The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-07-11
THE KINGsTREE MEETING.
Eyans Says the Dispensary Lao IS
Still Valid.
Special TO Augusta Chronicle.


K1NesTREE, S. Gully I. Seven
hundred men heard the speakers here on
the banks of the Black to-day and
listened with close attention It vas
meeting in which only Ben Till
man was cheered and no great amount
of noise vas made about him. The
country people listened to him. though,
with mouths agape and broad smiles oa
their faces which spoke their unbouded
admiration even louder than their
cheers. 1t was the most unanimous
Tillman crowd Of the campaign so far.
One unterri6ed old fellow with a griz-
zled moustache never lost an oppor-
tunity to yell for Butler, the grand old
warrioe.' -
Candidate Elerbe made a most de-
termined assault on bis cousin, John
Evans. He literally paved and danced
over the platform while be asserted that
he was the choice Of the people for Gov
ernor, but might not be nominated be-
cause ring had been formed within the
reform party, the result of which had
been that Evans and Stanyarne Wilson
had been attached to the coat tails Of
Ben T:Ilman at the instance Of United
States Senator John Irby. He said
that Evans was member Of the ''drift-
wood legislature" Of 1891 in which he
fought reform measures. the Wilson
railroad bill among others. This,
Evans, from his seat, curtly denied.
Ellerbe kept the crowd laughing. and
apparently it was friendly to him, all
though local politicians say that Evans
has the county safely tied up in pack
age and tagged.
The one significant remark of
Evans's speech was that "the dispen-
sary act of '93 had never been declared
unconstitutional by the Supreme Court
and that it vas still the law. If the
people wanted it, they could get is.''
Col. William Elliott, candidate for
Congress. vas piled with the Alliance
catechism. He unhesitatiugly took the
ground against s'free silver at present, ;"
refused to say where he stood in the
senatorial contest and denomiuated the
sub-treasury plan a "delusion which
even the governor abandoned y
Senator Butler made an eloquent
speech. He argued with great force
that the repeal Of the State bank tax
was the measuse of relief most needed
in the South aud maintained that it
would hasten the restoration of free
silver coinage. Speaking Of bis record
he said that he bad at least been of some
assistance in securing nearly ten mill
lions of dollars in appropriations for
South Carolina. He again defended
his vote for the confirmation of Judge
Simonton aud said that he took no
stock in the denunciation of Charleston,
whose people had suffered as no other
people had, aud had always come out of
the crucble of trial with honor" He
intimated that he had heard of seua-
torial dark horses tied out 10 the
bushes. He closed with splendid ap-
peal for peace and harmony, declaring
that be would have no fear in leaving
his case in the hands Of Legislature
composed of good men elected without
regard to factional affiliations.
Governor Tillman's speech was more
venomous than usual, but was couched
in strictly parliamentary terms. Once,
though, when be charged that Senator
Butler refrained from denouncing Cleve.
land because he had been given the
patronage of the State to aid in his re-
election, the General called him down.
Rising to his feet the General quietly,
but positively said ]: "Mr. Chairman, |
have INDUCED in no personalities. |
demand that Governor Tillman do like
wise. He knows what be has said is
not true The Governor turned and
asked the General if he considered his
statement personality, and the latter
answered afirmatively. Then" said
the Governor, Il have list in my
pocket showing that half the South
Carolina appointments are credited to
him. But Gen. Butler denies it and
you people are judge whether | lied or
not. y The crowd bowled. Tilman
alluded to Cleveland's sending Federal
troops to Illinois against the protest of
Governor 4Altgeld to coerce the oppress-
ed people at the point Of the bayonet.
The remainder of his speech was devot-
ed to lashlug Senator Butler for voting
for Simonton's confirmation, by which.
be attempted to prove that the senator
was in sympathy with the corporations
and the money power. The crowd
cheered again, when be sat down, and
an old countryman presented him with
a very ordinary looking speckled water
melon. More cheers.
+ W e.