The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-01-30
ADVOCATES A GENERAL PRI-
MARY.

Effervescing.
Columbia Register, 26th inst.
Governor Tillman returned to tho
city yesterday from Washington and,
in view of the fact that all eyes in
the States have been turned in that
direction of late by reason of the dis
patches and letters from Senator Irby
and others, which have been sent from
there, there is q 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 frs: place." said he. 81
desire to state that my visit to Wash
| ington had nothing to do with the pre-
valent discussion on the subject OF a
convention. | had intended to go to
that city before the Legislature met
and have been arranging my business
with Il view to that visit. | desired,
and took occasion while there, to in
vestigate the delay in refunding the
| interest and penalties on the direct
| tax because / felt that now, il ever,
when our people along the coast are
so destitute, they should have the
| benefit of this pittance in their dis
| tress.
Another purpose of my. visit was
| to appear before the Judiciary Com
mittee of the House in support of
legislation looking to relief from the
usurpation Of the United States Judges
| in the matter of receiverships, taxes
on railroads. sc. | also had Il pleasant
conference with the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue, Mr.. Miller, with
view to explaining the situation in
the State among the small distillers
and | made an effort to enlist the sup
port of the Commissioner in a project
| have for establishing bonded ware
house at Columbia where all 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
Commissioner to this matter with the
hope of having him given authority by
Congress to do this, (for he does not
possess it now as / am informcd) and
he took very kindly to the idea.
especially when | assured him that if
we could find steady and quick sale
for all the liquor that is made in the
State, it 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 | went
there solely with view to have con-
ference with Senator lrby and our
members on this all absorbing topic, [
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
| tn hn CT f.
ly understood that we do not assume to
do more than give expression to our
views and offer advice to the people
, whom we represent as to the best
course to pursue. | found that there
has been a desperate effort by our
enemies to SOW seeds of discord among
tho leaders of the Reform Movement
both here and in Washington. Those
of us who were present in the con-
; ference that was held, after a full dis
, cussion of existing conditions and
consideration of the question in all
5 its bearings, arrived at the conclusion
, that the agitation for an early con
, vention and the calling of one are un.
, wise"
! But, Governor, ] thought it was
! understood that you favored cOnven.
n tion ?"
! No; there you are mistaken.
, have given the matter serious thought
, and hal always doubted the propriety
: and wi .om of Il convention. There
are strong arguments in its favor
{ looking from certain standpoint. but
n there are stronger arguments against
< it when we consider the situation as
whole. | dislike TO discuss this ques
r tion in any spirit other than from
n disinterested and impartial stand
|. point, and my only excuse to the peo
J. pie for obtruding my opinion upOl
@ them land l will say here that it is TIL,
G opinion, after deliberation among al
4 Of our friends in Washington is tina
T. ponent of the Reform Movement. coult
d with moro property assume to advis,
20 the people than any other one man
is In the first place, it mnst be remem
q bercd that the fundamental principle
f. underlying the Farmers Movement il
O South Carolina and the issue | mad
y. more prominent than any other in tn
is campaign of 1890, was the demand 70
10 primary election at which each an,
ID every voter would have the opportuni
" ty Of vocing his own wishes as t
Is those who should be put in Office ; an
,s we went so far in that direction as t
incorporate in the March platform
the demand for such primary and
joint canvass by those who sought tn
= suffrages of the people. [ conside
VI that that issue alone was paramoun
IS in the minds Of the people in the ur
I; animity with which they rallied to IN
'd support and that all others were {
u minor importance.
~ Nov this demand for conventiO
among Reformcrs arises from a desir
I'll an honest one, | am ready to adm
le on the part of many, to prevcr
III wrangling in our own ranks and t
y concentrate our forces in support {
u, some one candidate. But what the
p becomes of the grand principles of
III free, fair, open fight before the pee
et pie and discussion by the candidates
IT. such convention be held =? In lS0l
o. after being defeated in the campaign
of '86 and 'SS by reason of our di
OF organized condition, the Reform d.
X mocrats decided to meet in convel
TX tion, in order to pit organiZatiu
ly against organization and to force q di
n cussion OF the issues because nearl
So oil the newspapers were against u
The ring at that time had full posse
ut sion of all the party machinery. The
nc were entrenched in the State Hous,
dy and it was felt necessary to formulat
platform and put forth cxponents ,
at the principles declared in that pa
u form to canvass the State and to arous
20, the people to carry those principles
II. victory. The conditions are entirel