The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-10-24
Gen. Kcnnedy's Version of tho Matter

AS Que " tlle IepuIleIS VI VIC IleytSteT,
we stepped into the rooms Of the State
Democratic Executive Committee, as
usual, to gather the news from the diff
fercnt parts of the State. We found
General Kennedy, the able and energetic
chairman, cngrossed in State affairs.
After getti.g what news we could, we
ventured to put to General Kennedy the
following question: "Have you read the
interview of General NJ. W. Gary, pub
lished in the Edgefeld Adrertiser and
copied by the Register: and if so, what
do you think of it?'
General K.-I would not notice the
article you refer TO were it rot so direct
and personal; nor do deem it necessary
to state what I "think of it," but, in
Justice to myself and the State Executive
Committee, 1 do regard it my duty to
state few facts in reply to your qaes'
ton. At the second meeting of the State
Executive Committee, list of speakers
was made out to supply vacancies for
the campaign, which might occur by the
absence of State and Congressional nom
inecs. General Gary's name was placed
on that list. At subsequent meeting
of the State Committee, he requested to
be assigned as speaker to Darlington,
Bennettsyille, and several other places,
or, as he says in his own interview, to the
eastern and southern counties" His
request was read to the meeting certain
of the members of the committee from
those parts OF the State being then pres
ent,) and it was not deemed advisable to
send him there. At the same meeting,
however, he was assigned to Aiken,
where it was thought lie would be of
service. | went to Aiken myself, and in
conversation with General Gary, as to
his being sent to certain places, said in
effect, among ether things, that Governor
Hampton was dissatisfied with his speech
at Greenville, and also at his sneer of
what he termed the Hampton Democ-
racy," and that under the circumstances,
it would be unpleasant for him to speak
at the same time, with one who differed
with him so widely upon the ISSUES of
the day. Governor Hampton, on the
18th Of September, in his speech at
Greenville, had said, among other things:
II must enter my most emphatic dissent
to the views ex pressed by General Gary
at the recent meeting here and in his
card in reply to General Gray. These
views l believe to be inconsistent with
the true policy of tile Democratic party.
l say they do not represent the opinions
of our standard bearers, nor of the Dem
ocratic party of South Carolina, and that
he was not authorized to speak for your
nominees" AT meeting of the COM
mittee, on the 2lst of August, resolu-
ton was offered and adopted authorizing
the chairman to designate speakers at
meetings appointed by the committee.
This was done in no spirit of dictation,
bul simply to establish rule for the as
signmcnt OF speakers, and because it was
thought that the chairman being at head
quarters, and hearing from all parts Of
the State, might the better judge who
would be the most available speakers at
the respective meetings.
Reporter.-Gencral Gary speaks of be-
ing gagged.
General K.-What of that? l have
stated the facts. From them it appears
that General Gary was selected by the
State Committee as one of the campaign
speakers. Hc had spoken at Spartan
burg and at Grcenville. 1t was not
deemed polio, as have stated, 10 send
him, at his own request to Charleston,
Collcton, Darlington, Bennettsville and
other placcs-that sto the "eas:crn and
southern counties" Besides that, the
speakers selected by the committee we're
written to as the occasion required, and
requested to address such and such
meetings, and did not Themselves ask, as
did General Gary, t!iatthcy might he sent
here and there; moreover, he did speak
at Darlington and Bennettsville, although
the committee had not, at his own re.
quest, sent him there and if General
Gary was not sent where he asked the
State Committee to send him, it was
simply because it WAS not deemed ad-
viSable. A further answer to this talk
about being gagged" will be found in
the fact that he spoke at Spartanburg
and Grccnvlle before the campaign
opened, and at Darlington, Benefits
vile and Aiken afterwards, and ], as
chairman, asked him to speak at York.
Some of the speakers appointed at the
same time with General Gary, though
among the ablest men in the State, have
never spoken ut all, most Of them only
once or twice. None of them, not even
the State and county nominees, have
asked 20 be assigned by the committee
to "the eastern and southern counties"
comprising dozen or more places, but
have waited to be requested 10 60 where
the committee thought they could be OF
most service to the State. | cannot see
of what General Gary has to complain,
and regret that his allusions to me have
been, as have said, 50 direct and per
sonal as to force me to utter Il single
word in reply.-Cr Criumbid Register.