The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-02-17
A PRELIMINARY POLL,
Will it be Tillman or Somebody Elise ?
THAT IS THE QUESTION.
Farmers Testifying as to the Polit-
ical Feeling in South Carolina.
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SK FARMERS
FROM TWENTY-ElGHT COUNTIES GIVE
THEIR VARYING VIEWS.
All Shades Of Sentiment
LETTERS IN WHICH EVERY MAN MAY
FIND SOMETHING TO HIS LIKING.
Taken as a Whole They Point Un-
mistakably to the Final Result.

The GreenvfIle News Accomplishes q
Great Feat In JOurnnlism-Th That
Paper Has Set all Of South Caro-.
lima to Talking and Specializing.
Greenville News.
In January the Greenville News sent to
trustworthy and prominent citizen OF each
of thirty-three counties Of the State the
following letter:
"GREENvILLE, S. c., Jan. 9, 1892.
"Dear Sir: Everybody is anxious to know
the real feeling of the people of the country
regarding Governor Tillman as a candidate
for reelection and nobody knows.
"Iwant you to be kind enough to help the
Greenville News to secure accurate infor-
nation on this interesting subject. mean
accurate for misinformatiQn can help no
body in politics and is useless as news. -,
"You will very much oblige me II you will
send me Immediately in the enclosed envel.
ope the names and post office addresses OF
ten farmers Of your county, scattered
through the county so far as to cover 1t as
completely as possible. want men intelll-
gent enough to write answers to plain ques.
tions and honest enough to give their real
opinions. would like them mixed poiti-
cally-half Tillmanires and half ants.
Il want to interview them by circular re-
garding the feeling in their, neighborhoods.
The result is sure to be interesting and like
ly to be valuable and l earnestly hope you
will help me get it. Very truly,
"a. B. Williams, Editor"
The answers were generally prompt. No
letter was sent to Charleston county be-
cause it's number Of farmers is small or to
Sumter because the fierce local contest yet
pending there makes such unbiased and de-
liberate judgment as was wanted unlikely
No replies were received from Lancaster,
Anderson or Pickens counties.
As fast as the names and addresses asked
for we're received the following circulars Of
enquiry were mailed:
81. What county are you in and in what
part OF it?
so. Is there in your neighborhood any no.
ticeabe change OF feeling toward Governor
Tillman since the campaign OF two years
ago?
"3. Is the change in favor of or against
the Governor?
~. What do you gather as being the cause
Ol CllduSe, IL 10
"5. What is the voting strength OF your
club or precinct?
&c. How do you believe, at guess from
what you know, your club or precinct would
vote now as between Governor Tillman and
another strong man thoroughly identified
with the Farmers Movement?
81. How many men, in your neighbOr-
hood, if you can Tecollect, who were for Till
man against Earle and Bratton, have told
you or others they are against Tillman
now?
So. How many who were against him are
now for him?
"Add here other observations as to the
drift of politics you may think of interest.
do you want your name published to
thisY'
One hundred and eighty-siX replies from
twenty-eight counties were received. The
following is a careful synopsis of each:
AbbeviIIe.
r. J. Robinson. southeastern section, Nc
Cormick, anti Tillman-
There is change against Governor Till
man; cause, "his utter failure to redeem a
single pledge and the growing conviction
that he was only blowing;;' voting strength
of club 200; one-half would vote for Till
man in the conditions named in question 6;
quite number who were for Tillman in
1890 have declared themselves against him;
none who opposed him favor him. Mr.. Rob
insOn says: Il think voice the desire Of
our people when / say that we want for Gov
ernor a sound, conservative Democrat
such a man as Jas. l.. Orr"
NJ. B. Clinkscales, northern part, Due
West, unclassiiied politically
No change; voting strength $50; in reply
to question 6, 80 far as l can judge now
they would vote for Tillman; only one man
favoring Tillman has declared
himself against and that on account Of the
free pass; knows of no former anti certain
to vote for him but have heard some speak
fayorubly of him; "hard times is the topic
of the day among the farmers and little at
tention is being paid to politics. Among us
fan mers you can't tell much how the vote is
going until the silver tongued orators begin
to tell their tales and make their promises,
such as the free pass, etc.
Capt. John Lyon, southern section, Till
Some little change against Tillman be-
cause of the free pass; voting strength 65;
for Tillman under question e.; have heard
none announce IL change either way. III
the News and Courier, Abbeville Press and
Banner and other papers continue their
abuse and Misrepresentation of Tillman and
the Alliance, this county will vote for him.
/ am an Alliance man, and know that they
the Alliance SO spitefully; be-
lieve that my club will vote almost solid
against any man they advocate"
Unclassiiied farmer who don't want his
name used, writes from LowndeSville-
Change against Tilllnan; cause by his
doesn't practice what he
breaches" No more to say.
E. A. Mars, TiIlman man, Western part
No change; if any in favor of Tillman;
"hc has given satisfaction as Governor;
voting strength 165; Tilman will receive
of this against anybody; no
changes; think b. r. Tillman the right
man in the right place and can beat any
man in South Carolina i'll this ncighhor-
hood"
u. /. H." Tilman man, south east sec
ton, Greenwood
No change in feeling either way; voting
over 300. Tho feeling, [ think, is
TO give Tillman another term il he wishes