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WORSE AND WORSE. LJTTTKK WAS CHANCE!? IN BLRXSK S OFFICE. Alk? ?t on Mittle hi State's Financial Aceat, ?f. P. Matthews, In Letter to she <io*eeu?>r?-TwlMl?d to Holxter Claim* to Credit in Securing Low IUt- of Interest on Stete Loan. Columbia. Feb. 14?J. I?. Matthew?, financial agent of the State, on Feb? ruary * addreseed a letter to the governor of South Carolina In which ha charged that a previous letter to the governor, sent to the general as? sembly In special message on the State loan incident, had been twlsteJ and Its meaning changed. The letier ' of Mr. Ifatthewti clears up the cen? tre wiry between the governor and RobQffl 11. Jenn-ng*. the State treas? urer. Mr. Matthew? states in hie let? ter that he called at the office of th * governor und dictated a letter on the Stato loan. The letter was later pre? sented to Mr. Matthews with the statement that it was necessary to cut nut several lines because of repe? tition. Ha consented, but several phrase* were added, according to his' letter. He states that he did not read ggg letter, upon the statement of the j stenographer that only the repetition* been left out. / For Instance, Mr. Matthews claims ' following lino was Inserted in his letter! The transaction waa not con- J lindi A. neither were the notes sign- , ed antll after we reached New York." , Hiere are several other such alleged ohangea in the letter. which would snake it read as substantiating the po? sition of the gevernor. The governo** in a special message tr the general aasembly said "What- | ever rUf/eeesvc* may have taken place awrwceri Mr. Matthews, as agent of | she State, and the State Wraearer a* la the amounts drawing Interest, Is ae renerrn of mine, and if the, rate did ant draw Interest, as with me tliey should do, Mr t letter dear 17 shown the I f maM only make the agree H that It afjoald draw Inter K It waa the doty of the State ureas- , to see that the agreement was . led with." f n reply to a question from R. H. . Jennings, the State treaeurer. aa to the loan drawing interest, as claimed ( ay tho governor. Mr. Matthews made Igte following at?1 I bj s> Iggggfl -Tn reply tn your third queMJon, *jg*Jm la as follow*: What wm the r*?tw?e? yourself and Oow, a* t? the borrowed m mej on tn your bank drawing inter cat?' I beg tn state that there was an agveeancnt.'* - > Rcn^nabOJty Shifted, The following message was sent to ehe general assembly on February 8 by the rovwrnor of South Carolina. | *Te the Honorable, the Members of the General Assembly of the State ' ef South Carolina: 'Oentlemen: In my general mes? sage to the general assembly for 1912. j und-t the head of 'Finances' 1 made certain statements; and I herewith , transmit to you statements from Mr. J. Swgej Matthews, cashier of the Pal ssetto National bank of Columbia, j and the Hon. George Hell Timmer snan solicitor of the Eleventh Judic? ial circuit, in reply to a statement re? cently filed with you by th* State We as 11 re r. "The statements of Messrs. Mat? thews and Tlmmerman clearly show that he arrangements for borrow? ing the money, and the signing of the notes kg myself, had not been com? pleted until after we reached New Tnrk ? I have stated my part of this transaction lust as It happened; and. whatever difference* may have taken plrr between Mr. Matthews, as agent of the State, and the State treasurer as to the amounts drying Interest, is ef * r? concern of mine, and If the amounts did not draw Interest aa was agrend with me they should (b?. Mr. Matthews' letter clearly ?hown the ion. I Sgejfld only m?ko th.? un-f it that It should draw Interest; It the du v of the State treasurer to that the agreement wu* compiled with \>ry respe<ffullv. ?'olo L. Rleaae. "Governor. 1 ?tun n* S c . fvn <. 151? ?' l^-.r.i *mm Straight. 1r? following ?*? r wa* s.>n? to It M 'ennlngs. th#? State treasurer, by J. I'ope Matthews, financial ngent of th* State. "Your letter of the 12th In re for ggjgg ??? 'to- State lo?n Just r?"-?dved. nnd t reeret In snv that there were error? I the 7th to (Jov. Itleaae. ?"The^r vrrorn were caused by the rewriting of the letter after I had read the ?>r?g1nal draft. I did not read the second copy before signing, as ex? plained In a letter to the governor, a *opy of *vhl< h I am enclosing here? with l>pivn,g |f Mr^t o.u'-stlon. I ?rill ?*) that It was not nccetsary for tac governor *?r other State ofacers to go lo New \<>rk with me to enable me lo forms* ii tiie money borrowed at S pre* erviL, aa we contracted to do, a* evidenced by my bid of April 17, and aa shown by the receipt of the bank dated April 20. It has been the cus? tom In the past for some officer of the State of South Carolina to go to New T? rk with me on account of the size of the transaction, and for the protec. tlon that such officer could give to the State. "Aliiuvcring your second question, which reads as follows: 'In request? ing that a State officer should accom? pany you to New York, was It, or not, your purpose to furnish the money needed at a lower rate if possible than you had offered in your bid?' I will say that it was my Intention to give the State the very heal rat?' that I could |M>HHibly secure for them, and it was my intention to lower the rate if possible. My purpose in requesting a state officer to accompany me to New York was to safeguard the in? terest of both parties, and to have present, when the contract was final? ly completed, an officer of the State as a witness to the transaction in case any question should arise in the fu? ture, and also that he might furnish any Information in regard to the State's affairs if desired. No Agreement. 'In rejly to your third question, which is as follows: 'What was the agreement between yourself and Qov. It lease as to the borrowed money on deposit in your bank drawing Inter* est ' I beg to statt* Unit there was no agreement. "Yours very truly, (Signed) M J. P. Matthews. "Cashier." In Governor's Office. The following letter was address? ed on February 9 to Gov. Blease by J. Pope Matthews, financial agent of the State: "At your request I called on you. in your office day before yesterday, and dictated to jour stenographer a state? ment relating to the loan made the State last summer throug.i the Pal? metto National bank. "This statement as first written out l>y your stenographer and submitted to me read as follows: " 'Columbia, S. C, Feb. 7. 1912. " 'Hon. Cole L. Blease, Governor of South Carolina, Columbia, S. C. " 'My Dear Sir: Complying with your written request, in reference to the loan msde through me to the State of South Carolina, l beg to say that we submitted s proposition to the financial bagfd fast as ?u RSWS done In the pa?;. T invited . i m. bid. S roj r?e ;ntativ<. of the Siut? :o go to NVv York With BIS to finally conclude he matter, his expenses to be paid by the State of South Caro? lina. The representative to repre? sent the State of South Carolina was delegated to the governor by the com? mission. I had, of course, noticod considerable comment in the papers in reference to the ability of the State to borrow money if you were elected, and I thought it nothing but proper that the owner of $500,000 worth of paper of South Carolina should have occasion to discuss with the governor the affairs of the State, in order that they might, for themselves, get some idea of who they were doing business v,lth. "The paper was accepted readily and there was not the slightest hesi? tation in the acceptance of the paper. "In reference to your other ques t. -Ii, in regsrd to II per cent being left on deposit with this bank, I beg lo say tlmt there wa* no request made " 'It would have l>een our pleasure to have paid Interest on the State's balance, as agreed with you, If the treasurer had been in the position to haw left a.iy stated amount with us T r any definite time. It has been the custom in the past for the State to have to pay quite a sum of money for pensions pome time during the first of the year, and as a rule some? thing like $250.00 to $275.000 are paid out for such purpose. Shortly after that the interest on the State debt is obliged to be met and this, with tho pensions, practically takes up all of the $500.000. If any unexpended bal? ances were left In the bank we would have gladly paid interest thereon; and if ws had had any definite un? derstanding as to the amount and time, HM stated to you. we would have gladly paid Interest thereon. We have regular Interest-bearing ac ? - nits with the Stats for which we PS) 4 per cent. it hu* boss eustomsry with the inks throughout the eountry to re rs II per eenl Ol the money bor rowed tc he left on deposit without Interest. This. I believe, was covered in vmir message, along with other matters, which are the true faetS In ?ho case. 'I belu v,. the above covered nil of vi.nr Writtsg requests. "Yours very truly. " '.i. popa Matthews, ''ashler Palmetto National bank of Columbia. S. C LgSSff Wan Rewritten. "Yesterday when the letter was presented to me to be nigged, my at IsnttOfl was called to the fact that there had been some repetition In the wording of tho original draft and to the fact that the letter had been re written. "1 waa very busy at tho time,, und on being assured that the letter was in all respects substantially the same, I signed tho letter without comparing it wiili lite original draft except for the tlrst paragraph. I now find that In copying the letter certain change* lutd been miule whkii makes the sense* different from wliat I Intended gild somowliat misleading. "I did not gat an opportunity to look over the copy of tho letter signed till late yesterday afternoon, as 1 was not only very busy at the bank, but had to be out of my otlice for two hours in the afternoon. I learned later, how wer, that you had already sent in your message to the legislature. "The following is a copy of the let? ter signed by me: ?Columbia. S. C, Feb. 7, 1912. " 'Hon. Col L. Blease. Governor of South Carolina, Columbia, S. C. 44 'My Dear Sir: Complying with your written request, in reference to the loan made through me to the State of South Carolina, I beg to say that we submitted a proposition to tho financial board, just as we have done in the past. I Invited, in my bid, a representative of the State to go to New York with me to finally conclude the matter, his expenses to he paid by the State of South Caro? lina. The governor was delegated by the comptroller general and the State treasurer as the representative of the State of South Carolina to ac? company me. T had, of course, no? ticed considerable comment In the papers in reference to the ability of tho State to borrow money if you were elected, and I thought it noth? ing but proper that the owners of $500,000 worth of paper of South Carolina should have occasion to dis? cuss with the governor the affairs 0f the State in order that they might, for themselves, get some idea of who they were doing business with. The transaction was not concluded, neith? er were the notes signed until after we reached New York. The paper waa accepted readily and there waa not the slightest hesitation In the ac? ceptance of the notes and the borrow? ing of the money. " 'In reference to your other ques- j tlon, In regard to 20 per cent being | left on deposit with this hank, I beg to say that there was ^ot auch re- J queet made as heretoiore. It has been customary with the banks throughout the conntrv to reoulre 20 par tent >f the money borrowed to be left <-n deposit, without Interest; out in this loan as stated t?y ffou, no auch r? qnai t eras made, 'If the treasurer had left any stated amount with us for any defi? nite time, It would have been our pleasure to have paid Interest there-, on, as agreed with you. It has been the custom in the past for the State to have to pay quite a sum of money for pensions some time during the1 first of the year, and as a rule some? thing like $250,000 to $27R,000 are paid out for such purposes. Shortly after that the Interest on the State debt Is obliged to be met, and this with the pensions, practically takes up all of the $500.000. If any unex I pected balances had been left in the hank we would have gladly paid in? terest thereon, as stated to you; and we would have paid interest thereon. " This. I believe, was covered in your message, along with other mat? ters, which are the true facts in the rase, just an stated in your message. 11 'I believe the above covers all of your written requests. " 'Yours very truly, " 'J. P. Matthews. " 'Cashier Palmetto National Hank of Columbia, S. C Matter Not DlSCUSSed. "One could judge from my letter as ?bsjff/f that you and I had made a special agreement in reference to nanaed balance off the $.">00,000 bor? rowed In New York, while yon, off course, know quite well that the mat? ter of ftaying Interest on balance* WAS not referred to at all during our en? tire trip. "My letter was also made to 3e.y that this bank had required 20 per cent balances 'heretofore1 on state loans, hut did not require such a bal? ance in this particular instance. My statement to you in reference to the ?'0 per cenl balance referred to com? mercial accounts only of Individuals The word 'heretofore1 was added In the copy signed and did not appear in the original. Other Mistakes Made. ? In reading the letters OVCT you will notice that other mistakes have been made. In other words. |n attempting to revise the wording of the letter It has bran tcrj much confused and the meaning completed> twisted. "I think it nothing but proper t" call your attention to tins,, changes, which I did not notice when I signed. "I will add that if I hid made an arrangement with you to pay inter eat on the state's deposits then my I letter might be taken to Imply thai We OWe the State interest. "You will recall that While dlSCUBS Ing the letter with you, and while dictating in your office, you made several suggestions, taking me wheth? er. If tho State had had surplus mon y and if a positive arrangement had been made, we would have paid in? terest on the surplus money. In dic? tating 1 refined to this question, but the letter as signed has made mo suy something very different from what 1 intended. In tho letter the expres? sion was used 'as agreed with you.' In dictating these words I certainly intended them to mean that I agreed with you that I would have been will? ing to pay Interest In case there had been surplus funds, and I did not in? tend them to refer to any supposed agreement had with you heretofore. "I wo had made any such arrange? ment It would have, of course, ma terlnlly effected the rate made to the State on the $500,000 loan. " 1 his statement Is made to protect the hank and to avoid any miscon? struction which might be placed upon the letter signed by me yesterday. 1 am sure that you would not have me make a mlsstatement. "You, of course, as an officer of the State, can use this letter as you think be*t. But I will ask that you do me the favor of correcting the impression given in the communication of yes terday, By so doing you will certain ly oblige, "Yours very truly. "J. Pope Matthews. "Cashier." explanation Asked. The folowing letter was addressed by R. H. Jennings, the State treas? urer, to J. Pope Matthews, tho finan? cial agent of the State: "The statements in your letter of the 7th instant to Gev. Blease are not In accord with the statements made in your letter of the 6th to me. "In order that the matter In con? troversy may be perfectly clear, T re? spectfully submit the following ques? tions for your answer. "Was it necessary for the governor, or other State officer, to go with you to New York to enable you to furnish the money borrowed at 3 per cent which you had contracted to do, as evidenced by your bid of April 17, and as shown by your receipt of April 20th? "In requesting that a State officer should accompany you to New York, was it, or not, your purpose to fur? nish the money needed at a lower rate, if possible, than you had offered In your bid? "What was the agreement between yourself and Gov. (Blease, as to the I borrowi monof on deposit In your 1 ha.-.' draw "tf intercet? truly yours, "R H. Jennings, "State Treasurer." The above correspondence was an? nounced yesterday by State Treasurer Jennings. DECIDE YOURSELF. [The Opportunity ?s Here Backed by Sumter Testimony. Don't take our word for it. Don't depend on a stranger's state? ment. Bead Sumter endorsement. Read the statement of Sumter citi? zens. Ami decide for yourself. Here Is one ca.ee of it: P. fl. Copleeton, I B. Bartlette street. Sumter. S. C? says: "I have taken Doan'S Kidney Pills and have found them to be a remedy of mer? it. Backache and pains across my loins annoyed me and I knew that my kidneys were at fault. Doan's Kidney Pills, which 1 got at China's Drug Store, brought me prompt re? lief and In return I give them my h artiest endorsement*" For sals by all dealers. Price 50 cents. Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo, Now York, sole :< nts for tho United ?tat es. Remember the name?Doan's and take no other. No. is jsigaldaiisigdl is^^ss^mjp. There is Nothing I n u hi< h delay is* so dang? r< >ns as in E y c trouble ; when you cun s.rJer that you can p;et ;,! ooj fail ly w ell without any st nse except si^ht, \ mi will understand how important it is to take no chances with it. , Our Business is to Tell You When ! You Nied Glasses. Is - I We \ lave the Proper mm r m -\* \ ? v X ! Meant of Finding Out W. A. THOMPSON, Jewel >r and Optician. I feS. Main St. Samter, S. C, ?L .W^iWjia ^?"'a? mm#ze*JF lsi^'M> Js*c*et? *?smf ITOlFrma irv- j srorgrWTfWlPWIraiPsrwv! As to Jones and Kuiitlis. Kingetfee Record. iT'tvomor Bleaee seems to have it in for all the JonesttJ He went out of his way recently to day that Comp- j trailer Jones was "impertinent." The1 Governor had better bo careful. Get the families of Jones and Smith against a man and he stands but Small chance of being elected to of r. re. "To Thine Ownselff Be True.*' Do not listen to the argument that the other fellows are not going to curtail. J>et the other fellows in? crease their acreage if they would he treacherous to themselves and their neighbors, hut if by their treach? ery they cause the price to fall they suffer most. If in spite of their treachery, cotton goes higher, you m ice a profit that you would not 1 have made had you not. with the others true to the cause, curtailed. And then, if you do not make the profit on cotton that the other fellow does, you make it on other producta. If the farmers would come to real? ize this. no organization would be I .?eessary. Laurens Advertiser. Accidents Will Happen Anil uin n thef d<>?ihey hurt. HI NT'S LIGHTNINU OIL Is the ot?e instantaneous relief and cure Cor all wounds. I> eg, 'ores, cots. Bgll'flhm ami ubi li'flM ?? r the ? kin. It form an a. t Hc.a] skin covering, excludes ti. c u?r Utstaaa* ?v. st?'i>s pain at once. There are many oils, but none like HUNT'S Tlie action i* different, and tlie effect as v.cll. ? hunt's nil LSGHTMIMG UIL Always have it in the house. 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HUM We want you to call on us wnen you are in town and allow us to tell you about this wonderful meat preserva? tive and smoker. Just think of doing away with the old smoke house and leaving it all to a little jug of GENU? INE HICKORY SAP AND A LITTLE BRUSH. It's absolutely Guaranteed under the Pure Food laws ?s a vegetable product. Your money is cheerfully refunded if FIGARO PRE? SERVAR fails to meet all claims made for it. Call and get the booklet and read "FIGARO'S MES? SAGE TO THE MAN ON THE FARM." We will give you one free.. A. A. STRAUSS 6 CO., SUMTER, S. C. Distributors for Dr. Hess' Stock and Poultry Foods and Remedies, Essex MODEL INCUBATORS and BROODERS, CHICKEN FOODS and POULTRY SUP? PLIES. Phone - - - 85 Mail orders given strict attention. v.