The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-24
FSpecial to The State.

him to-day from the hon. W. w.
Rates. Treasurer of South Carolina:
UNITED STATES SENATE,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. l6, 1884.
Hon. W. T. c. Bates, Columbia, S. c.
My Dear Sir: I have your letter OF
the I4tb inst, in which you make in
ou;ry as to what think should be done
in reference to holding factional con-
yention of the Reform party of Soutn
Csro,ins. to which I answer hastily,
but frankly.
I regret, as deeply as you, to see Oil
visions in the Reform movement OF
our State. The purposes for which 1t
bepan have not been accomplished,
and cannot be-; without the exercise o.
harmony, justice, common sense ana
fair dealing. I have had but one pur-
pose from the very beginning, and that
was to do my duty by it to the very
best of nv ability. Notwithstanding
this. I have been prosecuted by mep'
supposed to be prominent ia the Re
form movement, from the very begin
ming. until made up my mind that
would not submit to it any longer, and
appealed to the true men among Us 10
protect une against such political asssS-
sination.
It is not my fault that we have these
evidences of division in our State.
furnished no excuse for every Reformer
who goes into Columbia from the rurai
districts to the State House to be taken
to one side and groomed and p1ejudiced
AGAINST "Irby's management OF the
oarty." when even the ants them
solves acknowledge that my con-
duet as chairman, has been perfectly
fair. I am unwilling that Ihtro
marty leader shall take charge OF the
Reform movement in South Carolina,
and thus dictate The nominees OF the
Democratic party. I am satisfied that
the people of the State will not submit
to it. and the sooner he, and others
who expect to reap Office under him,
find this out, the better for him and
the movement.
answer you frankly as to what L
think ought to be done, so far as l can
see. There are six or seven other can can
didates for gubernatc Alhonors. These
men have been true and loyal, and are
all able men. They are entitled, at
least, to a fair contest and the protec-
tion of the principles Of the first March
convention, the most prominent OF
which was the right of the people TO
name their candidates, instead OF a
ring in the State House. It will be
necessary, before the campaign that IS
to be led by me as Democratic chair
man, that these contests shall be SET
tied within the lines OF our factlon'
and that, after the people have had
time to weigh and measure then', ana
conclude as to their choice, the sue
cessful one shall be given the coiors OF
our faction to meet the Conservative
faction in debate on the stump before
the general primary election. This
cannot be done with an early conVen-
tien:shad, and snap judgment taken,
before the people have seen or heard
the various candidates who seek
the endorsement of the Reform party.
It savors too much OF old ring rule and
Hsssellite methods, and the people
will 4,ot countenauce it.
This is perfectly fair and all parties
will be satisfied; but the people, who
believe in the theory and system OF
primary elections, will not stand fol
two or three men-one leader OF the
party and the self-constltuted
spokesrnan of the Third party, the
other a traitor to the Reform party,
who seeks, as an emisary from the
enemy, to - the Reform party, and
other men who desire office-to fix uE
a slate now, have it endorsed by con
vention as early as March, and ra1nmec
d)wn their throats. I say this, De-
cause if their scheme is allowed to g
through under the whip and spur o
the Register, the movement cannon
stand. Self-respecting men in it woulc
rather go to the wall than to serve
under a traitor to his movement and Il
see themselves assassinated in the darF
by men who have claimed to be thei
friends, and the people robbed Of tn
benefits of the vital principles OF tn
first March platform.
This has been written to you just a.
think it and believe it, I have triee
to be true to every man in the STATE
House and subjected myself to abus'
and criticisms in 1892 for leaving IA,
seat in the Senate to 60 to South Caro-
lima to work for them and their re
election. do not intend now to b.
sabused by them.
AS you suggest, 7, being the Stat
chairman, have no right to call a fac
tional convention.
I have never assumed or contem
plated any such action, nor could sucs
conclusion be drawn from auythin!
that I have said or written. The OF
ganization last presided over by tn
Hon. G. w. She'll is defanct, becaus
when the crisis came III '92, we failet
to have seen or heard of any actio!
from him in beha'fof the reform move
ment, and besides its mission was ful
filed as political organization as 500
as its object was accomplished, to Wit
the capturing of the whole State gov
ernment by the people. It, being
temporary organization, could not eS
ist longer than after the inauguratio
of the State officers. He, therefore