The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-07-04
cure this supremacy was by constltu-
ti0nal convention.
EVANS AND ELLERBE SPEAK.

/
lating story that he (EYans) IS tn
choice of Tillman for GoYernar AM
| that Tillman is in a quiet way workln!
for Evans. General Ellerbe said: "Tn'
Governor has said, in an inteCView,tha
ne is hands off in this fight and that h'
has no choice. Here is Governor Till
man:ask him If any Ian is his choice
| say that it is unfair to me and m.
friends to be circulating this story II
the hope of winning on it." Genera
Ellerbe proceeded tn crltlcise hi
friend Evans for his tardiness in get
ting in the Reform cause, telling som'
things, as at Sumter, highly amusing
the audience. General Ellerbe mex
charged Evans with having voteC
against the salary reduction in 1892.
"That is not so,'' said Evans.
II will prove it onyou," said Ellerbe
and he read from the records where
Senator o%ist, the Charleston anti
Senator, hao moved to indefinitely post
pone the salary reduction bill anc
where Evans had voted with all tht
-Tillmanite lawyers for postpone
ment. Ellerbe also charged Evans
with having voted against the farmers
college in 1883. General Ellerbee told
what his (EIlerbe's) record is on salary
reduction, showing where he had asked
to have one of the clerkship of his Of
fee abolished and had always been in
favor of all around reduction OF sala
ries.
Continuing General Euerbe said
"My friend (EVans) intimates that
there has been State House ring and
that Governor Tillman broke that ring.
I will ask my friend to specify, to name
the men who composed that ring. Sen:
ator Irby wrote a letter charging that
there was ring. Fellow countrymen
I have never heard anything in the
State House for Irby but expressions
of pity and sympathy. Irby charged
that a caucus of ring Reformers had
been held at Wright's Hotel. 1t is fasle
The caucus, if it can be so called, was
at Governor Tillman's house and the
Governor was present. General ELL
erbe told who were preseRt.) No one
was discussed as candidate for Gov
ernor at that time. / repeat, and !
want it distinctly understood, that as
far as know, there is no ring in the
State House. I want my friend to
specify, and ask him to do it. [ am
running on my record and I am not IN
any ring. My friend ought to do the
same thing and not tack himself on
Governor Tillman's coat tail. l am as
good Reformer as Governor Tillman
or any body else, and Governor Tillman
can and will tell you 80.
The speaker was frequently encour-
aged by remarks from the audience
and was at times literally applauded.
He devoted the remainder of the time
to telling what had been accomplished
by the Reform movement and discuss
ing national issues. He concluded be-
fore his time was up, and cloud be-
tokened shower.
Senator Evans had been speaking
only few minutes when rein began
falling. The chairman adjourned tbe
meeting to the court house, half mile
away, where the speaking was contin.
ued. Senator Evans resumed his
speech. employing his time in answer
ing the accusation of his friend Eller-
be. He ridiculed Ellerbe in good ma
tured way, making the crowd
laugh. He told jokes on his friend
and these almost amused the au-
dience. Senator Evans said he
was willing to answer all charges. He
did not come in this race to attack fel-
low Reformers, but had been jumped on
and would defend himself. If Euerbe
started out TO prove that he (Evans)
had not been true to Tillman and Re
form, he had hard and stumpy road
to travel. He would not notice every
thing, because he was not shooting
Ellerbe says be has done
lots for Reform, but he has been well
paid for 1t. He is Reformer, but it
looks like he has been one for revenue.
Senator Evans says ne had been a Re
former since 1886. at that time he
wrote an article in the Augusta Chron-
icle. He read this article. 1t was a de-
feuse of the Reform movement then be-
ginning and the right of farmers to
organize for political purposes. The
article also defended Tillman, then
starting his agitation. In 1888 ne was
elected to the Legislature by the farm
ers Of Aiken and was twice reelected,
each time OF the Reform platform. Two
years ago he was sent to the Senate by
farmers by thousand majority. The
people had never regarded him as a
coat tail swinger.
To the charge Of having voted against
Tiilman for the Agricultural Board. he
said It was an attempt tC shelYe Till
man, who had afterWard censured his
friends for nominating him. He had
voted against the agricultural college
as charged, because the bill for 1t car
ried an appropriation which would have
increased the taxes of the people one
fourth Of a cent. This was not in &C
cordance with the Reform platform and
pledges to the people. Later he had
fought for Clemson College because the
bill was different.
Il am not Tillman's candidate or any
body's candidate" declared Evans.
''Any man who accuses me of disloyalty
to the Reform cause l will tell him he
lies, but nobody is going to do it. What
is the matter with Billy (referring to
Is it that he has got big
fat Office and wants another 1t looks
like he is swinging on Tillman's coat
tail. | am no coat tail sWinger."
Evans told good Joke about a boy
who had one potato, but wanted two,
and said this is Ellerbe, who has one DO.
tato but wanted two. (Laughter,) He
ought not to Jump on me because /
want potato.
About the salary reduction vote, be
said he cast it because the first bill did
not cut salaries equitabiy. He also
said that Jim Norton, Ellerbe's clerk,
had gone to him (Evans) and begged
that salaries be kept as they were, as be
and other clerks couldn't live. He said
Norton had put up poor mouth. Sen.
ator Evans declared that afterWard he
had voted for salary reduction bill.
He had voted in 1888 to cut the salary
of legislators to 81 per day. He said
that every Reform measure has been
put in his charge to pull through the
To hear Ellerbe talk, be
said. one would think that Ellerbe had
done everything and that Tillman had
not existed or taken part in anything.
Senator Evans said ne had been Re
former by inheritance. His uncle,
Mart Gary, was RefCrmer, and Evans
desired to right some of the injustice
done Garp Evans said If looked like