The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-01-31
FAYORS 4 BIG PRIMARY.
GOVERNOR TllLMAN ON THE POLiTI-
CAL SITUATION.


Convention III Timed-The Purpose OF
Ills Visit tn Washington.
COLUMBIA, S. c., January 25.-GoY-
ernor Tiliman returned to the city yes
terdav from Washington and, in view
of the fact that all eyes in the State
have been turned in that direction Of
late by reason of the dispatches and
letters from Senator 1rby and others,
which have been sent from there. there
is deep interest felt in the State as to
the OBJECT and result of his visit.
The reporters SWarmed around the
Executive Mansion as soon as they
learned that Governor Tillman had
reached the city, and his Excellency
submitted to an interview with as
good grace as possible.
sin the first place." said he, II desire
to state that my visit to Washington
bad nothing to DO with the prevalent
discussion on the subject of conVen.
ton. I had intended to 60 to that city
before the Legislature met and have
been arranging my business with a
view to that yisiS. 1 desire, and took
| occasion while there, to Investigate the
delay in refunding the interest and
penalties on the direct tax because I
felt that now, if ever, when our peo.
pie along the coast are so destitute,
they should have the benefit Of this
pittance in their distress.
"Another purpose of nv visit was to
appear before the Judiciary Commit
tee of the House in support of leglsla-
ton looking to relief from the usurpa-
tiou of the United States Judges in
! the matter of receiyerships, taxes on
railroads, sc. I also had pleasant
conference with the Commissioner OF
Internal Revenue, Mr.. Miller, with a
! view TO ex planning the situation ia the
State among the small distillers and
+ made an effort to enlist the support
of the Commissioner IN q project /
have for establishing a bonded ware
house at Columbia where al OF the
small distillers could store their liquor
after purchase by the State so that We
could age it before entering into con-
sumption and before paying the tax on
it. l directed the attention OF the Com
missioner 70 this matter with the hope
Of having him given authority by Con-
| gress to do this, (for he does not pos
sess it now as am infermedl and he
took very Kindly to the idea, especial
" when I assured him that if we could
find steady and quick sale for all the
liquor that is made in the State, 1t
would largely increase the revenue OF
the National government.
"But, Governor, what about South
| Carolina politics."
"Well, as the impression has gone
abroad from our enemies that 1 went
there solely with view to have con-
ference with Senator Irby and our
members on this all absorbing topic, l
will be very frank with you. In the
first place, speaking for myself and for
all of those who represent US in Wash
ington and who participated in the
conference, we desire it to be distinctly
| understood that We do not assume to
&c more than give expression to our
views and offer advice to the people
whom we represent as to the best
course to pursue. I found that there
has been desperate effort by our enc
mics to SOW seeds of d1scord among the
leaders of the Reform Movement both
here and in Washington. Those of US
who were present in the conference
that was held, after full discussion OF
existing conditions and conslderatl on
| of the question in all its bearings, ar
rived at the conclusion that the aglta-
| ton for an early convention and the
calling Of one are unWiSe."
But, Governor, thought it was an
derstood that you favored a conVen-
ton? ?"
NO; there you are mistaken. / have
given the natter serious thought and
have always doubted the propriety and
wisdom of a convention. There are
strong arguments in it's favor looking
from certain standpoint, but there
arestronger arguments against 1t when
we consider the situation as a whole.
dislike to discuss this question in any
spirit other than from a dlsinterested
! and impartial standpoint, and my on
ly excuse to the psople for obtruding
my opinion upon them (and | will say
here that it is the opinion, after dellD-
GRAFTON among all Of our friends IN
/; Washington is that l, as the acknoW.
ledged leader and exponent of the Re
form Movement, could with more pro-
priety assume TO advise the people than
any other one man. 1t the first place,
it must be remembered that the funda
mental principle underlying the Farm.
ers' Movement in South Carolina and
the issueI made more prominent than
any other in the cam paign of 1890, was
the demand for a primary election at
which each and every voter would
have the opportunity of yoicing his
own wishes as to those who should be
putin Office; and we went SO far in that
direction as to incorporate in the
March platform the demand for such
primary and a joint canvass by those
who sought the sufrages of the people.
I consider that that issue alone was
Paramount N the minds Of the people
10 the unanlmity with which they raj
lied to my support and that all others
were of minor importance.
Now this demand for convention
among Reformers arises from desire
an honest one, l am ready to admit
on the part of many, to prevent Wrang-
ling in our own ranks and to concen.
trate our forces in support OF some
one candidate. But what then becomes
of the grand principles of a free, fair,
open fight before the people and dis
cussion by the candidates If such con-
vention be held? In 1890, after being
defeated in the campaigns of 'S6 and
SS by reason of our disorganized con.
oition, the Reform Democrats decided
: to meet in convention, in order to pit
organization against organization and
to force a discussion of the issues be-
cause nearly all the newspapers were
against Us. The ring at that time had
full possession of 1.-The party machia,
cry. They were entrenched in the
State House, and 1t was felt necessary
to formulate platform and put forth
exponents Of the principles declared IN
that platform to canvass the State and
to arouse the people to carry those
principles to victory. The condlIons @
are entirely changed now. The Reform
ers are in absolute possession OF tne
an1ernment. 10th in State and county