The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-26
GOV TILLMAN's ANSWER.
Reasons for BIacklisting President Donald
son-He Says Donaldson is Traitor
to the Reform Party and He Wants
to Protect that Parfy-Donald-
son Was n Cleveland
Cotton Plant.l

son W 3S n Cleveland
Man.
Cotton Plant
The report having been circulated
that Gov. Tillman had asked President
Cleveland to not appoint Mr.. NJ. L.
Donaldson to an office, several County
Alliances passed resolutions asking
Gov. Tillman to give his reasons for
the action if the report were true. Be-
low we give the resolutions passed by
the ~GreenvilIe County Alliance and
Gov. Tillman's reply as furnished The
Cotton Plant:
"Whereas, it has been stated in the
public press that Gov. B. r. Tillmau
had written letter to President Cleve-
land in which be requested of the Presi-
dent that certain citizens of the State
be not appointed to any Federal office
at home and abroad;' and whereas, the
name of the Hon. M. L. Donaldson,
the President of the Farmers State
Alliance, IS reported to have been
one Of those blacklisted by Gov. Till
man.
"Be it Resolved by the Greanville
County Alliance in regular quarterly
meeting assembled, that not having
seen any denial ofsaid alleged blacklist,
we deem it but just to the honored
President of the State Farmers Alliance
as we'll as to the order itself to take
cog enizance of the matter and take such
steps as are necessary to learn fromGov.
Tillman himself whether the public
statements as to the blacklist referred
to be founded on fact or not.
"Resolved, That a committee of
three member of this County Alliance
be appointed to communicate with
Gov. Tillman and request that he re-
turn answer whether the newspaper
reports of said blacklist be true, and if
true to furnish his reasons as given to
President Cleveland for bis action to-
wards NJ. L. Donaldson, our State
President"
Messrs. n. P. Whitmire, J. P. Plyler
and J. 81. Latimer, Committee;
GENTLEMEN-I have your letter with
the enclosed resolution passed by the
Greenville County Alliance at its last
meeting: "To communicate with Gov.
Tlllman and request that he return
answer, whether the newspaper reports
of said blacklist be true, and if true to
furnish bis reason. as given to Presi-
dent Cleveland, for his action towards
NJ. l.. Donaldson, our State Presi-
dent"
similar communications have been
sent to me from the County Alliances
of Pickens and Of Newberry, and l
shall furnish this letter to The Cotton
Plant as an answer to all:
The effort appears to be made to link
Mr.. Donaldson as citizen with Mr..
Donaldson as President of the Alliance,
and premise my answer by saying
that the Alliance has nothing to do
with it, either directly or Indirectly,
except in so far as I felt justified III
preventing its further betrayal. To an
swer your questions categorically, |
did ask Mr.. Cleveland not to appoint
Mr.. Donaldson to Office.
NV reasons were these-and again
they have no reference to Mr.. Donald
sons private character, but to his pub
lie acts, and J. disclaim any feeling of
personal resentment or desire to injnre
him:
Last spring when delegates were
elected to the May State convention
Mr.. Donaldson was repudiated by the
Democracy of Greenville and he failed
to be elected a delegate either to his
County convention or to the State con-
vention. He appealed to his friends in
other parts Of the State to help him re-
trieve his falling political fortune, and
a small caucus of leading Alliancemen
from other counties went to work and
bad him elected member Of the Ma
tional Committee. It was presumed
by the convention at least that he was
in full sympathy with its opposition to
Mr.. Clevelsnd d, and certs'nly ne; ;nelthss
said-aer saas.a any fiudeceieethe'
men who voted for him. You are
familiar with the instructions given our
delegation to Chicago and our action
under those instructions. We not only
voted against Mr.. Cleveland, but worked
against him, with two exceptions.
Judge then our surprise on reaching
Chicago to see Mr.. Donaldson in open
afilialion with the Cleveland leaders,
striving with might and main to defeat
the purpose of the convention which
had elected him on the National Com
mittee.
Again, when the State Alliance met
shortly afterwards, to my surprise /
saw him elected President of the State
Alliance. When I asked an explana-
ton was told that it was the only
possible way to defeat the candidacy
of an avowed Third party man." and
that Mr.. Donaldson had pledged him.
self not to seek any office, but to devote
his energies to building up the Alliance.
was not surprised, however, when
two weeks later be entered the field as
a candidate for State Senator from
feeling, suppose, that the
double endorsement Of the State con-
veption in May and the State Alliance
in July, would reinstate him at home.
But the people of Greenville were true
to themselves and he was not elected.
1t will thus be see that Mr. Donald
son played false with the May CONVEX
ton by his action at Chicago, and
broke his pledge, to the leading Alll-
ancemen, not to seek office.
Now, in addition to that, when 7
you that Mr.. Donaldson, as
Senator, was the means Of Incorporate
ing in the railroad bill in '9l the two
features which caused me
to veto it you cannot be surprised at
my action. 1t was upon his motion, at
the suggestion as I was told Of Bunch
McBee, that the right of appeal to the
courts was put in the bill. He also
championed that feature of the bill
which kept the election Of Railroad
Commissioner in the hands Of the
General Assembly, contrary to the
''March PLATFORM thus showing his
to stifle the will of the peo-
pie. All of these things taken together
are sufficient as l take it, TO warrant
my opposing his appointment as rep
resentative of the Reform Party" or
of the Alliance. Self interest rather
than patriotism appears to have gov
erped his actions, and as the Alliance
has been sidetracked in nearly every
other State by self-seekers, and has
been seriously injured in this State from
the same cause, / could not conscience
ously stand silent without protesting
against bis being rewarded for treachery
to the people and to the Alliance.
L