The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-24
INSIDE HISTORY on TILLMAN.
MIR IAncru,n, of kersliaw, States Some
Interesting Facts-Why He is in
.Opposition-The Edcefeld Mans
Legislative Ambition.

Tillman as q traitor to the Farmers
Movement, in letter to The News and
Courier explaining why he left that
organization, says:
Twas invited to attend the caucus OF
farmers called to meet the night before
the meeting Of the first Farmers Con-
vention. When about to proceed to
business 1 told Captain Tillman that [
wished to be plain with him, and
asked him to explain the charges and
insinuations which he had made, be-
cause I did not believe them to be true.
He replied: II know that they are not
true, but I thought it best to make
them, so as to give notoriety to the
movement; in that | have succeeded
and they are now at an end With
this promise l agreed to join.
"Bamboozled" by him as l then was,
some time after my return home
wrote TO him that tlrIrllt he ought TO
get to the Legislature, US his services
would be very much needed. He
replied that he would like to run and
believed that he could be elected, bul
that he did not see how he could be
able to get over the pledges he had so
often given, that he ''would not accept
any office but trustee otan agricultural
college," unless IwoUid nominate him
for the place in your paper, and get
members of the farmers organizations
in different parts of the State to do the
same, so that it would be the office
seeking the man and not the man the
Office. This I, of course, refused to be
party to.
When the Legislature met, there
were plans advanced as to how the
money to establish the College was to
be raised without demand upon the
treasury of the State, the people de-
manding a reduction Of taxes. Cap
tain Tillman advocated doubling the
tax on fertilizers, because it was an in
direct tax and the farmers would never
know any better.
My suspicious were now put 10 the
final test. Thinking that we could
best accomplish our purposes by brlng-
ING the two sections Of the farmers,
represented by Captain Ti!lman and
Col. \. P. Butler, together and discuss
the questions I suggested to the two
that we arrange meeting and try 70
agree on a common plan of action
which might lead to good results. Col.
Butler expressed his willingness to DO
ANYTHING which would advance agrl-
culture; that he would consent ospeak
to Mr.. Tillman at such meeting. 1t
was arranged that three OF each slue
should meet at Agricultural Hall. Col.
Butler, Mr.. John Lawton and Mr.. l..
w. Eoumans on the one part, Capt.
Tillman, Mr.. J. +. Tindal and l on
the other. At the hour appointed we
last three went to the place OF meeting
and found only Col. Butler and Mr..
T,awton. Mr.. Houmans, after few
moments, sent note that he would
he unable to attend till another after
noon. Col. Butler said this was the
second miscarriage, then said that II
made no difference, but We would have
q discussion anyhow.
Captain Tillman's manner soon con-
vinced on me that nothing could DC &c
complished. In shor: time we arose
TO leave, when Col. Butler requested
twice that Mr.. Tillman explain the
charge made by him that the depart
ment had allowed him, Captain Till
man, and his ncighbors to be imposed
on in purchase Of cotton seed meal
made up in large measure OF "roSln.
Only after repeated and direct Ques-
tions did we learn that this meaI had
been purchasedin Augusta, Ga: hau.eo
home in private WI gons and never been
in a place where samples Tor analysis
could he taken by 4 State o!:ici~.S'
Now, this was :; charge wilic;i >':''aiil
Tillrran had been writing III Il" papers
repeating in private conversations
without any explanation, anG tASN
and there decided that there couIu
never be amy more association "?at'y
sort between ne and L man WHO would
50 continually and knowingly "oear
false witness against his nelghbor'
Since that day have treated him rs
y moral leper. TO my recollection
spoke to him ot}ieiallyat the Farmers
convention in 1887, the last attended,
bowed to him at peEdicton last sum-
,ner. Did not recognize him at all at
the recent meeting in Camden. 10
this is most probably due his attack on
me at Sumter.
CAPT. TIl.LNAN'> REPLY.
At the campaign meeting at Dar-
lington last week the following COLO
GUY took place between Capt. Illlnan
and Gen. Earle III regard 70 the letter
of Mr.. .Ancrum:
Col. Earle then referred to the letter
from Mr.. ". \. Ancrum, published IN
the News and Cour:'r, and read the
following passage from it:
"When about to proceed to business
7 told Capt. Tillman that I wished to
be plain with him, and asked him to
oxnIo;n the charges and insinuationS