The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-04-03
PICKENS, S. c., THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1890

Mr.. Tillman. Tillman called for any
man Oh the floor to define him and to
tell what Tillmanism was.
Dargan sprang to his feet and de
clared that if the reference was to
him he could explain. He had used
the term Tillmanism before the Sum
ter mass meeting, and by it he meant
departure from the regular methods
of the Democratic party.
Tillman demanded whether Dargan
impugned his democracy
Dargan answered that his democ-
racy had been more than once i'm
pugned in the mass meeting, but that
he, Dargan, had defended him against
the charge Of disloyalty to the party.
The collOquy was continued for
several minutes in an outwardly
smiling manner, Tillman concluding
by saying that he simply wanted it
understood that whatever else he
was, he was u simon pure Edgefield
Democrat, and declaring that if he
ever went to Sumter County he want
ed to meet the Sumter game cock on
hi, own dung hill.
Resuming his speech he said that
the platform adopted had been
brought here in his pocket and that
not dozen lines of it were the work
of any other man. "You have swal-
lowed Tillmanism whole, he said.
81 don't ask you to swallow Till
man."
Tillman denied that there was di-
vision in the party but urged the nc
cessity of purifcation inside the par
ty lines. He proceeded to review his
own record. BY some, said he, he
was regarded us pure patriot, by
others as dynamiter, red RepubI-
can and anything else that was bad.
He had begun this fight alone four OF
five years ago at Bennettsville. He
reviewed the reasons why he should
not seek the office of Governor. If
nominated he would face the bitter
opposition among his own friends and
the opposition of the many Demo
Gratis who believed his methods revo-
lutionary. He would put himself
single and alone against the whole
brain of the ring. Besides, he would
have to rent out his farm and bear
the expenses of Il campaign, but
whether he was nominated OF not he
urged that the Farmers Movement
had come to the Rubicon and if it
was not crossed then he had better
never have come at ALL Men who
sent delegates to this Convention
would be disgustcd if they did not
act now. If he was asked to lead
this fight he would regard it as lead
ing a forlorn hope. He was the only
man who had had the courage and
brains to array the common people
against the aristocratic ring which
had been expressing them. With
out candidates the platform
adopted by the convention would
lot be worth the paper it was
written OH. Candidates were now
put in the field to put life into it, to
explain and defend it's principles. He
referred to the election of delegates
to the State convention in the last
campaign, before the canvass, and
said that the Greenvillc delegation
had put principles in their pocll-
cts to elect their candidate. He in
ferred that the Grecnville delegation
in this convention had q candidate
from their county.
AS to what he had done he wanted
it understood that he wanted no re-
ward for that. He did not care Il
snap whether he was nominated or
not. Tillman was frequently and
vociferously applauded.
AS the speaker took his seat John
r. Harrison, of Greenville, rose and
declared his wish to resent the insin-
uation that Grccnville County had
candidates for Governor at this time.
He declared that he had not offered
his amendment against nominations
in the interest of Grccnvillc OF any
other county. This caused the debate
proper, but contrary to all parliament
tary precedents the chairman proceed
ed to deliver warm address in favor
of nominations, and Captain Shell
briefly explained that suggestions,
not nominations, were contemplated,
and that the action of this body
would be submitted to the regular
Democratic Convention. This was a
crisis which Tillman's lieutenant did
not fail to seize. Somebody shoutcd
II move we nominate Ben Tillman
for Governor!Ssand Capt. II. b. Crews,
of Laurens, called for vote. The
ballot was taken by ayes and noes
and was extremely tedious. When
the call of counties was ended there
was whisper that the nominations
were defeated A scene of terrific
commotion followed.
Irby, of Lalucns, hurried here and
there seeking to save the pro nomina-
ton cause. BY tho official count of
the secretaries Harrison's motion
was defeated by one vote, the count
standing III to 118, but before this
result was announced four votes were
changed, and the result as announced
stood 121 to Ia. DR.. w. p. Addison,
of Greenvillc, was the first man to
change his vote from aye to no, and
three other changes followed. A pro-
test was made by j. H, Stribling and
others of the Spartanburg delegation,
against the vote of l.. T.. Farley, who
lived in Laurens, but had been grated
on to Spartanbmg's s delegation. Far