Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-04-11
A Notable Accession.

At the Aiken county conference
of reformers held last week, Sheriff
Holley, hitherto a conservative,
gave in his adherence to the re-
formers. He was introduced by
DR.. R. H. Zimmerman, worthy
son of a worthy sire Hon w. H.
Zimmerman. The following is
Mr.. Holley's speech:
Mr.. Holley was greeted with ap-
plause. He said in substance:
I have been a farmer since I was
big enough to crawl. I have been
associated with the people of Aiken
county many years, and I have
lived pleasantly with them and
they have honored me, though I
have differed with them somewhat.
Believing that records are interes-
ting, I haye preserved a copy of
the ticket I voted on the 30th of
August 1892.
Ivoted for the list of delegates
headed by D. S. Henderson-the
Sheppard ticket; for Congress,
Robert Aldrich, for Solicitor G. D.
Bellinger; for Senator, John Gary
Evans. The balance of Mr.. Holley's
ticket was mainly made up of Re-
formers.
l endorsed the call to get a can
dfdate against 7 always
did what I promised. The time
Tillman first spoke here I was one
of q committee to meet him. I
found I had d little prejudice
against him-thought he was SIM
ply after an office. I was aot en-
tirely sure I Was right in opposing
him. I never told any man not to
vote for him. I have five boys,
and they all voted for him.
I believe Governor Tillman has
made some mistakes, but no man
has ever encountered the the op-
position he has and done so much
under so many difficulties. I have
followed his career closely because
I wanted to find out if I was right
in my course. It is the hardest
thing for man to confess being
in the wrong. That is the trouble
with this country. I believe all
should come up and acknowledge.
I have not been badly wrong
after all. I have not Topped. I
believe I am on the right side
now.
Yes, I was prejudiced against
Tillman, but I am here to say he
was right and I was wrong--here
to say he can always be found true
to what he says.
Ben Tillman has not stirred up
a hornets nest but a nest of yell
low jackets.
Mr.. Holley then made many
pointed, sensible observations on
matters of finance, covering
mortgages, etc. He said he favored
a dog tax of 81, which should 60
to the pnblic schools. He believed
there was unfairness in the exemp-
ton of certain enterprises from
taxation. He had heard of cotton
factories being exempted, but
never Of sawmills; he was very
glad the railroads had been COM
PEELED to ray their taxes; he said
the abuse of the officers of the law
known as "spies" was abominable.
No human language was too vile to
apply to these constables. The
good people are not in sympathy
with this abuse.
The Dispensary law is one of the
best laws ever put on the books.
I have watched it's operations
closely and am thoroughly con-
vjnced. I hope I shall never live
to see open barrooms again. This
expression was tremendously
cheered.
I am not hunting office. I have
good friends, many friends on the
other side. They are prejudiced.
I believe I am right becuase I
believe Tillman has done us so
much good.
The chairman said: Sheriff
Holley, are you with the Reform
movement, heart, soul and body2"
Sheriff Holley; Il am with
them for all I am worth"
Then there was tremendous ap-
plause.