The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-09-09
aTILLMAN.DAwsON ALLIANCE.o
A Famou, ELECTION Canard Finally Explo.
% -, - ded..--.

-r
To The Editor of the GreenuMe Mews
In the Weekly Neaos Of August II, under
the caption, "Information wanted,' you
ask the following questions:
s "Have Capt. F. W. Dawson and Mr..
B, R. Tillman had a conference of any
kind, by correspondence or otherwise,
and have they made an agreement or
undertapdings .as to theis respective;
codrses fh hny matter affecting the public
.iuterestso OF politics of this. State2.
eff there has been or is an agreement
or understanding between them, what is
it?"
AS know no reason why they should
not be answered." I will cheerfully give
you the light you seek. This can best be
done by short statement of facts.
fjfWhen: I commenced tho: agitation Of
the issues: Which form the core of the
farmers movement, viz; The establish
ment of real Agricultural College and
the reorganization of the department Of
agriculture, the Mews; and; Cauries was
emphatic in its approval of the college
idea, aud did not oppose the other. l
started out as an agricultural reformer-
without any design or desire to make the
movement political one, except to the
extent OF. securing the, necessary legisla.
ton. Soon, almost before knew it, |
found myself swept off my feet, as it
were, by grand uprising for political
reform reduction Of taxes, publication
of the Government and correction Of
abuses being the leading ideas. Ten
years Of Republican misrule. followed by
ten years 6f 1einocraticimbeeility, and
a growing disregard Of the rights and
wishes of the masses, had laid the mine.
I struck match for another purpose and
the explosion known as the Farmers
Convention" followed. Its reverberations
have not yet died away, and its effects
past and to'come, upon the future Of this
State, are plainly to be seen. =
Capt. Dawson left for Europe in Jan.
uary, the Ne,cs and Courier up to that
time having been my friend. During
his absence the paper som1ersarlsed and
began to attack the movement by series
of insidious editorials aimed 81 the "call"
for the Convention and intended to BAN.
-bDozle the farmers OF divide them:' And
these changed to strongly antagopistic
editorials Immediately after the 'Conven.
ton adjourned. Some days after the
adjournment Capt. Dawson returned
home and wrote to ask him whether he
dictated the course of the paper while
away. and to learn whether / could still
use his columns. He replied he had not,
and that the paper was open to me for
any legitimate purpose. He said ne was
still on, advocate of farmers. college,
but could not swallow some things which
the Convention, had recommended. l
suggested that five could. have 3 con-
ference an agreement might be reached.
He agreed to this and we met in Augusta
at the Globe Hotel, June 2, and We dis
cussed the whole of the work of the
farmers Convention, or what l deemed
its important.work. Not one word was
said about any mans candidacy, not one
word about any combination or alliance.
The conversation related solely to exist.
ing abuses, many Of which had not been
broached by the Farmers Convention,
andithe whole of. it.mjght have appeared
the next day in print without exciting
any surprise or comment. We made no
agreement of any kind, but parted with
the tacit understanding that the Neaos
and Courier would advocate and nrge the
establishment of an Agricultural College,
as it had done from the start, while l
would cease my attacks On the Citadel.
This is the agreenfeIs ands the whole of
it, did not undertake % keep others
from advocating the abolition of the
Citadel, and there was no subsequent
agreement between us as 10 any mans
candidacy. 1t can be now seen upon
what small foundation rests the lie,
started the night before the State Con-
yention met, about the Dawson. .Tillman-
Sheppard combination"
The Columbia ring, which had started
that lie and then packed the galleries OF
the Opera House in the interest of the
candidate OF their choice, are welcome to
their victory. 1t remaining to he seen
whether Col. Richardson will: prove the
plant tool they hope for or whether he
will redeem the pledge he has made.
The farmers of Snuth Carolina are awake
at last, thank God !! and will know. how
to reward or punish him ard o'hers
according to their deserts. A. am on
the witness stand, aud mention has been
made Of the parallel courses Of Mr..
Tillman and of Capt. Dawson in The
Convention" l will simply state why l
voted for Mcssrs. Sheppard and Hutson
we did not run together on Attorney
General and all other votes were. purely
accidental, certainly not the result of any
understanding" Edgeield voted solidly
for Mr.. Hutson for two reasons: First,
because of resentment against Greenville,
which had found votes for; everybody but
Governor Sheppard.
Secondly, Edge6eld and Hampton are
in the same Congressional District and
are on very friendly terms.
AS regards my support of Governor
Sheppard. Long before Governor
Thompson's resignation and, therefore,
before there was the least probability of
his being q candidate, Governor Shep.
pard and I had discussed the issues
presented by the farmers Convention,
and found him in full accord with us
IN everything except the calling OF
Constitutional Convention and the
abolition of the Military Academy.
Therefore, when he became Governor
and was naturally considered in the race
as his own successor / had to decide
between him and others. We made
strenuous efforts to find q strong candi.
date of our own. We had tried to
convert some men whom ne thought
available, but failed. They couldn't
"see it," and when the Convention met
we were virtually at sea-. We lacked
forty votes of being able to control the
nomination, and therefore were forced to
choice among the avowed candidates.
Now, why did I urge Governor Sheppard
as our candidate?
First. Because he came nearest being
~, o,,r ,,lof forpo Without onv an1fiah or