The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-28
APRIL TS THE TIME.
The Alliance-Resornn Convention Ger
talnty Now-To be Called Directly
or Indirectly by Governor
Tiilman himself.
THE State, 3d.7

The State, 23d.l
1t was last Monday that The State
said that the political pot of reform in
this State was boiling merrily, that
some surprising things were going on
and that probably before the end ofthe
present week some of them, showing a
remarkable condition of affairs, would
be made public. It was impossible
then to tell anything definite, although
the representatives of The State were
we'll informed and are better informed
now of the moves and counter-moves
that have been made and are being
made.
There has been a row going on in the
Reform ranks for some time between
the two factions known as the Irby
faction and the Allianee-R Reform fac.
ton. A good many have been looking
for it to be settled and nothing come
of 1t, but it doesn't look now as ifany
such settlement is ever to be. At any
rate, the latter faction, headed by Mr..
Bowden, came out strongly demand
ing March or April convention. Irby
and his men. after a conference in
Washington. declared justas strongly
against the holding Of such conven-
tlon, and Governor Tillman did the
same: But he soon saw his error,
glanced around, noticed which way the
wind was blowing and clambered up
on the fence. Well, now, it can De
stated as fact that this convention,
which the Alliance faction demanded,
is going to be held during the first or
second week of April-not later. And
the call is going to be issued in q fey
days. It may be that it will be made
public tomorrow or Monday. And it
may surprise the public to know that
Governor. Tillman has at last decided
which faction he will affiliate with, for
he will either directly or Indirectly
issue this call. 1t viii appear that some
kind Of a compromise has been made
up. So it has, but the ,Alliance-Reform
people are the undorbted masters ofthe
situation. Just why this statement is
made, the public cannot yet know
through the columns Of this paper.
The public ia simply asked to wait and
see.
Although the fact that the Governor
was to issue the call has been known
for some days here, the representatives
of The State were so situated that they
would not make it public, and yester-
day a correspondent sent out the fact
from Washington. When Governor
Tilfman was asked about it, he charac-
terized it as ''thst lie from Washing
ton," and said be "knew nothing about
the callingof a convention" by himself.
This appears as a denial on the part Of
the Governor that he will call the con-
yention, but The State regards this as
merely ruse on the part Of the Gov
ernor, and if he does not call the con-
vention directly he will indirectly do
so, and his name will appear affixed to
the call.
It can be further stated; as a pretty
well settled fact, that the convention
when it assemblies will make nomina.
tions for State ticket, which will be
directly against the expressed desire Of
the Irby faction. Just now it appears
that Ellerbe is the man who will head
the ticket. He certainly seems to have
the strongest showing of any of those
mentioned. John Gary Evans viii
hardly be in it, if the situation is.under-
stood correctly. What effect that will
have remains to be seen.
The situation is interesting tosay the
leestt, and there will doubtless be fur
ther development Of a still more In
teresting nature in the next few days.
And as to Irby and his men. Irby
came from Washington few days ago.
he must have received information of
the way affairs were going. It isstated
that he has been in Columbia, but such
is not thought to be the case by those
who are in q position to know. Heis
doubtless at home watching things
with a jealous eye. But if the writing
on the wall is read Alright he might as
well have stayed in Washington for
the good he will do to his side,
Some of the things told above would
not have been mentioned, but for the
fact that several who saw the dispatch
from Washington we're anxious to know
what it meant. In consequence Of this
enough is said to indicate which way
the wind is blowing, and the rest is left
for the future to disclose.