The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-19
IRBY's REPLY TO FARLEY.

Sonsbody has been Telling what IL not
so-who 10 IL that has been Prevaricst-
Ing, tho Senator, the Adtussns Gen
eral, or james b. Tiilrnan :-Les
the Public Decide.
From the News and Courierl
A few days ago communication was
published in the several daily papers
from Gen. Farley, abusing me for sup
posed wrongs had done him. can
not engage in personal abusive con-.
troversy with Gen. Farley or anybody
else. The public are not Interested in
such literature, and therefore do not
expect me in this reply to engage in
sny such blackgusrdism. The public,
however, have . right to be informed
as to the truth or faisity Of any state
ment Of alleged fact that may be con-
tanned in Gen. Fecley's article.
There are only two statements OF
moment in the letter as read it.
First, that I dictated to my private
secretary an article which appeared the
second week Of March in the Augusta
Chronicle, signed "Craddock," without
the consent or knowledge of the person
who uses that nom de plume.
Second, that I inspired an editorial
which was written by Mr.. w. T. Crews
in the Laurensville Herald.
The first charge is as ridiculous as it
Is false. The idea of a person with a
thimble full OF sense forging the name
OF newspaper msa is laughable in the
extreme but I am willing that the
public should know the whole truth
about that "Craddock" letter:
Mr.. James 81. Tilimsn, son of Con-
gresham Tillman, was, about the date
Of the "CIaddock" letter, the cores
pondent of the Augusta Chronicle in
Washington, and ''Craddock" was his
nom de plume. On Saturday, just one
week after the Inauguration Of the
President, Major William T. Gary, Of
Augusta, and Mr.. James II. Tillman
esme into my sitting room at the Ma
t:onal Hotel. Msjor Gary said to Till
man that what he had told him few
moments before ought to be repeated to
Irby. I asked what it was, and told
the following tale:
That ne had just LEFT the Metropol-
itsn Hotel, where he had long con-
@versation with Gen. II. L. Farley, who.
had remained in Washington since in
suguration. He said that Farley had
read him q long abusive communica-
ton addressed to the Reformers Of
South Carolina, showing that Tillman
and Irby were unsafe, unwise, extreme,
dangerous leaders, and that the Reform
movement could not be perpetuated
without throwing them overheard and
putting more conservative leaders IN
front. He asked Tiilman to publish it
in the Augusta Chronicle with his
{Farley's) nom de plume, saying that
the piece would attract much attention,
create q great sensation and at that,
At the proper time, he would come out
and assume its authorship. Tillman
said that he refused to publish it unless
he would allow the editor of his paper
TO know the author. He told Tillman
that that was the opening gun in the
campaign next yesr against Tillmsn'S
and Irby's leadership Of the Reform
movement. He: further said that the
following slate had been arranged and
agreed upon: That Gen. Butler was
run for reelection to the Senate Shell
was to be supported by the Conserv-
stives, or Ants and miider Reformers
for Governor and that he (Gen. Far
lew was to run for Congress in Shells
: district. He said they would like to
yet Talbert into the combination, but
that it could not be arranged unless
Tillman would agree to let up on and
support Talbert, and, in that way Sc:
the Conservatives to support Tslbert
for reelection. Farley offered Tillman
. place on the ticket as Adjutant and
Inspector General if he would go to his
father and make the arrangements by
which he would not oppose but sup
port Talbert's reelection. (Ar this
time everyone in Washington knew
that the Governor and Col. Tillman
were not on speaking tertns.) I asked
Mr.. Tllman what his reply to Farley
wss, and he said that he told Farley
that blood was thicker than water, and
be would be id if he would go back
on his uncts sor Butler or anybody else.
asked him if this was newspaper
fake or the truth, and he replied: "To
show you that mean business, I'll pub
lish /: in full" There and then he
wrote the piece signed "Craddock."
/ did not have anything further to do
with it; did not see itsny more until
it appeared In the papers !; thought
nothing OF it until the following week,
when I heard him read certificate
from some one to the effect that he
Jim Tillman) had written and was
the author Of the ''Craddock" letter.
That night in my room between 9 and
10 o'clock, while DR.. Pope and 1 were
talking, Jim Tiilman came in, and l
asked him to rehearse the whole tale to
DR.. Pope, which he did, exhibiting the
..Craddock" letter, and saying that it
would 90 of by telegraph in few
minutes.
AS to the piece referred to from the
Lsurensville Herald can only say that
knew nothingo of it until l saw it IN
print. The subjoined letter from Mr.
Crews on that subject will explain IT
self.
p oo,osrs,oD will AJAX the public