The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-11
Tiilman Talks.

Governor Tillmsn had an interview last
Friday evening with a staff correspondent Of
The Near York World, the substance Of which
The State gives.
When asked about McClendon and Cain,
the Governor said that they would be tried
in Darlington Comfy, ana that there would
be 10 change of venue unless he found that
things were not going right 10 that county,
but be added thu. be hoped the trial would
take place there. "However," he said,
'sthose gentlemen will have their own law
yers and if they decide to ask for a change Of
venue l have no rightto interfere"
In response 10 questions the Governor said
that the " spies named were not under
arrest, but that he himself was personally
responsible for their safe keeping. Cain: he
said, was not out on parole, and McClendon
was in the penitentiary hospital. He {tbe
Governor) was waiting for the commitment
and would turn these over to the officer who
should bring them, aud they would have to
give bail or 90 to jail. He declared that the
cons,ables did not have q fair showing at the
inquest that they could not bring out the
full strength Of their case owing to the fact
that they had no attorney present, and also
to the circumstance that they we're ru shed 10
n, the inquest under military guard and or
dered to get through quickly and leave town
for tear that they would be hnrt-
The Governor intimated that there would
he some testimony against c. Mccullough,
one of Darliugton's citizens. He added that
if he found. that there. was danger of mis-
carriage Of Justice he would secure a change
Of venue for the prisoner.
Referring TO the dispensary matters, the
Governor said that he had already order
ed new supplies to the dispensary al
Florence and that it would soon start up
again. He would probably change the
management of the dispensary at Darlington
as Dispenser Floyd seemed to have antago-
nized the people there.
He said that he had advices that the
citizens of Darlington, acting upon the report
of the committee which recently visited him,
had agreed to an arrangement by which the
constables we're to work around the depois
and would not he molested, and he intended
to see that the city police looked after liquor
violations in the CITY. In fact the people
there had agreed that there would be no
interference with the law. Il promised the
committee who came over said the
Governor, ''thst ! would not Interfere, by
pardon, if McLenden and Cain were convicted
in a legal and proper manner as | will not
uphold in violating law, least of all a con-
stable"
When asked if there would he any search Of
private houses be used these words: owe
will search private houses anywhere and
every where whenever we car get An affidavit
of the presence Of Illicit liquor. To do other
wise would be equivalent TO respecting the dis
pensary law" As 10 whether be would employ
the same or other constables, the Governor
said that it was a question for the people
He declared that there was no strong feeling
against those already in service except in
Florence and DarliSgtou.
"Wby did you choke off the telegraph dis
patches 2" asked the correspondent.
"Well," said the Governor, .swi,h the
inaamatory, false and incendiary messages
going around we would have had a dozen
riots in the State if | had net done so
Ny other motive was to prevent armed
bands, instigated by the bar-ke-pers, from
going to the scene. For the same reason |
took charge Of the roads. These messages
were like ere brands to a magazine and | had
to prevent them going off,"
Asked if his conscience was satisfied with
the result, of the weeks work he said
II have a clear conscience. | have DOT
made a mistake or exceeded ing authority 10
q single instance"
The Worlds correspondent told that W.
F. Clayton, the editor Of the Reform paper
at Florence, had told him that be was raisiag
forces Of Reformers throughout that county
TO assist him in the future. "Why do you
know, sa,o the Governor, '',hat within the
next two weeke Is, 900 men will be organized
to uphold the Law against afaire like
this ?"
'.How, uphold by force Of arms?" asked
the correspondent.
''If they have to fight they will do it,"
responded the Governor. But this is like
locking the stable after the horse has gone.
There will be 90 more trouble after this.