Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-09-02
TILLMAN TALKS.
What the Reform Leader Thinks Of the
Recent Primary.

IluuMdN kauhCs
What the Reform Leader Thinks Of the
Recent Primary.
Columbia Register, Sunday.
Senator Tillman arrived in Colum-
bia yesterday morning. There has
been great deal of speculation as to
what he was going to do in the matter
of the second primary for the United
States senatorship, and, naturally, poll
ticians were on the qui viye.
He went to the mansion, but during
the day came to the state house. The
meeting of the executive committee
having brought men prominent in poll
tics from all over the state to the city,
the senator held kind of informal re-
ception of them in the governors office
and in the lobby.
When seen by a Register reporter
the senator was surrounded by crowd
to whom he was telling his experien-
ces in Pennsylvania and the prospects
for the election of Bryan and Sewall.
As soon as he could be pulled away
from them he gas asksd to say some
thing about state politics. He was
asked what he thought of the result
of the recent primary and he replied
"It looks like mud singing has had its
effect in demoralizing or hypnotizing
the Reform forces. About 10000 did
not vote at all wasn't it ?"
Some one asked him whether he
would have anything to say before the
primary, but he replied that he would
not, because there would be no meet
ings at which he could talk. He said
he was going to rest at home and
await orders of the national committee
as to where he should 90 next.
He was asked specifically whether
he proposed to take any hand in the
forthcoming contest: 81 have never
seen any occasion to meddle in this
fight or to presume to advise the peo-
pie how they should vote, and do
not think at this late date it is obliga-
tory on me to take hand"
1t was suggested that even if he
kept "hands off" be might "use his
mouth" at which he laughed, but said {:
~ feel, however, that it is duty to
the people for me to say that if any
men have been influenced by the
charge that Governor Evans said l
had lined my pockets with dispensa-
ry rebates, they should be undeceived.
1 stopped while in this city at the
mansion as bis guest and friend. l
have never had the slightest faith in
the charge, and do not believe he said
it. have always believed it a slander
from start to finish and without any
foundation. I believe the people
know / have too much self-respect to
associate with any man whom be-
lieved made any such charges against
me. | don't believe he ever thought
it, much less said it,"
Referring to a dispatch published
from Washington yesterday in which
he was quoted as saying he would
have nothing to do with the race in
this state, he said he had seen nobody
except the secretary of the national
committee in Washington and had not
talked to any man about the senatori-
al race in this state.
Senator Tillman said that he had
noticed in the east a spirit of earnest
inquiry among the people who wanted
to learn, and all that was needed was
for this desire to be cultivated. One
trouble was that most of the newspa-
pers were against silver and it was
hard to get information to the people.
When he left Pennsylvania, he said two
committees had waited on him to make
speeches in certain parts of the state,
and besides he had received three tele-
grams making the same request. AS
to the effects of Watson's candidacy,
he said that he did not believe the
prospects of the Democracy would be
injured in the west, where fusion has
already been accomplished where it
was necessary. The only trouble
would come from North Carolina,
Georgia and Texas.
He denounced as a lie the story
which has been going the rounds to
the effect that he had offered Watson
the promise of cabinet position in
case he withdrew.
Senator Tillman left yesterday after
noon for his home at Trenton.