The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-04
Reform Meeting.

The meeting of Tillmanites adver.
tlsed for was held in the Court House
last Saturday for the purpose of elect
ing a delegate to the Conference to be
held in Columbia next Thursday. The
meeting lasted for about three hours
there being a good deal of talk, but
little work done. In point of numbers
the meeting was small, there being
only 40 delegates and a few others
present.
H. r. Thomas was made Chairman
and E. Minis Pitts Secretary, Chair
man made an address of some length
in which he spoke of the great things
done by the T1llman faction and dilat-
ed especially on Clemson College and
the Women's Industrial College. at
Rock Hill and said that the words
Tillmal and 1lllmanites were indeli-
bly, Inscribed thereon. He said; the
Representatives from Sumter County
were good men. but they did not repre-
sent sthe people, and he ~assailed the
management Of. our County affairs.
He of course defended the dispen-
sary law a a God given measure and
as the best liquor law ever devised.
Mr.. Thomas had nothing to say about
the promise to give the people prohibi-
ton if they asked for it. He went on
to say that the Tillmaanites have made
the grandest. political record: ever
made in any four years in the history
the State. He said that every pledge
had been redeemed (God save the
mark,) salaries had been reduced and
taxes lowered when every one
knows that these things are not true.
Thomas closed his speech by begging
the Conservatives to sustain the Till
NANTES.
The election of a delegate to Column
;bia then. came up when Mr.. w. A.
James, Jr., suggested that the delegate
sent to Columbia should go under in
structions. Resolutions were accord
ly passed that it was the sense Of the
meeting, that a Convention be held to
suggest Candidates for Governor and
Lieut.. Governor. not later than, May Is.
That each club electlng delegates to
the County Convention express its
preference for the candidates fer these
offices and the candidates for these
receiving the highest number of votes
in the County Convention shall
receive the vote of the County in the
State. Convention.
Remarks were made by several mem
bers in favor of convention as against
a primary and it was amusing to see
how they wriggled in and wriggled
out on this question considering their
previous position on the subject.
Mr.. W.. A. James, Jr., said the move
ment wanted a good, conservative
level headed farmer for Governor, and
it was plain that the meeting general
ly was with HIM in this, though Mr.. T.
w. Lee said he believed in giving any
mar a chance who stood or the plat
form whether he was a farmer or not.
Somewhat of a sensation was pro-
duced when Mr.. James introduced a
resolution that the State Convention
discuss the advisability of severing
our allegiance to the National Demo-
cratic party and he assailed the party
in a vehement manner, but he made
no proposition to go into another
party. Mr.. II. L. B. Wells opposed the
resolution as also did some others.
Capt. D. E. Keels did not speak
against the resolution but said this
was not the time for it as this was
only a State Campaign this year and
the Tillmanites had their hands full
anyhow. Mr.. J.. L.. PARROT was OPP
posed to the resolution saying he had
always been a Democrat and never ex-
pected to leave the party.
There we're some present in sympa-
thy, with the resolution. A few re-
marks by several members the resolu-
ton. was withdrawn as out of order at
this time.
Mr. James then introduced a reso-
luton highly laudatory of Mr.. Thomas
as an official and an earnest, loyal
Tillmanite. The resolution was adopt
ed.
Messrs. w. 4. James, Jr., J. l.. Par
rott, II. r, Thomas and T. w. Lee,
were then balloted for to go as a dele
gate to the Conference and Mr.. Thorn
was elected.
The meeting then adjourned.