The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-02-14
TREASURER BLAKE.
In an Interview He Gives His Views
of the Political Situation.

I'm an Interview He Gives HIS views
OF the Political Situation.
Hearing that Treasurer Blake had returned
| from an Alliance meeting at Relton, and
and the lecturer Of the third Alliance District
and we'll informed as TO the political situation
we ventured to seek his views upon the cur
rent topics Of the day. We found him In his
and answering the many letters which had
accumulated during his absence.
delinquent taxpayers this year, he replied,
and low price of cotton. there were fewer de
linquent than usual and the great
majority OF those were negroes, who AIDED
paying taxes; axes 6y constantly @ changing theil
incident to the extentlon of time for collect
ing taxes. and II the books were closed
promptly by 3lst December. then all such tax
dodgers could be caught before making their
ESCAPE.
THE ALLIANCE MEET1NG-ITs OBJECTS ANr
SUCCESSES.
When asked about the object OF the meet.
Ing at Belton. he stated that 1t had no poliLi-
cal significance. but had for lta object the uni
flcation and advancement OF Alliance work
In this Congressional District, and was the ouI
growth Of the lecture system adopted by the
com posed of the counties OF Newberry. Able
Vile, Anderson, Oc0nee and Pickens, and
meets biennialIy at Belton unless otherwise
arranged. Abbevile was represented At Bel.
ton by him and Col. j. T. Robert tson.
All the counties were represented and while
the various reports showed decrease o
membership from former years, yet the ALI.
ance spirit was strong as ever. and the order
the financial benefits derived from co-opera
ton and union, and Alliancemen are
reaping the advantages which accrue there.
from: AS result, they are dealing more ex
| trIrfn nAfN NafA 6kE.N4
chauge,i the purchase or guano supplies, 90
thereby saving commission o: agents and
middle men.
| THE DIsPENsARY SENTIMENT.
Although the Alliance meeting was non
political, yet we asked him what was the SEN
| timent OF the delegates, az TO the dfspensary
law In their respective countries. He stated
endorsed In Abbeville County. than In any OF
the others Of the District While It was uni.
| versally conceded to be an Improvement
sand oH opsp g. sFG ssop sa:
success, yet prejudice to 1t as an adninistra-
tion measure, and partisan hatred kept alive
by partisan press. has tended TO open vio-
lence against the law, In many sections.
THE GUBERNAToR1AL CANDIDATE.
The people endorse the law, and justify
Governor Tillman in using every effort to en-
force 1t. The opposition 10 some extent, Is
Court will declare the law unconstitutional.
For this reason, 1t Is highly important, that q
speedy decision be reached. The opposition
to to the dispensary law will be q potent faG,or fo
mans successor. While public sentiment
generally is In favor of a farmer for Governor
yet II the Dispensary bill In made q campaign
issue, he thought the author OF the bill,
would be called to lead the administration.
THE PEOPLE DO NOT FAVOR THIRD TERM.
The suggestion OF third term for Govern.
or Tillman, he did not think was popu lar.
II was contrary to all precedent, and did NOT
think the Governo would approve OF the
Idea himself He will be on the stump as
candidate for Senator, and should 1t be ne.
cessary for him to defend the administratio
he could do 80 as effectively as if be were can
dldate for Governor.
CONGRESSMAN LATIMER SOLID.
| In reply 10 the inquiry whether Congress.
| man Latimer would have any opposition for
second term, he replied, none from the Al.
conspired to make him stronger with lis par
ty than he was year ago. Being the noml.
nee or the Alliance and the organized Demo.
OF MS bG the OF his
and his tiaducers, and the Withholding OF
that Federal patronage which Is his by right
and custom, is considered an insult to those
by whose votes he was elected. and they will
seek vindication at the ballot box. To do this,
they will give him their support over any
other candidate for a second term.
THE MARCH CONVENTION.
AS TO the time OF holding a State Conven.
tion, while Abbeville had declared In favor OF
May or later convention, yet the other coun.
ties OF the District we're equally pronounced
In favor OF an earlier time. The argument
advanced is. that 1t would settle all rfvalries
among tho various candidates, and prevent
any bitter feelings q later campaign might
engender.
THE POLITICIANS MORE DETERMINED THAN
EVER.
He apprehended no danger to the reform
movement, however, from this source, as the
people were taking nc stock In the petty
quarrels Of some OF those in prominent posi.
tions. They did not consider the success OF
the movement dependent upon any one man,
or set Of men. and would. az soon as an OPP
portunity was presented, relegate to private
ranks, any one who would consider bis own
political aspirations paramount TO the success
OF the movement. The people were more
united than ever, and would dictate terms to
politicians when the occasion demanded II.