Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-06-19
Mistellanrous Amdil,s.
AGAINST EQUAL DIVISION.
Senator Tillman Claims that Conservatives
Have Shown Bad Faith.

Have Shown Bad Faith.
On his return from Memphis last
Saturday, Senator Tillman gave the
daily papers an interview on the po-
litical situation in this State. On
being asked what he thought of the
effect of the reversal of Judge Golf s
injunction, he said :
''It simplfies matters very much,
and relieves us Of what was daily be-
coming more threatening situation.
To illustrate: Those Conservatives who
seemed to have the greatest following,
Instead of pleading as heretofore for
an equal division of delegates, were
using hectoring and threatening
tone, while nearly all of the Conser-
vative papers were urging their faction
not to 20 into the primary.
"Generals Hampton and Butler had
advised the same thing, and while The
News and Courier did not counsel this
course, the recent demonstration in
Charleston over General Hampton left
small doubt as to whose leadership
they would follow, unless the Refor-
mers surrender the control Of the con-
vention to them. All this is now
changed, and while I never doubted
but that the Reformers would control
the convention in any event, no amount
of pressure from any source can now
induce the Reformers to trust the
Conservatives with one-half of the del
egates. You will remember that in
the interview published just after our
conference with Mr.. Barnwell and
others, l said that it would depend on
the attitude Of the Conservative pa
pers and general agreement on both
sides to cease their bitterness whether
the scheme could be successfully car
ried out.
"When Judge Golf was imported
here, with his scandalous decree al
ready written, had the Conservatives,
editors and leaders, acted like patriotic
Carolinians and denounced his unwar-
ranted interference and offered to join
hands with the Reformers in maintain.
ing white supremacy, it would at once
have obliterated all factional lines, and
good feeling and confidence would
have been restored. The Reformcrs
cannot now forget, nor will they soon
forgive, those who so plainly showed
their purpose to overthrow the white
majority by Negro votes least of all
caE they trust them, nor can 1 advise
our people to trust them.
~ went into the agreement with
Messrs. Barnwell and the other gentle
men in perfect good faith, and had
that agreement been generally accepted
by the Conservatives and endorsed by
their newspapers, it would inevitably
have been carried out by almost every
county. A golden opportunity was
lost and the Conservatives have again,
to use the words of the Newberry
News and Herald, done the wrong
thing at the right time for the good
of the Reformers."
"Do 1 understand that you now re-
pudiate the agreement" asked.
"By no means. Although by every
rule of morals, l could claim to be alb
solved from it. would still like to see
a non-partisan convention composed of
our best men from both factions, and I
take this opportunity TO urge our peo-
pie, and by that 1 mean those who
have supported me, to be generous and
not treasure up in their hearts with
too much bitterness the recent taunts
and threats made by the Ants. We
have got to live here together. Our
interests are identical. The future
prosperity of the State depends large
ly on better state of feeling. l can
see no harm and much good that will
follow if the Reformers voluntarily
select men of the best brains and char
acter among the Conservatives 10 come
to the convention. | would only give
the caution that no man be allowed to
come who during the dark days fol-
lowing Gof''s decree showed any graf
ification or made any threats. Such
men cannot be trusted and had better
be left at home.
"There is one other point that I feel
should be emphasized. and that is this ::
There must be some hidden or secret
purpose in the almost insane desire
which has shown itself among the An
tis to control the constitutional conven-
ton.
Having voted almost solidly against
it, have never understood why they
should have been so anxious to have
equal representation in it, when by all
rules of fairness and all the principles
of Democracy they were not entitled to
any representation at all except in the
counties they control. When the Barn.
well conference met there appeared to
he no prospect of an agreement being
reached mainly because of this demand
for half, and it was only accepted by
the Reformers present after imposing
conditions, which are familiar to the
public. These conditions are still vital,
and no Conservative should be voted
for at the primary who does not dis
cuss these questions before the people
and satisfy them as to his attitude on
them.
lIrrl,o,n $40 l,o, ,,;to1 60, t,,po of