Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-08-15
.DBMAGOGUB
OR STATESMAN ?
George B. CrOmer Writes
to Senator Tillman.
NO TINE FOR FACTIONALISM.

Ex.President of Newberry College
Makes an Appeal to Senator TilInnan
to Allow the People Of the State to
Use Their Own Good Judgment In
the Settlement Of This Important
Question.
News and Courier, Sunday:
The Hon. George B. Cromer, former
president Of Newberry college, has ad-
dressed the following open letter to
Senator B. r. Tillman:
The Hon. B. r. Tillman.-Dear Sir:
l protest against the introduction Of
the TOM tom and the spirit Of faction
into the movement by which the merits
of the dispensary are to be tested.
The tom-tom Is the instrument Of the
juggler and factionalism Is the resort
of the politician. The people Of this
state have the right to expect some
thing higher and better from you.
Your recent letter to Mr.. Higgins was
calm. sane and judicial statement Of
your attitude on the dispensary ques-
ton, but for this very reason II was
distasteful in certain quarters, and you
were accused Of straddling. You gave
that letter out as an expression Of your
views, and, my name having been kind
Iy suggested by you, was asked to
answer 1t in the New Voice. I declined
to do 80 for the simple reason that
in this county we wish to test the dis
pensary question on its merits, and,
therefore, desire to exclude every pos"
sible phase Of "Tilimanism."
In the Higgins letter you recognized
the widespread and well-founded be"
lief that the dispensary Is corrupt In
its administration, and that the present
agitation is an expression of popular
dissatisfaction. But in your Edgefield
speech you shifted your ground, and
took the position that the movement LIS
political in significance and is covert
attack upon you.
In the Higgins letter you said that
the remedy for the corruption rests
with the legislature; that In the last
legislature the friends and enemies Of
the dispensary got together and did
nothing but appoint a committee; that
ever since you were governor you have
given advice and made suggestions, but
that your opinion has had no weight
with the legislature; and that If the
next legislature does not apply the
remedy, you will help to kill the dis
pensary.
BY Implication.
In your Edgefield speech you said
that II the next legislature does not
adopt in~suggestions that you In
tend to make, you will help to elect a
legislature that will. And you said, by
implication at least, that you will 90
to the reformers for that legislature.
appeal from Philip drunk to Philip
sober-from the temper Of the Edge
field speech to the tone Of the Higgins
letter In Newberry there Is no dis
position to make an attack upon you
under cover Of a movement against the
dispensary. 1t Is not a political move
ment. 1t was begun In an off year In
order that It might be a test Of great
moral question, unclouded by personal
and political considerations. 1t is not
movement Of the politicians, but
movement Of the people. You have
doubtless noticed that the counties that
were strongly conservative" are not
in the movement.
l do not question your right to take
part in the discussion. Independently
Of the fact that you are the author of
the system in this state, 1t would be
strange II you were to remain silent.
BY virtue Of your high office and Of
your great influence 1t Is your duty to
speak-but to speak sanely and tenn
perately as you did In the Higgins let
ter You owe great deal to the youth
of this state; you owe them the best
that you have to give. When the dis
pensary was first put on trial there
may have been good reason for an
appeal to a faction, but that reason no
longer exists. The system has been
on trial more than twelve years. 1t
will soon be voted on by thousands OF
men who were only eight or nine years
old when It was adopted. When you
speak now, we are entitled to have you
speak from the point Of view Of states
manship and not of partisan politics.
No Danger to Tillman.
Besides, you have too much sagacity
to fear that this movement against the
dispensary can endanger your political
future. You occupy large place In the
history of South Carolina for the last
fifteen years, and for a number Of
years no rival has challenged your
primacy among the political leaders OF
the state. Ben Tillman, the senator
representing South Carolina can well
afford to discard ID methods Of Ben
Tillman the partisan political leader.
I do not mean to be offensive. You
know Of my appreciation of the dis
tinguished services that you have rem
dered this state In a number OF direc-
lions. But earnestly protest that you
have no right to befog this question
by lowering 1t to the plane of partisan
politics.
That the administration Of the dis
pensary system is corrupt any fool can
see as he runs But go farther than
that, even at the risk Of having you
charge me with cant and hypocrisy.
No matter how high your purpose may
have been I'm adopting the system, In
Its origin 1t seems to have been cum
ningly-devised scheme to chloroform
the public conscience. No Jesuiteal
attempt to debauch morals by using
the end to justify the means could
have been more successful II the sys-
tenn had been honestly administered.
The corrupt administration will save US
from the system itself.
Governor Hoch Of Kansas, tells US:
1--WE are rearing a new civilization
here. ! believe there are more than
quarter Of a mi''ion young people
who have never seen a saloon. Pro-
hibition is the only logical attitude OF
law toward the liquor traffic, and the
whole country will some day recognize
the fact" What sort Of civilization