The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-06-25
TiLLMAN's DEoLARArIoN.
He Repudiates the Tiiiman-Barn-
well Confercnce-sThink He is
Absolved from it's Pledges by the
Action of Conservatives

well Conference-sThinkR He
}, Absolved from it's Pledges by tin
Action of Conservatives.
The following interview with Sens
tor Tillman was printed in sewers
newspapers on his return from Mem
! phis.
What effect will the reversal O
Judge COTS decree have on State poll
tics ?"
1t simplities matters very much,
said Senator Tillman in reply, zane
relieves us to what was daily becOm
ing a more threatening situation. L,
illustrate. Those Conservatives VIII,
seemed to have the greatest following
instead Of pleading, as heretofore, fOl
au equal division of the delegates
were using a hectoring and threaten
ing tone, while nearly all of the Con
servative papers were urging theil
factions not to go Unto the Demo
cratic primary. General Hamptons
and Butler had advised the same thing
and whilethe News and Courier die
not counsel this course, the recent
demonstration in Charleston over
General Hampton left little doubt as
to whose leadership they would follow
unless the Reformers surrendered the
control of the convention to them. All
| this is now changed, and in any event,
no amount of persuasion from any
source can now induce the Refor.ners
to trust the Conservatives with one
half the delegates.
You will remember that in the in
terviGw published just after our con
ference with Mr.. Barnwell aud others,
| said that it would depend upon the
attitude OF the Conservative papers
and u general agreement on both
sides to cease their bitterness. whether
the scheme could be successfully
carried out. When Judge Gotf was
imported here, with his scaudalous
decree already writtsn, had the Con-
servative editors and leaders -acted as
patriotic Carolinians, denounced his
unwarrantcd interference, and offered
to join hands with the Reformers in
maintaining white supremacy, it would
have at once oblitcrated all factional
lines and good feeling and confidence
would have been restored The Re-
formers 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 can they trust them, nor can
advise our people to trust them.
IL went into the agreement with
Messrs. Barnwell and the other gcntle-
men in perfect good faith and had
that agreement been generally ac-
cepted by the Conservatives and en-
dorsed by their newspapers, it would
inevitably have been carried out by
almost every county. n golden op
portunity was lost and the Conserva-
tivcs have again ito use the words
Of the Ncwberry Herald and News
done the wrong thing at tho right
time" for the good of the Reformers.
Do | understand that you now re-
pudiate the agreement ?" was asked.
BY no means, although by every
rule Of morals, | could claim to be
absolved from it, | would still like to
see nonDartisan convention com posed
uf our best men from both factions,
and ! take this opportunity to urge our
people, and by that mean those who
have supported me. to be generous and
not treasure up in their hearts with
too much bitterness the recent taunts
andthrcats made by the "Antis." We
have got to live here together; our in
terests are identical the future pros
perity of the State depends largely on
a better state Of fecling; can see no
harm and much good that will follow
if the SefOrmcrs voluntarily select
mon OF the best brains and character
among the Conservatives to come to
the convention. | would only give the
caution that no man be allowed to
come who during the dark days OF
COTS tyrannical usurpaton, showed
any qualification or made any threats
such men cannot be trusted and ha6
better be left at home
There is one other point that 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
" Ants, to control the Constitutional
convention. Having voted almost SOL
idly against it, | have never under.
stood why they have been SO anxious
to have equal representation in it,
when by all rules, Of fairness and all
the principles of Democracy they
would not be entitled to any representa-
tion at all except in the counties where
they control.
"When the Barnwell conference
mot, there appeared to be no prospect
OF an agreement being reached because
OF this demand for half, and it was
only accepted by the Reformers pres
ent after imposing conditions, which
are familiar to the public These con-
ditions are still vital, and no Conserva-
tive should be voted for at the pri-
mary who does not discuss those quesa
tions before the people and satisfy
them as to his attitude on them.
There is one other vital feature
which our people must not overlook.
1t is the constitutional provisions for
the control of corporations and the
questions and the question of taxa
tion. Corporation attorneys, those
known to be in the employ of corpora
tions, had better be left az home
whether Reformers or Conser vatives,
unless from their characters and gen
eral course OF conduct as men it is be-
licyed they car be trusted.
Il must believe that the strenuous
efforts to obtain half the delegates
we're inspired by the desire to put into
the new constitution something that
would have either hampered the
Legislature or tied It's hands in some
way"
"What about the action in Edge
| field :" was asked.
" saw by the papers that that
action was credited to my influence.
| had nothing to do with it, and only
| happened to be at the court house that
day on private business"
" Do you think the plan of the Edge
field committee will be carried out 2?
doubt it very ymuch. Our people
have always been strong advocates
for the primary and this return to the
convention system of nominations is
not likely to give satisfaction. | think
the county will sen0 some Conserva
l.. -. n