The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-09-01
Irby Tells a Truth.
Admits Securing Tillman's
Nomination by Fraud.

Manning, Aug. 27.-With the ex-
ception of declaration by Col 1rby
that he cheated in the March con
vention of 1890 to secure the nomi
nation of Tillman, the candidates
made their usual speeches without
variations The crowd numbered
600
Mr.. Evans at the outset of his
speech repeated much that he said
yesterday about the dishonorable
warfare that was being waged against
him. He compared the sending out
of circulars to tumbIebug tactics,
and taking up a circular entitled,
Evans Evil Record Unroiled." he
hastily read the subheads and denied
the allegations until he came to the
explained bond deal charge lie had.
he declared, last year in this very court
house his connection with the refund
ing of the State debt. His explana
ton satisfied the people then, and
after be had finished, MIR McLaurin
came to him and said be showed con-
cInsively that his transactions in the
matter had been honorable
.My Dear Applet" had said he
would not get 100 votes in Claren.
don, but Appeit doesn't carry the
votes of this county in his pocket
He made several other illusions to
"My Dear Appelt,' which were re.
ceiyed with yells and hurrahs for
Applet Some one in the audience
asked Mr. Evans if the constables
returned to their homes last year ard
worked for MIN under his orders
Mr.. Evans How do you know they
worke- =?
"Of m, -vn knowledge. :" was the
reply.
Mr. Evans then said if the cons,a
bles worked for him it was without
orders from him He never ~ealt
with the constables, but gave his or
ders to the chief constables, who
were alone responsible to him He
compared his relations to the con
stables to that Of general of an
army. BE was not responsible for
what the constables did, bat the
chiefs were.
Co! Irby said he was delighted
to be present. for he wanted to see
"My Darling Appelt,' whom he had
not seec since he ran away from
Charleston
Col. Irby then announced that he
would not attack MIR McLaorin'
record in his absence; denied be was
running as "loose horse" TO elect
Evans; told bis "stud colt" joke;
gave his reasons for not running last
year, and denounced the campaign
bureau In Columbia for the circulars
which it was sending out. He e1
planned how be made Evans governor,
and said ne was the daddy and grand
daddy of the politicians big and
little, in the State except TiIlman. bot
he hatched biD 1.-The truth Of tbis
whole matter is,' said Col. Irby,
.tthat Tillman and / joined teams in
1886, after bis agitation in 1885,
for the purpose. fret, TO establish an
agricultural college in South Carolina.
AS remember, the counties of Clar-
endon. Marlboro, Marion. Newberry,
Chester and Lanrens responded to
the cau from Edge6eld. Some of the
representatives from these counties
even funked, and on the question Of
college or no college we were iogle-
riousty defeated.
s.Tillmsn became disgusted and at
tempted to organize the farmers of
the State, threw up the sponge, wrote
a lorg letter to the people of the
State expressing bis contempt, and
retired to his bone among the hills
of old Edge6eld. | didn't surrender.
however, and kept up the fight ID the
Legislature along the lines of reform
u the administration of the State
government. The college seemed to
he hopelessly gone /; but God came to
the rescue by putting it into the heart
of Mr. Clemson to make his bequest.
4 fresh hold was taken. the fifth: was
renewed and the college established
But Tillman was out, voluntarily out
To get him back l originated the
March convention idea a year before
the convention was held and gave
him the nomination on silver waiter.
On the question of nomination or no
nomination in that convention we
were defeated by one vote. | cheat
ed the question of nomination in,
which saved Tillman. whe was to be
the nominee. The end justified the
means. because persons opposed to
nominations had not been invited to
that convention and they had no right
to control it's deliberations.