The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-03-31
TILLMAN ON PRIMARY.
THE GOVERNOR EXPLAINS HIS POSI-.
TON FULLY.

Strong Presentation of the situation and
Reasons Why Primary is not wiso.-It
Would Work Great Injustice to the
Lowor Countries.
COLUMBIA, S. 9 March 24.-In view
OF the fact that plumbers of anti-Till-
man meetings, which have elected del
egates tu the convention which meets
to-day, have adopted resolutions de-
manding direct primary, reporter
for The Register sought an interview
with Governor Tlllman to hear what he
had to say on that subject. The scribe
began his probing with the question:
Governor, what is your attitude and
opinion in regard to a direct primary?
lie answered: II am surprised that
you should ask this question when the
matter was fully discussed by me during
the last campaign. l am one of the
pioneers in the agitation in advocacy of
a State primary, and in 1888, OH two
occasions, In both State conventions, l
made speeches advocating tho nomina.
| ton of State officers by this method. In
both conventions the matter was over
whelmingly defeated and after careful
analysis and study of the situation so
far modified my opinion as to advocate
the plan, now in vogue, of electing del
egates 10y primary. The demand for
a change was made in the March plat
form, 1890, which l wrote. and it was
| incorporated in the party constitution
in September. The present hue and CRY
for direct primary is Il piece Of politi-
cal clap-trap by which my enemies seek
to place me in false position. If it
were carried out they would be the first
to regret 1t and advocate change.
hn u f,f at Il Irrt- Ax~,
| right here that individually | am will
ing and was in 1890 to submit my can
didacy to a direct vote of the white
Democrats Of the State. l have every
reason to believe that my strength
would be more clearly shown and /
would have a more emphatic endorse
ment under that plan than could un.
der the existing one. The Counties of
Georgetown, Beaufort, Sumter, Rich
land and Fairfield. which are all de-
batable and which for the sake of ar
gument will say will go against me,
would in that event he counterbalanced
by the majority l expect to obtain in
either Spartanburg or Greenville. The
demand for the primary arose in the
white section OF the State and was de-
signed to break up ring rule. 1t was
never intended to take any advantage
Of the brave Democrats of the negro
Counties.
"What caused you to modify your
opinion and change from direct pri-
mary to an election OF delegates by pri-
mary?'
'Well the primary system looks to
obtaining the popular voice by allow.
ing the individual voter to express his
personal preference and the present
system gives that. | am and always
have been in favor of the people select.
ing their own rulers"
The Governor here put his hard in
his breast pocket aud drew out a note
book, and said: Here is Il table which
| have prepared for campaign purposes.
This is my basket of crock s." he laugh.
ingly added, and | will chunk one into
the encmy's camp before the campaign
opens. 1t is a table giving the white and
colored population with the delegates
in the State Convention of fourteen
Counties, and will show very clearly
what disturbing factor in State poll
tics direct primary would be. Here
is the table. The first two columns of
figures show the white and colored
population Of the counties named in
1880 and the outside column the nam
Der of delegates each is entitled to in
st ate Conventions: