Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-07-25
CAN TILLMAN WIN q?
THE QUESTION AGITATING ALL SOUTa CARO-
LIMA.
War Of Unequallsd Bitterness in Progress Among
The Democrats Ofthe Old Palmetto State
The Contest for RactOnal
Supremacy.

COLUMBIA, :. C., July 94.-Will Gen.
Tillman, the farmers candidate. be
Governor OF South Carolina? Every
man, woman and child ia the Palmetto
State IS asking the question. There are
n great many who believe he will not be-.
South Carolina politics have never be-
fore been in such a disturbed state.
Even the turbulent days Of 1876 were
not a match to the present situation.
Then II was white man against negro.
Now II IS brother against brother, house
hold against household. tits death
struggle beeween two giant factions,
and whichever goes down will stay
down. 70 one not acquainted with the
situation it would appear that Tillman
is sure to win. Tillman has brought
himself into notorety by posing as
reformer. He has gained the ear Of the
people by declaring there are abuses and
corruption in the State government. and
he has won 4 large faction over to him
/ by promising 10 correct the abuses and
expose the corruption. There Is large
| faction that declares his charges are the
/ cry OF demagOgue and mischievous az
itator. whose only aim is TO secure Office.
Each faction poses as the representa-
tive OF constitutional Democracy.
II Tillman IS allowed TO be Governor
Of South Carolina the fact subStantiates
his charges and II will 90 abroad that
he, the exponent OF true Democracy and
the champion Of the people, has wrcSted
the government from the clutches OF an
oligarchy whose power was used To on
press and to plumber, To defeat him
will reverse the situation. II both fac
tlonS are Democrats the predOminance
Of one over the other must inevitably
cause split in the party. This Is why
Tillman may not be- Governor OF South
Carolina His opponents assert that
his methods are undcmOcratic. To
bind themselves To the action Of 4 con
vention controlled by his allies would
be 10 submit To defeat az the hands of
faction believed to be- undemocratic and
hostile to good government, and on
these grounds some Of the best and
purcSt Democrats advocate a direct APP
peal to the ballot box.
NEGROES MAY BE APPEALED 10.
II the negro can be- marshalled into
the ranks against Tillman they believe
il will simply be- fighting the devil with
fire. They hold the election OF Gen.
Earle or Gen. Bratton. straight-out
Democratic candidates, by such means
would bee no more diSreputablc 10 them
as Democrats than being beaten by
Tiilman. Therefore, II there Is any ir-
regularity on the part of the TiIman
faction IN the August or September con-
ventonS this will be- the inevitable pro-
gramme. The Democratic State Con-
vcntion to nominate the Governor and
State officers will bc held in this city on
September 10. The August convention
is for the purpose OF determining how
delegates to the September convention
shall be- chosen. whether by primary
elections or county conventions. The
| TillmanitcS favor the convention sys-
TEN while the opposition demand the
adoption Of the primary plan. The
negro yot" can be had for "a conSidera-
tion, ." and with the white anti-Tillman
contingent would defeat Tilman AT the
polls. The are thousands OF men in
South Carolina who would not vote for
Tillman FOR any consideration and this
contingent will have a voice in coming
events.
DANGER OF ASSASSINATION.
! There is another reason why Tillman
NAV not become Governor. according 90
some There is possibility, IL is
claimed, but not generally believed.
that he will not live 10 see election day.
He is said to have received letters in
forming him that plans have been
| formed for his assassination. The tenn
per of South Carolnians j. such that a
proposition Of this kind would appear
absurd. but If a riot should occur AZ any
of the approaching meetings resulting
in bloodshcd. il is generally accepted
conclusiycly that Tillman would Dee
killed That he is hated with uncom-
promising venom Is not 10 be denied.
and there are hundreds of prominent
men in the State, representing the wealth
aud intelligence Of the community who
would look upon Tillman's death q, q
bencfaction.
Tillman realizes the seriousness, Of his
attitude and frequently expresses him
self as fearing that he will be assassin
atcd. He has point blank refused 10
participate in the debate at Charleston
on the path instant, because the speak
ing is arranged to take place In the
opera house al night. Anticipating
trouble the citizens Of Orangcburg have
appealed 10 the State executive com
mittcc 20 cancel the meeting at that
place on the 2gth. 1t, however, will
not Dee done. There are other place,
where trouble Of a serious nature will
likely occur, and the joint meeting will
no doubt be- fraught with sensational