OCR Interpretation


The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, September 16, 1896, Image 4

Image and text provided by University of South Carolina; Columbia, SC

Persistent link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86063760/1896-09-16/ed-1/seq-4/

What is OCR?


Thumbnail for

MORE LIGHT STILL.
WHAT SECRETARY OF STATE TOMP
KINS SAYS ABOUT THE SCANDAL.
1oroborates comuissioner 311xson in Some
of His Statements and Disclaims all Re
sponsibility for the Rascality in the Dis
- pensary matter.
Secretary of State Tompkins return
ed to the city yesterday afternoon.
He at once wrote the following ad
dress.
To the Public:
In Governor Evans' effusion, pub
lished in the newspapers of this date,
while he doesn't charge me in the be
- ginning with having anything to do
with the whiskey rebates, he uses the
following language, by which I sup
o he intends to include me. The
tter sentence can be constructed in
no.other way, viz; "Shortly after
wards, Mr. Scruggs, the bookkeeper,
reported to me that from letters he had
received and opened in Mixson's ab
senc in the course of business, and
other suspicious circumstances, he
wassatisfed that Mixson was dealing
with certain whiskey houses exclusive
ly and was 'obtaining rebates in con
si'dation thereof. I replied to him
that be was a State officer, as well as
Miipon and Tompkins, and that if he
saw anything going wrong that it was
higluty to inform me and to secure
the evidenceto convict THENL Mr.
Scruggs reported to me that he was
satisfied he could secure the evidence
to convict THESE MEN if I would
allow hini to leave the State." Far
ther on he says: ."But to return to
.tba efforts of Mr. Szraggs to catch the
' guilty PARTIES. Mr. Scruggs pro
ceeded to Cincinnati and returned
with evidence, as he assured me, to
convict Mixson with having received
rebates from the Live Oak Distilling
conlpany."
On the morning of Feb. 11, last,
Mr. Scruggs sent for me before I had
gotten out of bed. I immediately got
up and went to his house. He told
me then that he had been to Cincin
na id had found that the Live Oak
g company had paid young
Minxsn a large amount of money. He
said he wanted to see Col. Mixson,
but wished to do so before lie went to
. the office. He also asked me not to
say anything about the matter to any
body else. As soon as I got my
breakfast I went to the dispensary
and told Mixson that Scruggs wished
. to see him at his house. After I had
eaten my dinner and about dark in
the afternoon, I went to see Mixson
and by my advice he went with me to
the governor's mansion, and in my
ce he told the governor all
had said. Governor Evans'
attmntthat I asked him what to do,
is false. I did not dr anything of the
kind, but expressly told him when 1
got up to leave that Mixson, under my
advice, had come to tell him as gover
nor and chairman of the State board
of control, of the matter, and that if
he had not told him that I would have
done so myself. That I did not think,
under the circumstances, I could af
ford to keep a secret of that kind.
When we left he asked us to say noth
'of the matter, as he wished to see
if would report it to him.
WIter on he. went to Washington
and after he came back he told me he
had seen Senator Tillman and he
thought Mixson alhould resign and
sudmeto gethinto do so. I went
toManxsn and commenced to talk to
him on the subject and he stopped me
'and said: "I have already told Gov
ernor Evans that he could get my re
signati' on whenever he wished it."
Ihadnbthing more of it for sev
eral days, when Mixsen told me that
- everal of his friends and Governor
E~agsha& told him not to resign;
that he had been guilty of no wrong
and he ought not to resign. In aday
or two Ihappened to ben mthe gover
na,'s offceand he told me he had ad
vised Mixson not to resign. and I said
"All right." Mixson had told me his
friends advised him not to resign. It
must be borne in mind that when this
Shapeied there had not been a meet
(Ing of the State board of control for
"more than a ya.Governor Evans
had promdabsolutely all the du
ties-o the whole board of control, and
I conceived it to be my duty a "de
g~re' "member of the State board of
Cedntrolto report the matter to him as
the governor of the State and as the
chaman of the State board of con
trol. If there had been a meeting of
the whoe boardlIwould have report
ed it tothem. AfterlIput himin pos
seson of the facts I had nothing more
ito do with it except to see Mixscn to
get liim to resign, when I was met
with the statement that he had already
told the governor he would resign
whenever he wanted him to;
F'urther the goernor says: "The
meeting of the -e lauecame, and I
gadmmrrinel in teabsence of proof
against Mixson to drop the matter,
but to take away from HTM any
chance of temptation, and recom
mended that the entire control be tak
en from his hands and fronm the hands
of the Statehouse officers and placed
in the hands of a board consisting of
five members elected by the general
auembly.* This offende Seretary
'Tnkis who stated that in view of
th fagsmade it would look like
kiking h' out by reason thereof."
The, whole statement is untrue.
Srgsmade his statement to me on
the 17th day of February and Mix
son informed Gov. Evans of it the
same might. The legislature had
been in session since the 17th of Jan
uary and was in session at the time.
Mr. Barber stated to me before any
new dispensary bill was drawn at the
sugsinof Governor Evans that
he(vn)had given him the out
lines of a~ilto be drawn in which the
board of'control was to consist of two
members to be'elected by the legisla
ture and the governor to be ex-officio
cause I thought "i ol oklk
Wecing me out by reason of the charg
es against me." There were no
chargesagaistme, and never have
been any except by constitutional
'ars and persons who are thieves
hmslves and would steal if they
had the opportunity. I objected to it,
inso 'stated to Gov. Evans, on the
~ ruksthdt inas much as he had as
~bmdo himself all the duties of the
State board of control it came with ill
fro him to recommend to the
'eilauethat Mr. Norton and I be
lef off and two new membersbe elect
ed to- the legislature, while he still
held on as the chairman.
If the dispensary was not managed
as it should have been, he should
have been left off and another
name, put in ns place, as he alone
was responsible for any misman
agnent When I was talking to
Governor Evans on the subject, he
.tated that Mr. Johnson had a till pre
pared in which he propsed to change
the board of control and that Mr. L.
J. Willia~ms had a bill already on its
passage. I expressly told hinm then
hatldidn't care anythinxg about Mr.
Johnson's or Mr. Vv illiams' bill pass
ing, but that I did ebject to his recom
mendations and the passing of an act
under it reflecting on mue, as I thougiit
it did. In fact, Mr. Williams' bill
had been introduced in the house some
*~fiie befor~e this new bill of Governor
Eveans' was mentioned. Nobody ever
hard me ay anyothing against Mr.,
Williams' bii and I defy him to fiad
a member of the legislature who will
says so.
The fact of Lle business is I don't be
lieve Governor Evans conceived tne
new dispensary lav at all. If there
any good in it, I believ- Mr. 1,frd is
entitled to the credit. Not tvo davs
before he and Mr. Elird were in tie
attorney general's ollice givin- him
the outlines of a new bill. Governor
Evans told me he did not intend, in
his long- looked-for message, to recoin
mend any change in the law, and af
ter he and I had talked of the objec
tions to his recommendations, he said
the bill was the legislative committee's
bill and asked me to meet them the
next night to talk the matter over. I
immediately saw Mr. Carroll. one of
the committee, and while he didn't
say so in so many words, I am satis
fied he had never head of the bill be
fore.
Mr. J. P. Thomas, Jr., another
member of the committee, told me he
had never heard of it until I told him.
When we met Mr. Thomas suggested
that the board be composed of five
members, as Governor Evans recom
mended in his message.
When the bill went to the senate it
was referred to the judiciary commit
tee, and Mr. Mayfield, chairman of the
committee, asked me if I would be
satisfied if all the old members were
left o"1 and an entirely new board
elected.
I told him it would be perfectly sat
isfactory to me; that my friends had
unintentionally done me a great un
kindness when they put me on the
board of control, and that I would te
delighted to get off if I could do so de
cently.
Governor Efans, as I have been
told, was constantly making insinua
tions like these against me during the
campaign, and for this reason I went
to Chesterfield to state my connection
with the dispensary and State board of
control. Governor Evans said my
statement was entirely correct then. I
don't know what has caused him to
change his opinion. so I wish to say
again, as I said then:
The State borad of control had only
one meeting in the year 1895. The
only action taken then was to elect
the commissioner and the clerk of the
State board. Governor Evans at that
meeting presented a petition from Mr.
Narey, asking to be allowed to sell
beer in the city of Co'umbia and one
from Mr. Fagan, askingthat the Hotel
Jerome be allowed to sell liquor as a
tourist hotel. Mr. Norton and I both
objected to these two propositions and
he pushed them in his draw and said
let them lie over for consideration at
the next meeting. During the year I
signed two, or possibly three, orders
closing distilleries whose proprietors
had violated the dispensary law. On
another occasion I walked into the
governor's office while he was cmsider
ing a request by the Southern Railway
company to be allowed to sell liquor
on their dining cars as they passed
through the State on the Air Line rail
road. He asked my opinion on that
subject. Some time during the present
year the governor called a meeting of
the board of control to consiner a peti
tion of the city council of Columbia to
be paid some dispensary profit which
had been withheld.
This constituted my whole connec
tion with the dispensary. The con
missioner has never bought a o-allon
of liquor bymy request. I have'never
asked him to do so but once. Then I
asked him to buy some whiskey from
Capt. McCann, who was my immedi
ate commander during the war, and:
was a member of Gen. Gary's staff.
He did not buy from him on account
of some hitch in the analysis. I have
not been allowed to have anything to
do with the management of the dis
pensary; have never known what
prices they paid to anybody, and never
inquired.
I have had no connection with the
dispensary or the State board of con
trol other than I have stated above,
and am not responsible for its mange
ment in any manner.
D. H. Tourms.
Another Letter From Gov. Evans.
CoLUMBAr, Sept 7.-Governor Evans
was shosen the statements of Messrs.
Tompkins and Mixson and gave the
following reply at 1 o'clock this morn
mng:
"I have read the statements of Sec
retary Tompkins and Commissioner
Mixson and so far as they affect my
statement there is no material contra
diction. Mr. Tompkins endeavors to
make the point that my recommenda
tins as to the changes of the law we'-e
made before Mr. Scruggs had returned
from Cincinnati. This is true and it
is also true, as he is perfectly aware,
that these unsavory charges had been
in circulation months before the meet
ing of the legislature and Mixson was
continuing to purchase from whom he
admitted to me had offered to bribe
him and for which I had reprimanded
him. I made no charges or insinua
tions, but simply stated facts. So far
as the board of control is concerned
there was no mismanagement of the
dispensary, there was no necessity for
calling the board together and Mr.
Tompkins shows that I usurped no au
thority, but called the board together
whenever it was necessary to do so. I
have not charged Secretary Tompkins
with attempting to manage its affairs,
my only criticism is the manner in
which he has managed Mixson while
a member of the board. E- Mixson
pleads guilty to every charge .and con
firms my statement in all matters ma
teriaL I never heard o f the statement
which he says Hubbell made to him
in the sample room until it appeared
in the newspapers and his statement
that he submitted it to me is untrue.
Mison submitted nothing to me in
reference to his purchase of whiskey.
The statement that I told him to de
stroy his boy's letter is likewise un
true; it should have been preserved.
He never stated to me that he would
sufer removal before buying from
Hubbell, for he knows full well that
as soon as he stated it to me that Hub
bell had offered him a bribe, I replied
that he had served him right.
Soz far as my expanse account is
concerned for going to Washington
and New York to save tc the State
about $2,000 worth of contraband
whiskey, I am prepared to funnish an
itemized statement as it was made out
at the time. I promise the public that
they shall know all, let the chips fall
where they may. The animus of this
pereution of me shall be known.
JOuHN GARY Ex XNM.
T'o.31PK1NS iN REPLY.
To the Public:
I have read Governor I- vans' state
ment. Also his statement that I knew
Mison was continuing to purchase
liquor from a man who had offered
him a bribe and for which lie was re
prianded, is not true. I did nmot
know that he had ever purchased any,
liquor from a man who had offered
him a bribe. -I didn't know that
White, the man referred to, had anly
thing to do with the Live Oak D.istill
ing company until after Scruggs re
turned from Cincinnati and told me
the Live Oak Distilling company had
paid him commissions. The statement
that I managed Mixson at all while a
member of the board is simply untrue.
I never managed or tried to manage
him and didn't wish to do it. I have
not charged that the dispexisary was,
mismanaged, butlIsaid-that ir there
was solely responsible for it.
He might not have thought there
was any necessity to call a meeting of
the bjard cf control to grant Narey
the privilege of selling beer in the c iY
of CoXunibia, when his petition to be
alloed te do so had been disapproved
by both the other mnenbers of the
board, but others might think it
siould b ve been done. He also
might not have thought it necessary
to call the board together to grant M -.
Seegers the privilege of selling beer in
the city of Columbia, in Spartanburg
and in Greenville, but other people
may think otherwise. He might not
have thought it necessary to call the
board together to lirense the various
distilleries which have been opened in
the State in the last 18 months, but a
great many people think otherwise.
D. H TOMPKIS.
TIHE GOVERNOR'S BROTHER.
To the Editor of The State:
The card of F. M. Mixson in which
he attempts to ans wer the statements
made in Gov. Evans' expose of dis
pensary'matters, has just been shown
me. Mixson, after alluding to my
support of his candidacy for commis
sioner, makes a weak attempt to con
nect me with the muddle from which
he is vainly struggling to extricate
himself and- his unfortunate sons.
Q uoting from an alleged conversation
between his son and myself, he tries
to make it appear that I proposed to
his son, W. T. Mixson, thai we should
go into a deal and make something if
he (F. M. Mixson) was el cted. It is
true that I was an ardent advocate of
Col. F. M. Mixson for the position of
commissioner, beeiuse I believed him
both capable and honorable and en
tertained friendly feelings towards
hin on account of fis zealous support
of my brother. In regards to the other
statement the facts are simply these:
Just befora F. MZ Mixsoa was appoint
ed commissioner he came to me and
proposed that I should take his son,
W. T. Mixson, as a partner, and we
could run a brokerage in connection
with my insurance business. That we
could represent whiskey houses and
be, F. M. Mixson. would purchase all
the whiskey for the dispensary
through us. I told him I did not wi-h
a partner in my insurance business,
and the c,,nversation ended there.
One morning in December, 1894,
while in the senate chamber, I was ap
proached by W. T. Mixson, who in
fdrmed me thathis father had told him
him of the coAversation had with me
and that he would like to join with
me, as we could make good money
and profit. I told him I would not
consider his proposition and declined
to confer further with him. After the
appointment, I mentioned the matter
to my brother, Governor Evans, and
also to Judge Eugene B. Gary, and
they advised me to have nothing to do
with the dispehsary business under
any circumstances, and no further
mention was ever made of it. Doubt
less, I would be justifled in using se
vere language to characterize this at
tempt to bring me into this matter in
tended to affect the race for the Unit
ed States senate, but I think they will
have trouble enough before they get
through without any help on my part.
BARNAtD B. EVANS.
THE COTTON CROP.
It N Very Short and Should Bring a Good
Price.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8.-The follow
ing are extracts from the weekly cli
mate and crop bulletin of the .weather
burean.
Virginia-The occurrence of local
showers, fairly well distributed, has
improved the condition of late corn,
peas and pastures and done much to
put the ground in condition for fall
plowing; corn ,cutting is progressing
and considerable tobacco cut and
housed; some fall seeding done.
With beneficial showers, but badly
distributed, favorable for farm work,
absence of a general rain cutting short
all late crops and preveniting seeding
of wintei- ,grams'; all cotton :will be
open by'Ont. 1; rice and peanuts ordi
na7y; peas and potatoes good.
South Carolina-Hot with rain in
northwestern counties only; corn be
ing housed, yield disappointing; cotton
fully two-thirds open and being pick
ed rapidly, no top crop; cane deficient
in sap; .fine rice harvest weather, but
unfavorable for truck interests, ]ate
forage. turnips or root crops; late peas
not fruiting.
Georgia-Practically no rain during
the past week with cool nights, warm
days and abundant sunshine were det
rinmental to all crops; about half the
cotton open and picking progressing
rapidly; cotton too far advanced to be
benefitted by rain'; pastures parching
and stock water very scarce; rain need
ed to get ground ready for fall seed
Florida-Excepting limited sections
of western and southern districts, rain
fall has been light, proving an excel
lent week for cotton picking, housing
corn and haying; copious showers over
greater portion of State to stimulate
growing fall crops and germinate veg
etable seed; potatoes, rice and cane
generally good; as harvesting proceeds
the shortage of corn and cotton be
comes apparent.
Alabama-Cotton opening rapidly
and about half picked with no pros
pect for a top crop; drought continues
except in extreme soutnlern counties,
where goodi rains benefitted canie and
potatoes; minor crops yielding light,
except fair in southern counties: very
little fall plowing done.
Mississippi-Good weather for cotton
picking and' for gathering corn and
other crops over the greater portion of
the State, but heavy and excessive
rains over southern portion, seriously
injured cotton by beating it out and
staining it-; no improvement indicated
in the short yield, and cotton picking
is being pushed to completion; minor
crops and fall gardens benefitted
where shiowersoccu-rred, but many
sections still suifering for water, for
crops and stock.
Louisiana-Good harvest weather
for rice, hay and cotton picking; cane
and vegetation generally benefitted
over southeastern parishes by gener
ous rains, but droughty conditions
continue over the north and south
western portions of the State, where
cotton -and providence rice are yield
ing short crops; rice on irrigated lands
yielding well.
Texas-Dry weather has prevailed
duing the week, except scattered
showers near the coast ; cotton pieking
has been rushed in all sections and
over some portions of the State will
be completed during the present
month, the yield is very light and
there is very little top crop whichi can
mature outside southwest Texas;
wheat sowing has commenced over
northwest Texas and rain is needed for
the continuance of this work; corn
gathering continues.
Arkansas- o change in c-ondition
of cotton, except some damage in 10
calities by wind and rain staining the
libre; picking has become general, ex
cept in north portions; corn being
gathered and very light yiel ;d minor
crops doing fairly well, but muany lo
calities need rain.
Tennessee- i ght local rains gener
ally throughout the State. Heaviest
in western portion ; too late for mate
rial benefit, exzept to turnips, pastares
and starting plowing; drought still se
rious in many localities; cotton opened
well; picking rapidly progressing;
crop half gathered ; tobacco about all
candi hmod and being cured.e
FORlALLY ACCEPTS.
SRY AN'S LETTER TO THE DEMOCRAT
IC NOTiFICATION COMMIT TEE.
He- rakvs L,; tl! PlAtformn and Carecrullyv
Deals With It Section by sect1in--.A.n Ex
coedingly Strong Campaign Paper.
LINCOLN, Neb., Sept. .-Mr. Bryan
today made public his letter accepting
the Democratic nomination. Its full
text follows: Hon. SteDhen M. White
and other members of the notifica
tion committee of the Democratic
committee.
Gentlemen: I accept the nomina
tion lendered by you on behalf of the
Democratic party, and in so doing de
sire to assure you that I fully appreci
ate the high honor which such nomina
tion confers and the grave responsibili
ties which accompany an election to
the Presidency of the United States.
So deeply am I impressed with the
magnitude of the power vested by the
Constitution in the chief executive of
the nation and with the enormous in
fluence whi be can wield ifor the
benefit or injury of the people that
I wish to enter the office, if elected,
free from ar y personal desire, except
the desire to prove worthy of the con
fidence of my country. Human judg
ment is falliole enough when unbiased
by selfish considerations, and in order
that I may not be tempted to use the
patronage of an office to advance any
personal ambition, I hereby announce,
with all the emphasis which words
can express, my fixed determination
not, under any circumstances, to be a
candidate for re-election in case the
campaign results in my election.
I have carefully considered the plat
form adopted by the Democratic na
tional convection and unqualifieIly
'ndorse every plank therein.
Our institutions rest upon the posi
tion that all men, being created equal,
are entitled to equal consideration at
the hands of the government. Because
all men are created equal it follows
that no citizen has a right to injure
another citizen. The main purpose of
government being to protect all citi
zens in the enjoyment of life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness, this pur
pose must lead the government, first,
to avoid acts of affimative injustice,
and, second, to restrain each citizen
from trespassing upon the rights of
any other citizen. A Democratic
form of govenment is conductive to
highest civilization because it opens
before each individual the greatest op
portunities for development and stimu
lates to the highest endeavor by insur
ing to each; the full enjoyment or all
the rewards of toil, except such contri
bution as is necessary to support the
government which protects him. De
mocracy is indifferent to pedigree--it
deals with the individual rather than
with his ancestors. Demec racy ignores
differences in wealth-neither riches
nor poverty can be involved in behalf
of or against any citizen. Demccracy
knows not reed--recognizing the right
of each individual to worship God ac
cording to the dictates of his own con
science, it welcomes all to a common
brotherhood and guarantees equal
treatment to all, no matter in what
character or through what forms they
commune with their Creator.
Having discussed portions of the
platform 'at the time of its adoption
and again when its letter of notification
was formerly delivered, it will not be
necessary at this time to touch upon
all the subjects embraced in its declara
tions. Honest differences of opinion
have ever existed and ever will exist
as to the most effective means of secur
ing domestic tranquility, but no citizen
fails to recognize at all times and tun
der all circumstances the absolute ne
cessity for the prompt and vigorous
enforcement of law and the preserva
tion of the public peace. In a govern
ment like ours, law is but the crysta
lization of the will of the people; with
out it the'citizen is neither secure in
the enjoyment of life and liberty, nor
protected in the pursuit of happiness.
Without obedience to law, govern
ment is impossible. The Demccratic
party is pledged to defend the Consti
tution and enforce the laws of the
United States, and it is also pledged to
protect and defend the dual scheme of
government instituted by the found
ers of the republic. The name United
States was happily, chosen. It com
bines ithe idea of national strength
with the idea of local self-government
and suggests an "indissoluble union of
indestructible States."
Our wise forefathers, fearing the
tendeney toward centralization as well
as the dangers of disintegration, g-uard
ed against both, and national safty as
well as domestic Eecurity is to be
found in the careful observance of the
limitations which they impose. It
will be noticed that while the United
States guarantees to every State a re
publican from government and is em
powered to protect each State against
invasion, it is not authorized to inter
fere in the domestic affairs of any State
except upon application of the legisla
ture of the State, or upon the applica
tion of the executive when the legisla
ture cannot be convened. This provi
sion rests upon the sound theory that
the people of the State, acting through
their legally chosen representatives,
are because of their more intimate ac
quaintance with lceal conditions, bet
ter qualified than the President to
judge of the necessity for federal inter
ference. Those who framed our Con
stituti.n wisly determined to make as
broad an application of the principles
of local self-government as circum
staces would permit, and we cannot
dispute the correctness of the position
taken by them without expressing a
distrust of the people themselves.
Since governments exists for the
protection of the rights of the people
and not for their spoliation, no ex
penditure of public money can be jus
titled, unless that expenditure is nec
essary for the honest, economical ad
ministration of the government. In
determining what appropriations are
necessary, the interest of these who
pay the taxes should be consulted
rather than the wishes of those who
receive or disburse public moneys.
An increase in the bonded debt of
the United States at this time is en
tirely without excuse. The issue of
interest bearing bonds within the last
few years has been defended on the
groun~d that they were necessary to
secure gold with which to r-edeem
United States notes and treastu-y notes;
but this necessity has been imaginary
rather thau real. .instead of exercis
ing the legal right vested in the Uni
ted States to redeem its bonds in either
gold or silver, the executive branch of
the government has followed a prece
dent established by a forme:- adminis
tration and surrendered the option to
the holder of the obligations. This
administrative policy leaves the go"
ernent at the mercy of those who
find pecuniary profit in bond issues.
The Iac:t that the dealers in money
and securities have been able to de
plete or protect the treasury aem-rding
to their changing whims shows how
dangerous it is to permit them to ex
ercise a controlling in luence over the
treasury departmen iThe government
of the United States when administer
ed in the interest of all the people, is
able to establish an maintain its own
financial policy, ni only without the
aid of syndicates, b. in spite of any
opposition which t :syndicate may
exert. To assert .t the government
good wil of a portioi of the pe-ple
other than a constitutional majority,
is to a::s--it th-It we have a government
in form, b .t without vital force.
Tie p:)itoion taken by the platform
against th6 issue of papcr money by
national bovks is supp -rted by the
higcht Dmoocratic authoritv as wel
as dem(itraotd by the interest of the
p 'eole - pescr't attempt of the
national banks to force ihe retirement
of United States notes and treasuru
notes in order to secure a basis for a
larger is-ue of their own notes, illus
trates the danger which arises from
permitting them to issue their paper
as a circulating medium. The nation
al bank note being redeemable in law
ful money, has never been better than
the United States note which stands
behind it, and yet the banks persist
ently demand that these United States
notes which draw no interest shall
give place to interest bearing bonds in
order that the banks may collect the
interest which the people now save.
To empower national banks to issue
circulating notes is to grant a valua
ble privilege to a favored class, sur
render to private corporations the con
trol over the volume of paper money,
and build up a class which will claim
a vested interest in the national finan
cial policy. The United States notes,
commonly known as greenbacks, be
ing redeemable in either gold or silver
at the option of the government and
not at the option of the holder, are
safer and cheaper for the people than
the national bank notes based upon
the interest bearing bonds.
A dignified but firm maintenance of
the foreign policy first set forth by
President Monroe and reiterated by
the Presidents who have succeeded
him, instead of arousing hostility
abroad, is the best guarantee of ami
cable relations with other nations. It
is better for all concerned that the
United States should resist any exten
sion of European authority in the
western hemisphere rather than in
vite the continual irritation which
would necessarily result from any at
tempt to increase the influence of
monarchical institutions over that
portion of the America which has been
dedicated to Republican government
No nation can afford to be unjust
to its defenders. The care of those
who have suffered in the military and
naval service of the country is a sac
red duty. A nation which, like the
United States, relied upon volunteer
service rather than upon a large
standing army, adds to its own securi
ty when it makes generous provisions
for those who have risked their lives
in its defense, and for those who are
dependent upon them.
Labor created capital. Until wealth
is produced by application of brain
and muscle to the resources of this
country, there is nothing to divide
among the non-producing classes of
society. Since the products of wealth
create the nation's prosperity in time
of peace and defend the nation's flag
in time of peril, their interest ought
at all times be considered by those
who stand in official positions. The
Democratic party has ever found its
voting strength among those who are
proud to be known as the common
people, and it pledges itself to propose
and enact such legislation as is neces
sary to protect the masses in the free
exercise of every political right and in
the enjoyment of their just share of
the rewards of their labor.
I desire to give special emphasis to
the plank which recommends such
legislation as is necessary to secure
the arbitratian of differences between
employers engaged in interstate com
merce and their emnployes. Arbitra
tions is not a new idea; it is simply an
extension of the court of justice. The
laboring men of the country have ex
pressed a desire for arbitration and
the railroads cannot reasonably object
to the decisions rendered by an im
partial tribunal. Society has an in
terest even greater than the interest of
employes and has a right to protect
itself by courts of arbitration against
the growing inconveniences and em
barrassments occasioned by disputes
by those who own the great arteries
of commerce on the one hand and the
laborers who operate them on the
other.
While the Democratic party wel
comes to the country those who come
with love for our institutions and with
determination and ability to con
tribute to the prosperity of our na
tion, it is opposed to the dumping of
criminal classes upon our shores and
to the importation of either pauper or
contract labor to compete with Ameri
can labor.
The recent abuses which have grown
out of injunction proceedings have
been so emphatically condemned by
public opinion that the senate bill pro
viding for trial by jury in certain
contempt cases will meet with general
approval.
The Democratic party is opposed to
trusts. It would be recreant to its
duty to the people of the country if it
recognized either the moral or the le
gal right of these great institutions of
wealth to stifle competition, bankrupt
rivals and then prey upon society.
Corporations are the creatures of law
and they should not be permitted to
pass from under the power that creat
ed them; they are permitted to exist
uoon the theory that they aavanced
the puolic weal and they must not be
allowed to use their powers for the
public injury.
The right of the United States gov
ernment to regulate interstate comn
merce cannot be questioned, and the
necessity of the vigorous exercise of
that right is becoming more and more
imperative. The interests of the
whole people require sucn an enlarge
ment of the powers of the interstate
commerce commission as will enable
it to prevent discrimination between
persons and places and protect patrons
from unreasonable charges.
The government cannot atford to
discrimiuate between its debtors and
must therefore prosecute its legal,
claims against the Pacific railroads.
Such a policy is necessary for the pro
tection of the rights of the patrons,
as well as for the interests of the gov
ernment.
The people of the United States,
happy in the enjoyment of the bless
ings a free government, feel a gener
ous sympath toward all wno are en
deavoring to secure like blessings for
themselves. This sympathy, while re
specting all treaty obligations, is es
pecially active and earnest when e-o
cited by the struggling of neighboring
people, who, like the Cubans, are
near enough to observe the workings
of agovernmnent which derives all its
authority froini the consent of the
governed.
That the American people are not
in favor of life tenure in the civil ser
vice is evident from the fact that
they, as a rule, make frequent chang
es in their official representatives
when those representatives are chos
en by ballot. A permanent of
fice-holding class is not in harmuony
with our institutions. A fixed term in
appointive otlices, except where the
Federal Constitution now provides
otherwise, would open the public ser
vice to a larger number of citizens
without impairing its efficiency.
The territorial form of government is
temporary in its nature and shoul
give way as soon as the territory is
suflicienitly advanced to take its place
among the States. Ne w Miexico. Okh:e
homa. and Arizona are entitled to State-'
hood and their early admission is de
manded by their material -and politi
eal interests. The denard o' the
platforrn that olicials appoiuted to ad
liniat.-r the zovernmeni of th r
ries, tho Ditstrict of C.lujran
Al1aska* 1oudb r i i
dents of 1e territoris i is
entirely in keeping wita the Dem
ocratic theory of home rule. I
am also heirtily in sympathy with
the declaration that all public
lands should be reserved for the estab
lishment of fr-e homes for Ame'rican
citizens.
The policy of improving the great
w iterways of the country justified by
the national character of these water
ways and the enormous tonnage borne
upon them. Exoerience has demon
strated that continuing appropriations
are, in the end more economical than
single appropriations separated by
long intervals.
It is not necessary to disc!is th tar
iff question at this time. Whatever
may be the individual views of citizens
as to the relative merits of protection
and tariff reform, all must recognize
that until the money question is fully
and finally settled the American peo
ple will not consent to the considera
tion of any other important question.
Taxation pr..ents a problem which in
some form is continuatly present, and
a postponement of definite action up
on it involves no sacrifice of personal
opinion or political principles; but the
crisis presented by financial condi
tions cannot be postponed. Tremen
dous results will follow the action
taken by the United States on the
money question, and delay is impossi
ble. The people of this nation, sit
ting as a high court, must render
judgment in the cause which greed is
prosecuting against humanity. The
decision will either give hope and in
spiration to those who toil, or 'shut
the doors of mercy on mankind " In
the presence of this overshadowing is
sue, differences of opinion upon minor
questions must be laid aside in order
that there may be united action among
those who are determined that prog
ress toward a universal gold st indard
shall be stayed and the gold and silv
er standard ot the Constitution resort
ed. W. J. BRYAN.
To Re I avestigated.
CoLUMIA, S. C., Sept. 10.-If what
has been whispered about in the last
few days since the revelations made
by Governor E fans as to what certain
people know about the Affairs of the
State dispensary be true, then the
outside world may look for spicy
reading next week bearing upon the
big State scandal. The State board of
control has been called in extra session
to fully investigate the scandal and
see what is behind it. Colonel Wilie
Jones; chairman of the State board of
control of the State dispensary, yester
day notified the four other members
of the board that there would be an
extra session on Tuesday night next.
The first Tuesday night in each month
is the time for regular meetings. He
was seen by a representative of The
State and asked why he was going to
hold an extra meeting. He replied
that in view of the recent charges
made by Governor Evans against Li
quor Commissioner Mixson he did not
see ho w the State board could do other
wise than investigate the matter.
There were charges and counter
charges by Governor Evans and Com
missioner Mixson and these naturally
reflected upon the management of the
dispensary. In fact, if charges like
those of Governor Evans had been
made by any reputable citizen it would
rest on the board to sift the matter.
This investigation was due the board
itself, he said, and due the people of
the State, and due also Commissioner
Mixson. In answer to the question of
what the probable action ot the board
would be, he replied that he did not
know. As chairman of the State
board he felt that it rested upon him
to assemble the board and let it take
whatever action it saw proper. In
his letter of notification to the board
he made no mention of his reasons for
calling the meeting, but simply
stated that certain business demancied
their immediate attention.
A Newberry H angiog.
NEWBERRY, Sept. 4.-Aaron Duffie,
who was convicted at the July, 1896,
term of court of the murder of James
Hargrove, and sentenced by Judge
Witherspooua to be hanged on the 4th of
September 1896, was executed today
at 110'clock and thus paid the penal
ty of his crime. Duffle exhibited
great coolness on the scaffold. He
did not flinch from the time he was
led from his cell to the time the black
cap was adjusted and the noose fixed
He stepped upon the scaffold with as
much calmness as an ordinary man
would take a train. He left his cell
singing and acting very mucn as ne
groes act at a revival, and said he was
zeady to go. Just before he was led to
his doom he smoked a cigar which the
sheriff had given him, and thanked
that officer for his kindness. Sheriff
Riser bad been very considerate for
the welfare of the condemned man,
and was anxious that death should be
instantaneous, but the noose slipped at
the drop and the unfortunate man
strangled. He was pronounced dead
by Dr. J. H. McCullough and his
body cut down within 15 minutes af
ter the springing of the trap. Te
prisoner made no public statement.
In ans wer to a question he said he had
nothing to say. He had previously
stated that he had no intention of kill
ing Hlargroves when he struck the
blow. While the black cap was being
fixed the doomed man, who in a few
seconds would be in eternity, told the
deputy sheriff to be careful in adjust
ing the knot as he wanted it to be over
without any struggle The Revs.
F. R. Wallace, M. W. Lomax and
others were with Dufflie all the morn
ing and looked after his spiritual wel
fare. It will be remembered that Duf
fie killed young Har-grove on the 26th
of last March near Whitmire. Ha
grove was guard at the conviet camp
at the time and Denlie was a convict
at work. - -State.
How to Cure Potattoes.
Mr. and Mrs. WV. A. Bolin, of the
Tirzrh neighborhood, returned on
Thursday from an eight days' tour in
the mountains of North Carolina, and
Mr. Bolin stopped at The Yorkville
Enquirer office to exhibit a curiosity
that was picked up on the trip. The
curiosity referred to was somre fine
sweet potatoes, of the red yam variety.
in a perfect state of preservation, and
two years old. "I got them up in
Caldwell county, N. C," explained
Mr. Bolin. "They were raised and
cured by Mr. Hf. E. Lutz. Titey do
not bank potatoes up there like we do
down here. I astead, they lhave regu
lar potatoes houses. The houses are
easily constructed. The sills are em
bedded in the earth. Then the walls
are put up double and tilled with saw
dust, well tamnped in. A good air
tight roof, earthen iloor, and double
doors, completes the arrangement.
"Mr-. Lnts iniformued me." continued
Mr. Ltoliu, "that it takes about 90O
days to cure potatoes. D~uring that
time the potatoes must be kept at a
temper-ature of not less than 55 nor
more than u5 degrees. Warmth, when
necessary, is supplied by means of a
w'ashpot tilled with hurning embers,.
After ih0 days of su-ch treatment, e:
:ept from freezing, the potatoes wil!
keep indetinitely. Mr. Lutz says he
lias seen them sound after having been j
lu ie er.
AFT-.R THE l'RIMA Y.
THE CCLUMB!A REGISTER GIVESITS
vIEWS ON THE RESULT.
Gtves its Batsoon for Evanb' Def--at and
Claims that the NominatioU of Judge
Earle is a Victory for the Reformers.
COLUMBIA, S. C., Sept. 1.-The
following appeared in the Register
this morning as a leading editorial:
"The political smoke has cleared
away from Tuesday's battle of the bal
lots and now a satisfactory observa
tion of its result may be made. At
the same time, an analysis of thecaus
es may prove interesting. Judge
Joseph H. Earle has been nominated
by the Democrats of South Carolina to
succeed Hon. John L M. Irby as
United States Senator. It was report
ed that Seator Irby said at one time
be usually wore his shoes t wo seasons,
bat if he could not retain his "Sena
torial brogans" for another term, he'd
be blanked if any other Reformer
should wear them. He did not even
attempt to retain possession of his
"Senatorial brogans," but retired
from the race before the fi-st bell was
rung. He saw that he would be dis
tanced if he persisted ir. running.
One reason why Irby saw defeat star
ing him in the face was that he had
tried to elevate himself by shoving
other men down. Whenever he im
agined he saw in a prominent Reform
er a prospective rival, his jealousy led
him to attempt to undermine that
man's position and influence. In this
work he had some ready, pliant- and
unscrupulous tools. Nor was this ef
fort confined to men. Newspapers
which would notbecome his organs felt
the weight of his displeasure. The
Regsiler, because it would not sink
from the high level of an independent
Democratic newspaper, was schemed
against and worked against, but The
Register is stronger than e ;er. and so
are most of the prospective rivals
whom Senator Irby wished politically
buried. It was rumored that the rea
son of Irby's energetic support of
Evans for Governor was that he had
been promised that Evans would not
oppose his re election, but would use
the power of the Governor's office, if
elected, to aid Irby to retain his "Sea
atorial brogans." Be that as it may,
the returns from the up country indi
cate that Irby's friends were not in
active-They believed Evans had been
gu.ilty of treachery to Irby, and they
punished him by voting for Earle.
Another factor in the polling of such
a big vote for Earle in the Piedmont
section was the defeat of Hon. John
E. Breazeale of Anderson when a can
didate for election as a Circuit Judge.
Mr. Breazeale was an orginal Reform
er, yet Gen. Jos. H. Earle defeated
him for Judge. It was reported in
the up country that the same intlu
ences which were promoting Evans's
Senatorial candidacy were largely re
sponsible for Breazeale's defeat. Many
Piedmont Reformers reasoned thus:
If Earle is a good enough Reformer
with whom to defeat au original Re
former like Breazeale he is a good
enough Reformer with whom to de
feat Evans, whose claims to ab initio
membership in the movement have
been challenged. Then in the Pee
Dee country Evan's vote was much
smaller than it would have been had
he not to a certain extent imitated Ir
by's policy of attempting to advance
himself by shoving others down.
General McLaurin was looked upon
by both Ir by and Evans as a possible
rival and both sought to crush him.
The consequences are instructive to
the student of political history, espec
ially to him who entertains the idea of
actively entering the political arena.
McLaurin has just been triumphantly
renominated for Congressman without
opposition, while both Evans and Irby
are booked for the political "retired
list" at the expiration of their present
terms of officee. While McLaurin has
been out of the State nearly all the
summer and has thaken no hand in
the Senatorial tight his friends saw
and resented the antipathy to hi'n and
voted against Evans. One of the
chiefcauses e-ntributing to the defat of
Evans w'as the fact of his having been
the beneficiary of the Colleton plan
primary, by the operation of
which a large element of the Demo
cracy of the State was debarred from
any practical participation in the.
choice of the party's gubernatorial
nominee. The Conservatives could
not vote in the primary which really
named Evans for Governor, and thou
sands of Reformers would not vote in
it, because they considered it undemo
ratic and regarded it with suspicion
as a trap. It may be safely asserted
that nine-tenths of the opponents of
the Colleton plan primary cast their
ballots against E vans in the two pri
maries. Tillman's appeal in behalf of
Evans could have no effect with the
opponents of the Colleton plan pri
mary, because they regard him as par
ticeps criminis. That appeal was un
fortunate in many respects-it deter
mined many who were wavering to
ast their ballots for Earle, and afford
d an opportunity for Tillman's op
ponents to charge him with attempted
bossism and popping the lash. It did
ot help Evans and it hurt Tillman,
for in writing' that letter he was -in
onsistent, having criticised General
Eampton for taking part in a fight
mong Democrats. Many of the Re
ormi leaders were out of harmony
with Evans and either held aloof or
worked for Earle. In 1894 Evans
ade a charge against The Regi ter
nd evaded making a square, manly
pology when called to time. There
fore, though The Rizister treated him
with absolute and scrieduous fairness,
t c-ould not ch ampion his cause without
oss of self-respect. To such causes as
he above, more than to any belief in
he -harges and insmnuanions agrainst
lovernor- Evans, The Re~ister attri
>utes his defeat.- Of course somn: p
>e believed those cnarges, but not
enough to lhave atrected the result, if
Kans had not been unpopular on
ther scores with many Reform'rs
Cale's eit etion is not a Conservative
riumph. If he had posed as a Conserva
ive eindidate the factional lines would
ave been drawn and he would
aae been defeated. In every
vay it has Leen demonnstrated
n the recenit pr~i*,- that the
eforani fac., i '- ger than
ver, mainlv b~ecaus. a. a mcreasing
ibrait. I but iew e >ulies could
. man-l ij?ve been ei- td w'.' assailed
iifrm pri '. E.ren S. * ter-, a
Jourevative '. ounty, ga.Ve a um:jority
gin~l~st one of its5 own sons, a UunwFr
-atve, who opposed Dr. Stokes for
letion to Congress. Refor-rs voted
or Edre andi' Concero.ti.,s V! (d for
E vans, aL Le.' regarded :A aets
etween two Deimocrats standing upon
:entic ally the same platform. Earle
ympathized wi.h the Reform move
ent irom the beginning, soimuch so
hat in 1888 the Reformers wanted to
ominate him for Governor, an honor
.hich unfortulnately he could not ac
~ept as he had alr-edy promised his
uport to Governor Richardson,
vhose personal friend he was. In
stm he opposed Tillman because his
m was attacked in the general in
i-nzent brought by the Reformers in
e Snull manifesto and he had to de
tid hims~elf, being conscious of entire
actitude. When Tillman~ got norm
ated, he gave him his s:upport
gOYA~
~AKIt4
POWDER -
Absolutely Pure.
A cream of tartar baking powder.
Highest of all in leavening strength.
-Latest United States Governmen-ti
Food Report.
RoYAL BamKiG PowDER Co.,
New York City.
to the will of the majority. He fre
quently deprecated the strife in the
Democratic household subsequenent
to 1890 and appealed for peace and
unity. The Reformers recognized his
sympathy with them and elected him
Judge over an original Reformer.
His refusal to advocate keeping up
strife and bitterness earned him the
emnity of the hotheads among the
Coaservatives who professed to despise
him as a traitor and a turncoat because
he was a man and a Democrat. When
he announced his Senatorial candi
dacy, he wrote the people of South
Carolna a letter in which he planted
himself squarely upon thos6 principles
in national politics endorsed by the
Reformers and pledged himself to sec
ond Tillman's efforts to carry them
out. No factional line could be drawn
against such a man, none was drawn
and if his election is a factional
triumph, it is a Reform triumph and
not a Conservative."
The Lat Cotton Crop.
The AtlantaJournal very justly says
Mr. Hester, secr'etary of the New Or
leans Cotton Exchange, has accom
plished a remarkable feat. The cotton
crop year of 1895-96 ended August 31,
and on the next day Mr. Hester pub
lished to the world the size of the cot
ton crop of the United States, the de
tails of its market and its consumption
as far as it had gone. The Journal
says hitherto several weeks have
elapsed after the close of the cotton
year before this information could be
obtained. In giving it on September
1, Mr. Hester has shown great enter
prise. The high character of the New
Orleans Cotton Exchange and Mr.
Hester's own record make confidence
strong in the reliability of his report.
The cotton trade is greatly indebted to
him for the promptness with which he
has obtained and given out the impor
tant facts as to the last cotton crop.
He makes the cotton crop of 1895-96
7,157,346 bales, as compared with a
crop of 9,901,251 for the preceding
year. A falling off of nearly 3,000,000
bales in the cotton preduction
is a serious matter;- but it result
ed mainly from a systematic. and gen
eral reduction of acreage, the higher
prices which resulted enabling the
farmers to realize better results from
their crops of last year, short as they
were, than followed from the sale of
the enormous yield of 1894-95. Mr.
Hester shows that Southern mills have
consumed 904,701 bales of cotton, as
compared with 862,838 during the pre
ceding year. This represents -. very
handsome increase in consumptia,
which is the more interesting from the
fact that the takings of northern mills
show a heavy falling off. Northern
spinners consumed 1,600,000 bales. as
against 2,083,000 bales last year, a re
duction in the consumption of nearly
500,000 bales. In these figures is found
striking evidence of the drift of the
cotton millindustry toward the south.
Mr. Hester will make at an early day
a report of his investigations into the
workings of southern mills, and it will
undoubtedlycontain much interesting
information.
The crop of the several states is giv
en as follows:
North Carolina ............. 384.,600
South Carolina......'.. 664,000
Georgia....... .........1,069,000
Alabama.......... ....... 830,000
Florida..............48,000
Missssippi........... 860,000
Louisiana....... ........ 430,000
Arkansas......... ....... 620,000
Tennessee, etc............ 252,000
Texas......... .........1,990,00*)
Total crop, bales........7,157,600
The actual crop of Texas is given at
1,989,582 b~ies, in which, however, is
included tne production of the Indian
territory, 64,340 bales. This is a re
duction of 286,376 bales from last year.
The crop of Oklahoma Terd.tory
amounted to 9,955 bales. The average
cotton bale during the past season was
lighter than for the previous one by
6.8 pounds, equal on the whole crop to
95,000 bales; and at last year's weight
the season's crop would be tLat much
smaller. Mr Rester deserves the high
praise which the New Orleans papers
give him for his remarkably early and
complete report.
Price Must Advance.
WasmINGTON, Sept. 10.-The cotton
report of the Depa 'eVof AgritF~
ture for Septem ir shows a decline
from the August condition of the crop,
which was 80.1 to 64.2 oer cent., a de
cline of 12.9 points. This' is the lo w
est September condition report in the
last twenty-seven years. The States
averages are as follows: Virginia, 80;
North Carolina, 70; South Carolina,
70; Georgia, 71; Florida, 72; Alabama,
66; Mississippi, 61: Louisiana, 60;
T'exas, 62; Arkansas, 60: Tennessee, 61;
Missouri, 81; Indian Territory, 60;
Oklahoma, 65. There has been a gen
eral decline in the condition of th.
cotton crop throughout the cotton belt
in the past month. A few counties
and parishes in 1ississippi and Louis
iana report fairly good crops, but the
complaint is almost universal that the
excessive heat and dry weather have
caused the plant to shed leaves,
looms and boils, and that, where
rains have fallen, they have come too
late to be of material beneilt. The
lant has consequently matured prem
turely and bolis have opened so rap
idly that the crop is being gathered
earlier than for many years. Some
zounties report that the crop will all
>e harvested by October 1, others by
the middle of October. A few coun
ies in Mississippi report damage to
>pen cotton by heavy rains. The staple
s much lighter than usual in conse
1uence of drought and heat; and the
nedding of leav.'s and bolls will result
ii material damage to the yield from
be top crop.
CuiCAGO, Sept. 10.--Some time ago
tudolph M. Patterson, a young Re
)ublican of this city, challenged Sen
~tor T'illman of South Carolina to a
>int debate on the money g uestion.
'oday he received a reply Irom the
enator accepting theC chaallenge and
greeing to meet hici atI either Chica
~o or New York. the latter city pre~

xml | txt