The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-05-24
DFFINES his POSITION.
GOV. TlLLMAN ANSWERS THE QUES-
TlONS OF THE ALLIANCE.

on National QuestIOns.-Can Vote tor all
the Demands Except the sub-Treas.
ury Plan.
COLUMBIA, ;. g., May 1e.--On April
18, Governor Tillman received letter
from Hon. Thomas Z. Mitchell, chair
man Of the executive committee Of the
Farmers Alliance, enclosing tho fol-
lowing questions, which he had been
ordered by the Alliance, to PROFOUND to
all candidates for cflice In the gift of
the people of South Car rolina:
"First. Will you discuss the Alliance
demands In the coming campaign, par
ticularly those relating to the finances
of the country and defend them against
the enemies of our order.
"Second. viii you pledge loyalty to
the demands Of the National Farmers
Alliance and Industrial Union above
Loyalty to party caucus and vote against
any and all candidates who decline to
commit themselves to this extentp"
To this letter Governor Tillman re-
Piled as follows:
Columbia, S. G., April %, 1894.
Hon Thomas Il. Mitchell, Woodwards,
sc.
Dear Sir: In reply to your letter of
April 18. desire to say:
Twill discuss the principles and policy
of the Alliance In the coming campaign
and make myself clearly understood.
lam a candidate for United States
Senator, and If elected will vote on all
questions as my conscience and judg-
ment dictate. But as shall not, IF
elected Senator, represent myself but the
people. l would at all times obey the in
which / belong as set forth In its plat
form. YOnrS reSppcifullV
''l' N'' '''p:' B. r: T1nnmAN.
Yesterday Governor Tillman received
the following letter from Mr.. Mitchell:
Woodward, S. g., May Id, 1894.
Hon. B. r. Tillman, Columbia, sc.
My Dear Sir: Your letter in reply to
the questions on the demands of the AL
lance was duly received, and as do
not think you made your position as
clear as you might have done and pos
sibly not as clear as you intended to do
respectfully submit them again for
your consideration. am sure you are
with us In this matter and I hope you
will come right out and say SO. can
assure you, with my knowledge of the
sentiments Of the Alliance and those in
sympathy with the Alliance, this course
on your part will cement them togeth-
er IN one solid phalanx for your election
to the United States Senate and we will
roll up such a majority for you that
General Butler will not know he was in
the race. Hoping to hear from you by
return snail favorably In regard to this
matter, am, sir, yours fraternally,
THOs. 2. MITCHELL.
Chairman Executive Committee.
70 the above he replied as follows:
Hon. Thos. p. Mitchell, Woodward, S.
@.
My Dear Sir: You. letter of yester-
day received. AS you ask for prompt
reply, I answer at once. Having been
the recognized leader of the Reform
party or faction in the State since its
organization In April, 1885, and having
been very pronounced and outspoken
in my speech at st. Louis last October,
and more recently in my interview Of
April 9th ult., did not 60 into details
In answering your letter Of April 18th
because thought 1t entirely unneces-
sary. had no thought Of keeping any
opinions Or policy held on public
questions hidden-asI am not a strad-
dler or dodger In politics or anything
else.
1 will, therefore, answer as clearly as
l know how, in order to satisfy all who
may care to know how I stand.
The financial policy advocated by the
Alliance embraces three things:
81. The abolition of national banks,
and the Issue of paper money direct by
the United States government
2. The free coinage Of silver at the ra.
ito Of Is to /.
3. The increase Of TIE circulatipa q
mediums, gold, silver and legal tender
greenbacke, to at least 800 per capita of
population.
These fundamental ideas or demands
are accompanied by the scheme for q
government system OF banking, iDcor-
pOratiDg the sub-trta"urv idea and the
Lending of money to the people at a
low rate of interest.
; To the three propositions set forth
above l can and do give my earnest
support and Will strive, If elect ed Sena.
tor. to see them Incorporated into law
and become the fixed policy of our gov.
ernmeDt.
also can advocate and fight for all
the other demands" except that |
doubt the wisdom or practicability of
the government owning and running
all railroads, telt graph and telephone
lines. L will take occasion during the
campaign to- discuss all these matters
fully. The one essential point on
Whlch difter with the Alliance Is the
lending Of money to the people.
could easily dodge behind the cor Some
thing BETTER" If SO minded. but INV
self-respect and my duty to the neoni,
who have shown such love and trns, IN
my leadership will not. allow me- f.
quibble or shirk whatever conse quences
may follow this avoWal. I Would be
unworthy of the honors they have con.
ferred on mo In the past and Of all
trust whatever If did not come ont
boldly and tell them the truth. This is
the more obligatory on me now because
| am seeking to enter national politics
In 1892 did not discuss national dues.
tlons or oppose the incorporation Of the
Ocala platform in the State Democratic
platform in May because saw there
was danger Of our hotheaded Alliance.
men splitting off into third party
the fatal blunder which caused Mr.,
Clevelands nomination and well nigh
destroyed the Alliance in all the other
southern States. Had our example in
South Carolina been followed in the
other Southern States Alliance ideas
would be the predomir ant ones in ali
the south to-day and our national ad-
ininisGratlon would not be controlled
DY allied muUWumna ,ond Dn~,,hIt.-s.N