The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-08
Col. Buffers Reply to Some OF the
Charges Of Mr.. TIllmnn

Although i have several times an
swerod Mr.. Tillmans warranted
criticism Of the South Carolina DO.
partment of Agriculture, I will, with
your permission, roply through the
columns Of your paper to some of
his statements in his speech at Lau-
rens
1t is almost impossible to answer
charges Of general character, and
MIR. Tillman's mode Of warfare is to
say ono thing and when pressed for
definite statements, explain that he
meant something else. But stripped
of all verbiage his latest complaint
against the agricultural department
seems to be: "That tits hot bed
to hatch politicians )" That it re.
fused an offer from tho South Caro-
lima College to have it's samples of
fertilizers analysed ut $500 each,
and expended a much larger sum
for the purpose.
That it is not under The control of
farmers.
That it fails to protect consumers
of fertilizers, because it nnalyzes
commercial fertilizers after they have
been put in the ground.
His charge that the department
'is hot bed to hatch politicians" is
simple, unadultcratcd, unjustitiablo
and malicious slander. ] challenge
him to point t. a single instance
where an appointment to any posi-
ton OF any character, under the de.
partment wis made for political rca
son, or to gain political influence.
defy him to show the expenditure
OF single dollar of the department
fund for political purposes. Icall upon
him to show when any member of the
board, or any Of its Executive or Gle
rical force, have done any single act
officially, to advance their own or
any one elsos political Aspirations,
and if he fail to DO this, he must nc.
knowledge that his charges are not
only groundless, but absolutely false.
assert that every employee Of the
department has been selected solely
with regard to his efficiency in his
particular part of the work and for
no other reason whatsoever,
AS to the charge that tile South
Carolina College offered to make the
analyses Of the department for $500:
each Mr.. Tlllman mode the same
statement at Aiken some weeks since,
and gave Professor JoYnes Of the col
lcge, as his authority. addressed
Prof. Joynes Il note in regard to the
matter, and in reply he denied posi-
lively that he ever made such state.
ment or anything similar to 1t to Mr..
Tillman. [ could not imagine that he
had done 50 for no such proposition
hod "rer been m0}e.
Prof. Joyncs' denial was published
with a denial from me, and Mr.. Til.
man has never questioned Prof.
Joynes' statement but I notice that
in Laurens he gave Prof. Mcbride
and the chemist as his authority
AS both Of these gentlemen are alb.
sent from the city, I an unable to
communicate with either Of them,
and it is unnecessary to do so, because
7 am responsible for the statement
that no snch proposition was ever
made by the college to DO this
work ut any such price. His sec
ond charge, therefore, is rs ground
less rs the first.
lie says tho department Of Agii
farmers. 1t was created and cstab
lished by the Legislators Of South
Carolina, aud large majority Of
that body are fal mers, and It's rX.
ccutive officers cndeavor to carry
out the directions Of that body At
tho present time every member OF
the board has large farming in.
terest, and none Of them have less
financial interest in agriculture than
MIR. Tillman. Mono Of them receive
any compensation except per diem
Of $500, and mileage when attend
ing meetings Of the board, and
they cannot charge for more than
fifteen days in any one year. SO