Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-03-06
The Ea rmers' State Convention.

oUG Tue Otatc OH NIoHttay, W HoIll-
nate delegates to the State Convcn-
ton of farmers, called by Chairman
Shell, indicate quite diversity of
views and opinions.
Some counties were non-commit-
tai T; some adopted resolutions oppos-
ing March nominations, but leaving
their delegates uninstructcd some
instructed their delegates to oppose
nominations ; while others instructed
in favor of nominating State officers
from Governor down. AS whole
the general trend of public opinion
seems to be opposed to making nom
nations in the approaching Con
vention, and, we believe, the ma
jority of the counties have done like
Oconee, leave their delegates unin.
structed, but by appropriate rcso-
lutions have declared their sense to
be opposed to March nominations.
In Spartanburg there was split
and contcsting delegations were
elected by each faction, the first
time such thing has occurred
among white Democrats in this State
i'll many years.
One thing has been settled by
these mass meetings beyond all
cavil, and that is, Mr.. II. r. Tillman's
candidacy for Governor of South
Carolina. Edgcficd sends a dclcga-
sion headed by him, instructed to
vote for nominations and to endorse
him as suitable candidate for Gov
ernor; and this, too, with his full
knowledge and consent, for he was
present and participated in the meet
ing. Lanrcns county, the home OF
Capt. G. w. Shell, in whose name
the famous manifesto issued, sends
a Tillman delegation. These facts
go far to confirm the suspicion enter
tanned from the first, that the whole
thing was Tillman rusc, designed
to take snap-judgmcnt on the
Farmers Movement by securing the
farmers endorsement of him for
Governor in advance OF discussion
and of the appearance of other can
didates. The Shell has indeed now
opened, and 1'illman, rs willy candi-
date for Governor, is left clearly cx-
posed to view.
1t will be Il sad day for the welfare
of the Farmers Movement, and the
much needed reforms it stands com
mitted to achieve, should Mr.. Till
man be nominated for Governor by
the March Convention. No stronger
lever could be placed in the hands
of the Bourbon wing of the party,
than for the unwisc and ill-timcd
attempt of Mr.. Tilman and his sat
elites to succeed in capturing this
convention and controlling it in the
interest of Mr.. TiIlman for Governor.
But there is hope that the ma
jority will oppose the making of
nominations, and thus thwart the
design of Mr.. 1ilman and his sup
porters to palm off on the people Of
South Carolina cut, dried and ma
nipulatcd ticket, in the making Of
which they had no voice. And !
right here i'm the Piedmont region,
where the Farmers Movement had |
its birth and the desire for reform
IN orr State government is now
strongest, the kicking against Mr.
Tillman for Governor will be as hard |
and obstinate rs anywhere. AS the |
Grecnvillc Ncws truly says: "AIr I
Tillman may stir and lead the farmers
of this State, but he cannot own
them. Free men they came into .
this world, and free men they will .
go out Of it,"
1t is admitted on all sides that the .
uninstructcd delegates will hold the .
balance of power, and on them then (
rests the responsibility for the safety
of the Farmers Movement and the
cause Of true reform and progress in
the State. They can tell designing
politicians, ambitious Of place and
power, that they must stand back
and take even chances with other
men committed to the same princi-
pies and identified with the same
reforms, after full opportunity has
been given the people for discussing
men and measures. With them lies
the power to save the March Convcn-
ton from witnessing disgracciul
scramble for places, and to make it a
strong and conservative body Of
farmers, alive to the
demands OF the hour, by iormulat-
ing a platform of principles and put
ting the demands Of the farmers be-
fore the people so clearly and so |