The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-01-31

most of the men that Irby has been
counting on as being his most faithful
friends are deserting him. I don't know
where he got his information, but there
was no set conference of Reformers here.
When the Reformers come to the capital
they usually get together ande there's
always more or less talk and that's about
all there is to it."
"Do you wish to say anything in reply
to this card ?"
mo, I prefer to let him kill himself:
IF he makes few more moves OF that
kind he will be the laughing stock of the
entire State and effectuslly ditch himself
forever. 1 think that his attack on the
State officials is absurd. There's no ring
there against him that know OF. The
trouble with Irby is that he is big man
standing still while the world moves
around him. He only sees what his
narrow contracted view permits him TO
see. think his attack on Ellerbe very
unjust and wrong, without any founda-
ton in fact. I do not see how he can
help referring to Governor Tillman as
being in the ring too, for he speaks OF the
State House ring, and it is pretty safe TO
say that nothing goes on or about the
State House that the Governor knows
not of. l did not think that Senator !rby
would cry out 80 soon in the campaign:
In regard to his suggestion of honest
men, we'll, that is a suggestion that every
one naturally makes. All men are con-
sidered honest. It's according to how
you look at it."
"Weil, what do you think of the article
as whole?' :,
81 don't know what to say. Evidently,
the whole article shows he let his temper
get the best of him. It was uncalled for,
Judging from the published facts he relies
on FOR the best Of it. I think it very
good confession of weakness. No, 1
think he has depended too much upon
the floating rumors to make serious
charges that he cannot sustain. Nobody
ever intended to ask him to resign the
State rhairmanship that know of. 1t
would likely have been done in Septem-
Der, however. No matter what comes,
the bulk of the Reformers will more than
likely 20 through the coming campaign
under the leadership Of Mr.. Shell and his
committee"
Comptroller General Ellerbe was seen.
He said that while the Senator had made
an indirect attack on him in his card, the
matter was not personal one, but was,
on the contrary, entirely impersonal, and
he did not care to have anything more to
say than that he was attempting to run
the tax department Of the government,
and was not, just at present, messing very
deeply in political matters.
Governor Tillman was asked by tele-
phone what, as one Of the Estate House
ring" he had to say in regard to the
matter. His private secretary replied
that the Governor was not and did not
care to be mixed up in it, and preferred
to leave the other members Of the "ring'
to do the talking.
Superintendent of Education Mayfield
said that be had been absent from the city
for quite while and was not sufficiently
posted to have anything to say beyond
making the assertion that he himself had
nothing whatever to do with any kind OF
ring.
Secretary of State Tindal said: "I have
been absent from the city until few
days ago, and was at the bedside OF q
dying friend when this conference is said
to have been held. will say, however.
that have had nothing to do with rings
of any kind. I have no knowledge OF
any ring of any kind at the State House.
I have been present at no ring conferen-
ces that I know of. always, as you
know, keep clear of rings"
A good many others expressed them
selves in pretty interesting terms, but
what they had to say will not reach the
public yet awhile, for reasons best known
10 Observation-Disclosures State, Jan. IA.