The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-08-30

of many instances where the Offices
were sold-one bringing $50, another
$1,000, another 5000, another $4,000
and different sums, all around the
state where there was competition. A
recent case was reported where $1,000
was paid an dtne party failed tc get
the office and after considerable
wrangling the funds were returned.
One of Tolberts referees was re-
Gently rejected by the senate because
he endcavored to get lady postmis-
trcss to pay him $500 to get her con-
firmed. An affidavit of one Of his
former followers states Tolbert admit
led lie expected to realize $iOO, 600
from this source" The senator also
has submitted to the subcommittee an
| affidavit from the mayor Of Tolbert's
| town charging drunkenness, carrying
concealed weapons, the possession of
a barrel Of liquor on the plea that the
owner was a government official and
therefore entitled to hold it.
Another charge relates to alleged
| favoritism and discrimination against
world war etcrans in civil service ap-
pointments. Upon this point Senator
Dial says: iMr Tolberts conduct
since he has been appointed referee
has shown him to be spokesman of
the worst class. For Instance, under
the practice Of this admin iStratiOn in
selecting postmaStcrs, the civil service
commission sends to the posto ce de-
partment the thrc names making the
highest marks, and this department
delegates to Tolbert, the referee, the
right to select whichever he chooses.
Tolbert has ruthlessly ignored
the spirit Of the civil service and has
refused to recommend parties making
the highest mark, except in very few
coses. Ec has almost universally ig-
nored the claims of ladies and ex-ser-
vice men,
Mr.. TolbeIt has issued general
denial OF the charges against him
with reference to postmaster appoint
ments, but Senator Dial hats submitted
to the subcommittee specific examples
of alleged favoritsm For instance, in
Greenville two eX-solders and one
civilian competed for the postmaster
ship. William F.. Robertson made 70
per cent plus five for soldier prefer
ence; Charles c. Wilmington made CT.
per cent plus per cent fof soldier pre-
| IL
72.S0 per cent. Tolbert endorsed
Thorne. In Abbevillc Tolbert named
his nephew over veteran with high
er rating. In Clinton he named a
nephew by marriage over veteran
but in this case the nephew had the
highest rating Of the three. In Ker-
shaw he named his own favorite over
q veteran who had the highest rating
OF the three even without the five per
cent soldier preference. These are
/ concrete instances. Mr. Tolbert meets
them with the general denial that he
has refused to acknowledge preference
to soldiers on the civil service list,
and he says he has the records to
prove it. Already Mr.. Tobert says
he has recommended about 800 post
masters for South Carolina. With re-
gard to the case Of the Bowman post
mistress, Tolbcrt says he has an alli-
davit from the postmistress that she
does not know Mixson and never has
been asked by him for money.
This Is the nut the committee on
judiciary is asked to crack regarding
an important presidential appointment
in South Carolina. The whole system
is rotten and the senate will put it's
O. *. on it if the nomination of mir.
Tolbert is confirmed Senators are in
clincd to believe without question tile
statement to them of Senator Dial that
ordinarily he would not mix in repub-
lican rows in South Carolina and that
is nhmaterial to him what republicans
are appointed to Office but that the
protests coming up from his state are
ofeSuch character he cannot ignore
them. Senator Dial has laid the facts
before the senate in the form of
sworn anidayits, and many republican
senator's are assuring him that al
though their party can stand for a
good deal, 1t cannot afford to stand
for Tolbert.