The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-09-07
THE THIRD PARTY SPECTRE.
Wild. Rumors About tho Purposes of the
Peoples Party
Hugh C. Middleton, in augusta Chronicle
iSeptc,nber l.

Hugh &. Middtct0n, IN 1Ah9aSt0 0CH'o"tcee,
September 1.
Pass into South Carolina and talk and
YOU will soon get good understanding
of the political situation there. Every
BODY talks politics in the State, and you
will therefore have little trouble as you
proceed in studying the situation. AS
YOU 20 YOU will meet men of as many
varied views and, interesting to know,
varied political tendencies is to-
wards varied parties-almost IS Joseph's 8
coat. had many colors. Five years ago
this was not the case. The Democratic
party was as strong footed then in South
Carolina as the Blue Ridge that overlook
ed the State. To-day thousands Of white
South Carolinians are ready for any
party.
Now, let it be stated that Third Party
electoral ticket will be put in the field in
South Carolina as soon as possible, within
two weeks. This is news. I found this
out Yesterday in Columbia. This action
is decided upon. The Republicans,
chances are nine to one, will put out a
State and electoral ticket before Novem-
ber-indeed it is almost certain that they
will do this. There Is a large indepen-
dent feeling and sentiment in the State
also ir addition to the above tickets.
This comes from the Tillman opposition,
out of which grew an independent move
ment and candidate for Governor in 1880.
This movement is by no means dead.
And then the people have learned 80
much of their woes within the last two or
three years, and are in such an unsettled
state of mind that they are ready fos as
many more parties az they have at
present. A campaign of education Is
good thing. but at the same time 1t Is the
truth that "a little learning is danger
GUS thing"
Governor Tillman has won the fight.
He is the Democratic nominee for next
Governor by a large majority. He stood
upon tie Ocala Alliance platform which
was adopted in the May Convention in
Columbia as the platform Of the Demo-
Gratis. He said to me yesterday, "Say for
me that if this Third Party movement
starts in this State shall fight it to the
DEATH" Senator Irby said the same
thing. They were sitting on the veranda
of the Governors mansion together.
I went down to the Office Of Mr.. ]. W.
Bowden, the managing editor Of the
Cotton Plant, the Alliance organ OF the
State, edited by DR.. Stokes, until recently
the president Of the State Alliance and Q
candidate for Congress in the elections
lust concluded. Mr.. Bowden is very
agreeable and intelligent gentleman. He
it was who wrote the famous Third Party
editorial in the Cotton Plant during the
late Chicago Convention declaring that
South Carolina would not support Cleve-
land.
I catechised Mr.. Bowden and be sub
mitted pleasantly.
"Mr. Rowden, will the Third Party do
ANYTHING in South Carolina this year,"
Mr. Bowden: "We will put an elec-
toral ticket in the field now within two
weeks. that is by the 18th Of September,
I suppose. We may wait until after the
Democratic State Convention"
This Convention occurs on September
III suppose this is an above board busi-
ness, Mi. Bowden. You will tell me,
then, if You are Third Party advocate7"
Mr.. Bowden: eyes, I am Third
Party or Peoples party man."
"Will you have convention 2,
Mr. Bowden: "I think not, Conven-
tions are two expensive. We Will name
an electoral ticket by a committee most
probably"
"This is straight"
"Straight."
"Certain to be done?"
absolutely certain. We will oppose
Cleveland. We shall run Weaver elee-
toral ticket"
"Will You put out State ticket in
opposition to Governor Tillman and his
ticket3"
''No; tie Peoples party people are
satisfied with the State government. 1
am as strong Ben Tillman man as there
is in the State. am Democrat, and so
are all our people when 1t comes to state
politics. And that is the way want our
affairs we must divide. There ara thous.
ands of our white people in South Caro-"
lima who will not support Cleveland.
TReyafors TRey s5u we are oblsed to start ths
party and put out ticket. We do this
to keep these people from breaking away
from the Democratic party altogether. We
will contriye to support Governor Till.
man."
"Will not the Governor oppose tho
Third Party?''
"Oh, 7 suppose so"
"You will get your Third Party sup
port for tho electoral ticket largely from
the Tillman supporters?"
eyes, but they will come from both
sides."
"Will:you put out congressman ?"
"No."
Mr.. Bowden was not very firm In this
declaration, He continued to talk about
the feeling the Third Party had and
would exert toward national affairs. I
reminded him that the Office of Congress
men was national Office, but he did not
answer further in regard to running
Congressman, but said the Peoples
party In South Carolina would for the
present interest itself only in national
affairs. So am In doubt as to what Mr..
Bowden thinks positively in regard to
"How many Third Party men have you
in the State ?"
ssI believe about 80, ,0O0."
'Who will be the leaders of the party
over here ?" :.
81 cannot say yet. Indeed We haven't
auy leader yet, as we are not yet organ
lied, but viii be within a few weeks"
"What position do you hold v 'th the
paartSyg" aSon. .unnoss nv being here at
Columbia gives me special prominence,
and letters sre sent to me every day from
all over the State from Third Party pe0-
pie. This explains my position
"You are South Carolinian, Mr.. Bow
den?"
HYes, raised in Anderson County"
Mr.. Bowcen said that Talbert was tho
choice or preference of the Third Party
people in tho I'd district for Congress.
"Well, Mr.. Bowden," I asked, eff you
are Third Party and support Talbert,
how about his being Third Party?"
"Well, to he perfectly frank with you,"
Mr.. Bowdep said, "Talbert in his princi"
pies is with us; he stands with US on the
Ocala platform"
Mr.. Bowden is a handsome gentleman
with strong honest face. He was read
ing Century Magazine when l found
him, and I left him to it to catch the
train.
"How are you all on Tom Watson?" I
asked.
ssOh, we are all Tom Watson men,
The leading men In Columbia OF both
factions of ths Democratic party told me
that Rowden was the chief Third Party
man in the State.
II i
Judge Melton is reported to have said
within the las. few days that he would be
the next Governor Of South Carolina.
Judge Melton is the biggest Republican
in South Carolina.
Will the RepublicanE put out q State
ticket, then9
In answer to this 1t may be said that it
has come pretty. straight from q number
of Republican sources that they will,
and the leading Democrats are apprehen-
It. II,