The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1891-01-29


=, Ihe bare statement that had called in
the app0lntmcnt for an Alliance meeting,
ana had. agreed to go into general caucus
appears to N to give scarcely just con-
ccpt0n of the case
I'm that caucus Alliance principles were
absolutely safe, Brother Keitt to the con-
trary Notwithstanding.
IL am free to admit that l was alone in
this view at the outset.
''Howovcr that may be, l accept the re,
sponsibilty thrust on mo by Brother Keitt,
and point to United states Senator who
will efrectually protect our interest"
PRESIDENT STOKES RESPONSIBILITY.
Now let it be remembered that Senator
Stokes. two weeks after the Senatorial
election, assumed the sole responsibility
for calling in the appointment for an Al
lance meeting, agreed upon and appoin-
ted for the specific purpose of putting in
nomination an Alliance candidate for
the United States Senate, and leading
oil into meeting of Non-A Alliance men.
lie admitted that he was alone in this
view at the outset land pointed with pride
to MIR. lrby as a United States Senator,
who will efTcctually protect" Alliance
interest.
What moved Senator Stokes to this
action?
On Friday, the 5th day Of December,
the following appeared in the Charles
| ION w Orlu:
what have seen and heard to-day con-
firms nc in my previously expressed opinion
that State SenatorJ. w. Stokes, whoi is also
president Of the State Farmers Alliance,
| will cut no figure in the fight for the United
States Scnatorship next Tuesday, but that,
| on the contrary. he is being carefully
groomed for tho Governorship in 1894,
when Iillman is more than likely, as / have
already pointed out in these columns, to
succeed the Hon. NJ. g. Butler In the
| United States Senate
Right here l will say / was not in a
caucus or political meeting of any kind
while in Columbia.
There was an Alliance meeting held
on Saturday night, December 6, over
which Senator Stokes presided. AS
more than half of the Alliance mcm-
ber3 were absent from the city, il was
agreed to hold meeting on Monday
night, when all the Alliance members
could be present, and nominate an AL
lance candidate for the United States
Senatorship. A committee was ap-
pointed to wait on Donaldson, lrbY and
keitt and get them to state in writing
their position on the principles, de-
mands and measures of the Alliance, to
be read before that meeting.
The Sunday News of December 7,
gave the following as Senator Stokes's
position at that time: 'Dr. Stokes's
idea, in brief, is that tho Alliance in
terests OF this State demand an Alli-
ance nominee for the United States
SGnatOrship.' That WAS, or should
have been, the idea Of every Alliance
man. 1t certainly was the idea of SEN
atOr Stokes at that time. or why was
he presiding over Il meeting that did
the preliminary work and appointed
Monday night following for mesting
to nominate an Alliance candidate for
the United States Senatorship?
On Monday Senator Stokes writes to
The News and Courier, from which l
make the following extract:
1.-The idea held and expressed by me on
the occasion of the interview was that the
Alliance would demand q candidate in SYM.
pathy with its demands. This isnot saving
We demand All Alliance nominee, nor does
it imply any antagOniSm to Col. Irby.'
WHY THIS NICE DISTINCTION.
What brought about this change in
the idea Of Senator Stokes from Satur-
day until Monday? Why did he name
Col. lrby? Why did he not say Col.
Donaldson? Did he have Col. Irby on
the brain? Did it result from the pre-
diction in the Charleston World that
he will cut no figure in the fight for
the United States Senatorship next
| Tuesday, but that, on the contrary. he
is being carefully groomed for the Gov
ernorship in 1894? If it was not true,
| promptly correct the World as he did
The News and Courier.
The Charleston World is the organ
of Tillman and 1rby, and is in the
secrets Of the Administration. all the
! powers of which were exhausted to
secure the election of Irby. Does SEN
ator Stokes denounce the World as q
disreputable newspaper? Does he de-
nounce its correspondent as falsilier?
He dare not do it. He knows, and he
knows the World knows; and he dare
not denounce them, for they might tell
if he does. The World knew and hon
estly hoisted the signal. Was all this
careful grooming for nothing? Hard
ly.
'"Tlcklc me, Johnnie, tickle me do;
You tickle me and I'll tickle YOU"
y DRAMATIC DENOUEMENT.
We outsidererS have no positive
knowledge. and can only draw our con-
cluslons from actions. In little while
we will know more. Day now breaks.
Monday night has come. The supreme
moment is at hand. Senator Stokes.
president of the State Alliance, exer-
cises the powers of his high office with
sovereign will. He dictatorially called
Ill LEe Nll!dnCe meeClnG, agreed uDOn
and appointed for the specific PURPOSE
Of nominating an Alliance candidate
for tho United States Senatorship,
against the earnest protests of Alliance
me?, and marched off into Il meeting of
| Nom Alliance men--Tillmanites who
| pulled themselves into the Legislat ure
holding on to rillmans tail. "a secure
pOsSession.) friends Of IrDy-from
which .AllIanco men who did not sup
port Tillman were excluded, and de-
liycrcd into their hands for safe keep
ing all the goods of the Alliance. Was
tins Luo price Of the careful grooming L?
Is it not the logical conclusion?
did not say Of my personal knOwl-
edge that "Stokes sold ont the Alliance
for the shadow Of being Governor of
the State four years hence. / could
not be priVy to such q crime. | said:
"Ehat is the logical conclusion" re-
Ppeat 1t. Break the logic, il you can.
SOME QUESTIONS FOR STOKES.
ask that Senator Stokes, president
OF the State Alliance, answer the fol-
lowing questions: