The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-09-05
HON. J. E. TINDAL

Talks OF South Carolina Politics IN the
Charlotte Observer Division will
Cause Strife and Cripple Business
Wanted Primary in the Reform
Ranks.
CLEVELAND SPRINGS, Aug. 1S.-
Hon. J. E. Tindal, Secretary of State
of South Carolina, is here. In con-
versation with an Observer reporter,
Mr.. Tindal has made clear some
points about the condition of South
Carolina politics not generally we'll
understood outside the State. The
vote of the State, given by Mr.. Tin
dal, is, Reformers $1,000, Conserva-
tives $4,000. These are about the
votes cast at the last election. The
Total Democratic vote is estimated
at between 10000 and 100000. The
negro vote is between 10000 and
100000. The problem of the South
Carolina white people is to have the
white people control the State and
yet not have few people get posses
sion of the political machinery Gre
ated for this purpose and run the
State without majority of the
white voters as we'll as the negroes.
Mr.. Tindal was asked how the Re-
formers proposed to accomplish the
above end and he answered:
by primary election, held un-
der law passed in 1888 to secure
fairness as in a regular election, in
which every Democratic voter in the
State can cast his ballot for every
officer from Governor down. l have
made my campaign upon a platform
which, while it would not further
humiliate the opposition, would car
ry out the real principles Of the Re-
form faction and leave the more rea-
sonable of the Conservatives oppor-
tunity to unite with U.s. In fact, the
whole people, as I believe, in State
politics could have come to the Re-
formers.
"Will you explain what was the
object of the Reformers?n.
well the farmers of South Corolina
organized what they call farmers
movement. The object of that was
to establish an agricultural college
for boys: an industrial school for
girls, and to improve the county
public schools. Their petition was
refused by the government and they
went into politics to elect Legisla-
ture which would grant their de-
mands. They found themselves
overreached by the convention plan
of nomination, which practically
disfranchised majority of the farm
ers. They then determined to over
throw the convention plan, which in
presence Of our large negro majority
(Which prevents revolt) controlled
the elections in the interest of the
politicians.
1.-The Reform party was formed by
the farmers appealing to all classes
to join them in an effort to secure
self-government by electing all officers
from Governor down by primary
election held under law like regu-
lar election, to secure fairness. This,
I believe, would secure the unity OF
our people, and at the same time give
latitude for free discussion on free
political action-and hence for prog
ress and reform.
"The colleges and schools have
been established as desired, but the
convention in 1890, compromised the
primary proposed by ordering an
election by primary for electors to a
convention to choose State officers,
instead of allowing the voters to cast
their ballot direct for the State
officers. To this I have been, and
still am, opposed, and when the Re-
formers proposed a factionai conven-
tion this year, I vigorously opposed
it, as going back upon all we had con-
tended for. It disfranchises the op-
position (who, three times beaten
and III hopeless minority, had put
up no candidate in manner more
pointed and unjust than the old con-
vention plan had disfranchised the
farmers.
The Conservatives, who are now
in minority, realized the correctness
OF our position at the beginning, and
were anxious this year for a general
primary, as it is the only protection
to minority. But the Reformers
determined upon convention
against my advice"
"Were not Governor Tillman's
views the same as yours?'
Eyes. 1t was for this primary that
he had contended so vigorously, and
it was that which gave him such con-
troll over the State. But the COM
promise, which stopped at primary
for electors instead of for State
officers direct, this year, confused
the politicians, because there were
four candidates, all Reformers, for
Governor, which would necessitate
four sets of electors in each county.
This led to holding the factional
convention, and Governor Tillnan
changed his Views and advocated
it,
Did you ask for primary Of Re
formers?''
eyes, and l believe if it had been
granted full Reform vote would
have been polled"
do you think that in future SO
small a crowd can continue to hold
and control the State government?'
mo! The people will not long
yield up their government. They
must do so now, because they fear a
division will bring strife and injure
the business of the State l appre-
hend no division now; we cant afford
it.'
"But what will the $4,000 or 10000
Reformers who did not take part in
this preliminary convention, do to
get politics in a shape which they
can approve?
THAT will depend upon the action
taken by the $4,000 Conservatives in
the coming election"
Mr.. Tindal evidently thinks that
the Gary Evans faction of the Re
formers has used the machinesto dis
franchise, not only the Conservatives
but majority of the Reformers also.
I infer that Mr. Tindal is looking
forward to the time when the mod
crate elements Of both factions will
unite on one candidate and refuse to
follow blindly either extreme faction.
He thinks that the dispensary is
favored by q majority of the people
of the State but that it cannot be
successful unless the different ele-
ments in the State can be brought to
Como Saoraa nf cotiSTa ctiop with the