as he desired
to confer with me, and that he vas
ready to appoint Mr.. Cothran.
"Mr. Thurmond is also in error
about by not being able to defeat his
confirmation in the senate if / had
desired. Any senator can defeat the
confirmation of anyone in his state
in a few seconds.
"Mr. Thurmond is also in error in
saying Mr.. Cothran was a candidate
for United States judge at the time
referred to-1920-for there was no
vacancy in that position, Judge Wat
kins having been confirmed on July
%, 1919.
CATER a visit to Washington, and
when everything had been arranged
for Mr.. Cothran to be appointed, he
notified me on July 20, 1920, that he
didn't care to accept the place, ex-
pressing great gratitude at my efforts
in his behalf, but stated that he felt
it was his duty to the people of South
Carolina to run for the general as
sembly from Greenville county. 1t
was agreeable to me Their for the
attorney general to send down the
nam of Mr.. Thurmond, for reap
pointment. His name was sent down
a day or two after congress convened
on December 6. I asked the judi
CARY committee to confirm him, but
his name was held up along with.
many others.
"My policy has been since the Re-
publicans have taken charge to ask
no favors of the administration. The
J:1. L -~Ia.