The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-08-06
SENATOR 7ILLAAN
VS. Won kOLaITz.
Declares That He Was Very Much
in Earnest As to Charles
toms Democracy.

Charleston, Aug. 4.-On the publ
cation recently of Senator Tillman's
letters pronouncing against the candi-
dacy of Mr.. George T. Won Kolnitz for
the State senate from Charleston coun-
ty, the question was raised as to
whether Tillman thought Won Kolnitz
should be barred from the primary or
whether he should be admitted to run
and be defeated by Democratic votes.
It was said that protest might be
fled against the candidacy and it was
reported by The Evening Posts Co
lumbia correspondent that some mem,
bers of the State committee would vote
to sustain such protest and exclude
Won Kolnitz from the primary. To as
certain Senator Tillman's attitude
exactly, the editor Of The Evening
Post asked him for definite express
sion on the essential point which had
been made. The following answer
was received from the senator today:
Trenton, S. c., Aug. 2, 1862.
Thos. R. Waring, Esq, Charleston,
S. G.
Dear Sir: have your letter Of July
80, asking whether I an Of the opinion
shat Mr.. Won Kolnitz ''should be de-
MED entry to the Democratic primary
On the score of his Republican disposi-
tion in 1896, or whether he should sbe
| allowed to run in the primary but
should be defeated by Democratic
votes for presuming to aspire to Office
SO soon after his affliation with the
Republicans
When the State Democratic conyen-
tion met in May this whole subject
was carefully considered by thecommit-
tee of which / was chairman. In
view of the peculiar conditions exist
ing in South Carolina, it was unani-
| mously agreed that there would be no
pledge exacted Of any candidate il the
Democratic primary other than the
one which we have had all along, eX-
cept for candidates for congress and
the United States senate. 1t was
thought that the fullest freedom Of
action should be permitted and for
that reason I have never considered
for moment the propriety Of denying
Mr. Won Kolnitz the right to run,
just rs Cunningham or Ensor or Geo.
| ". Murray might run if they would
file their pledges.
| My, attitude in the matter is easily
understood if it be remembered that I
am member of the national commit.
tee for this State, charged with the
| duty of watching for the interest of
the party. Had I not been national
| comitteeman, would not have tackled
McLaurin at Gafney.
The election to the State senate Of
Mr.. Won Kolnitz with or without op-
position would indicate to my mind
that majority of the citizens of
Charleston are no longer Democrats,
and I should be bound to take steps to
see that the Republicans who elected
him were barred from the Democatic
primaries in the future and should
not be recognized in the next Demo
cratic State convention. We have got
to draw the line somewhere and at
some time, and we had just as we'll do
it now as any other.
En- passant, allow me to say: The
editor Of The Post may be a better
Democrat than I am, in his own opin-
ion, but he would not find many peo-.
pie in South Carolina who wouldagr
with him in saying SO.
The voting for Mckinley in 1895 by
gold Democrats was an act OF wal on
the Democratic party, and so far as l
am concerned such Democrats are Re-.
publicans, and ought to be ashamed to
claim to be anything else: but when,
in addition to voting, there was service
under the Republican committee, as IN
I - I'm
effort to get Office, the Democats of
the State have right to expect the
people of Chareston to repudiate any
such Democracy, and if they fail to
do SO, without the possibility OF
doubt the other Democrats Of the
State will repudiate them and cease to
affiliate with them.
note what The Post has to say
about my not being in earnest about
this matter, and that if Charleston
elects Won Kolnitz, I "could not
afford to neglect her interests. I" 1
never was more serious in my life than
when said what [ repeat now, that
if Charleston is 2 Republican city
shall leave the Republicans to take
care of it in national legislation.
represent the entire people OF South
Carolina and have tried to do my
duty by all of them, but there is a
difference between working with zeal
and earnestness and allowing things to
drift. If the people of Charleston are
so Indifferent or have undergone a
change of heart, they should have the
manhood and courage to come out IN
their true colors. If they will organ
ize a Republican party in the city and
capture it like brave men, it would
make no difference to me, out to sneak
around with Democratic colors on and
aid the Republican party is too low a
type of manhood for my liking.
Yours truly,
B. r. Tillman.