The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-12-04
THE SECESSION OF SAMPS.
DR.. POPE JOINS THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY.
He Gives His Reasons For the Evolution
Wants to Belong to Party That Fayors
Honest Elections and Protective Tariff.

DR.. Sampson Pope was yesterday
asked by a representative of The State
what he thought of the POLITICAL situa-
ton. t
1T is hard" he replied, ito foreten
just at this time what will be develop.
ed in the future, butI believe that I am
safe in saying that there is much politi-
cal unrest. The convention now
about closing its labors has framed
Constitution for the people which, If
submitted to them would be rejected
by large majority. There are too
many Objectionable features in it to.
refer to all of them, but the suffrage
clause is the most Objectionable. It
places the power in the hands of the
respective boards of registration to re-
fuse any man not of their political
views, and I predict that Thousands of
! white men will pe disfranchised by
them and more than 100, 900 negroes
in fact, as in Mississippi, lido not ex-
pect 10000 negroes to be registered.
This power comes from the Reform
members of the convention, aided by
some of the Conservative members. It
is intended by the Reformers to per-
petuate themselves in power. That II
is intended to commit fraud. under
the suffrage clause has been admitted
on the floor of the convention.
"The Conservatives have developed
but four able men-Messrs. George
Tillman, George Johnstone, ex-Gover-
nor Sheppard and MCGOWAN. The
Reformers have developed only three
or four Senator. Irby, Mr.. Ellerbe,
Ex-Governor Tillman and Mr.. Burn.
None Of the latter have had the moral
courage to meet the issues arising as
statesmen, unless it be Messrs. Ellerbe
and Burn.
'The suffrage clause is a disgrace TO
the civilization of the age and is in.
conflict with the Constitution of the
United States and it was adopted
whilst the flag Of the nation foated
over the hall Of The convention. /
was amused this morning, in the econ-
vention, when 1 saw Ex-Governor
Tillman wrought up to such q pitch
on having the homestead section
amended that he moved to strike out
the whole section, and although the
vote was put on the same motion com.
ing from another member, it was lost
by vote of 112 to 12. Moral: States
men % should never lose their temper
and attempt to do foolish things.
Many of the poor white men Of the
State are uneasy lest they lose their
right to vote, and well they may be,
for the Constitution puts it in the
power of a few white men in each
county to refuse them. I predict that
fa majority of these men1will leave the
Reform ranks and seek safety else
where"
ssWill the action of the convention
lead to any political changes in this
Slater
"Yes, there are large number Of
white voters in the State who now feel
free to make new party aignmens.
The Republican party Of this State
will in the next campaign consist OF
Is, 900 white Republicans, who have
not voted since 1876 or who have come
of age since and have not voted, and
of 25, 900 Conservatives and Pefromr
ers, who will seek new party align
ment, and of that part of the negroes
to be registered who will not follow
Tillman."
s.What are the causes of this change
that you speak of in the Conservative
and Reform ranks9"
sIt is due to several causes: First,
the opportunity is offered OF forming
a Republican party without being
taunted with ''goneto the negro" sec.
ond, the frauds practiced in the Last
election; third, the Objectionable fea-N
lures of the new g Constitution, coupled
with the fact that it was called by
fraud, and the fact that the members,
although unsworn, do not propose to
refer their work to the people for ratl-
ication; fourth, protection OF our
manufacturing Industries, which car.
ries with it protection of labor and OF
agriculture, and brings trade to our
merchants; in fact every ayocation
gets its proportionate benefit.
"The protection of from one. TO one
and a half cents per square yard OF
cloth produced is swhat keeps our mills
alive; without it every cotton mill IN
the land would be closed, and yet they
sell their cloth only for from one,
eighth to one-fourth cent per yeard
profit. This protection duty enables
the mill men to pay the mill opera
tives good wages the operatives buy
surnli1s vegetable and other products,
Including wood, from the farmers.
They spend their income freely with
the merchants and others, thereby
putting in circulation large sums OF
money. -, ,.
conducted mills In the south, pays out
SIC. 900 per month to its operatives,
nearly ali of which goes into circula'
ton. The other mills in the State pay
out sums in proportion to the help
employed. There are now, or Will be
in six months, 1, 200, 900 of spindles at
work in South Carolina, spinning 500.
600 bales of cotton. These mills will
pay out $4OO, 900 per month as wages,
and will buy (at present prices) &o,,
600, 900 worth of cotton per year. 1t
is a fact known to every farmer who
sells to the mills that they get from
one-fourth to three-fourths OF a cent.
per pound more for their cotton by
reason of the location of these mills
among us than they would get If We
had no mills and they sold to specula-
tors. -.
teco = 10 +o tho ipterest of ever citi-