The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-07-24

Mr.. EDITOR: As poor farmer, desire
little space in the ever old reliable IN
TELLIGENCER to say few words about
the approaching Constitutional Conven-
ton and the state Of affairs generally. AS
you well know, have been identified
with the farmers movement" or rather
Ben Tillman's movement, ever since it
first originated, and though you and I
differed on this question, have continued
to take your paper and read it with inter-
est, for, as County paper, it has no equal
in the State. I thought you were honest
in your views and entitled to express
them. took the same liberty for my
self, and believe you gave me credit for
being honest. During the past few months,
however, have begun to let the scales
drop from my eyes, and have come to the
conclusion that We poor farmers, under the
name Of the farmers movement" have
been the worse deceived people and the
biggest fools that have ever existed on the
face CT Gods earth.
Ben. Tillman told US that we needed
reform in our State government. We be.
lieved him, and what has been the result
To. day our State government is in worse
condition than it was in Scott's and Moses
day. The masses OF our people are being
led around by their noses by a few ring
sters and demagogues just as the negroes
were In Radical days. Ben. Tillman made
a great war on the lawyers, and said for
us to turn our backs upon them, kick
them out and put farmers in their posi-
tions. What has been the result? To-
day We have more little one horse lawyers
who were nearly starving for want OF
clients prior to 1890 in Office, and We have
more Offices than ever existed before to
put them in.
Ben. Tillman said be was going to re-
duce taxes. Every taxpayer knows that
they have been increased. Has Tillman
reformed anything or done any good to
the people? No, on the contrary be has
done us great injury. Prior to 1890, we
had peace and happiness among our peo-
pie: any true Democrat could run for an
Office in the primary election, and if he
was competent and worthy he could be
elected, for We could then vote for whom
we pleased. Is that the condition to-day !?
No, for competency and worthiness are
not recognized The biggest fool in the
County can run for office, and all that is
REQUIRED to elect him is to endorse Till
man. .
The State ring makes its slate, the little
County ring make its slate, and we poor
voters in the country "plow ON and
swallow the dose just as it is administered
to us without murmur. Now these rings
have forced Constitutional Convention
upon us. I was opposed to it, for the SIM
pfe reason I did not think it necessary.
Who will select the delegates to go to that
Convention I? The little Office. holding
and Office. seeking ringsters. And we
country voters are ordered to walk up to
the polls and vote for them in the primary
election. These delegates have been Sc
Elected by fings, We venture to say, in four
fifths of the Counties of the State. 1t has
been done by little clique of six or eight
men in Anderson, and three of that clique
are announced as candidates. This can't
be denied, for it is fact that can be proven.
Nv brother countrI men, are We going to