The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-08-25
He DENIES 1T.
Senator B. r. Tillman Replies to
Or. q. B. Cromer's Letter.
DEFIN ES POSITION.


Says He Has Not Nor Does lie Intend tt
Appeal to Factionalism, but Asserts
that the Leaders Are Fight
Ing Him While Fighting the
Dispensary.
The Hon. George b. Cromer. My
Dear Sir: AS your ''opcn letter. ap
pealed In The Sunday News and in to
days State l presume you expect al
answer through the same medium.
desire, in the beginning, to cx
press my appreciation OF your kindly
and complimentary illusions to my.
self. / value them moro highly be-
cause In the past you have not been
my political friend.
l have read your letter carefully
and have endeavored to judge your ar.
guments and weigh the points you
present as sanely as may be. 1t is
not always possible for men to agree,
even though both are actuated by the
highest and pureSt motives, and 1T is
therefore natural that you should
misjudge me in some things and disa.
gree with me Ia others.
Now about the appeal to factional-
lam; l deny absolutely that l have
made such an appeal or intend to
make such an appeal, and IN justifca
tion OF the truthfulneSS Of this state.
ment let me remind you OF what |
sad at E5Retield. TO qlote. II do
not wish to revive factionalism and |
am sorry to have the appearance of
doing So" Il am aware that many
OF the strongest Supporters of the dis.
pensary now are men who were and
are yet probably Cousel vativcs, while
some or It's most bitter antagonists are
former Refolmcrs. 1t, therefore, can
not be charged that am endeavoring
to draw she cid lines which rent the
State In twain" Again, II want
this matter settled entirely apart
from my personal and political for
tunes. 1t Is a much greater question
for the people OF South Carolina as to
how they shall wisely and best gov.
ern the sale Of liquor than as to
whether / or some one else represents
them In the Senate. l know there
are many mon who will vote for me
regardless Of their former political af.
.i}Nationa and of their present attitude
Oh this question, and it ID protjspie
that there will be many who will be
aggrieved at my Activity in dealing
With the question"
ONLY A CASE OF SELF DEFENCE.
When public man Is vicIously at
tackled with SANDER and abuse
and there is every indication of
a purpose to press that attack in the
next Democratic primary with view
to his overthrow, 1T seems to me it is
perfectly legitimate for him to give
notice to his frie 'ds and his enemies
alike of what is going on, and let all
understand that he is prepared to
fight. This Is all | have done and so
far from expecting to make o plea to
the Reformers as you charge to bo my
purpose by implication, l have ex
pressly said that the old lines could
not be dra"u and l want the issue
settled entirely apart from. my per
sonal and political fortunes.
When L wrote my letter to Mr..
Higgins l merely alluded to the true
inwardness" Of this movement, which
then realized was being engineered
by my invcteratc political enemies.
YGu seem to be ag9rieved because I
have shifted position from the sane
and judicial attitude Of the Higglna
letter." and now take the ground that
tho movement IS political and covert
attack upon me. Your assertion is
too sweeping, my dear Doctor. The
movement" against the dispensary
among the people arises from the dis
satisfaction with the management
and strong belief In corruption which
exists, hut while the people are fight.
Ing the dispensary either to purify CT
destroy 1t, the leaders are lighting me.
You may not be. In fact | know you
are not, and probably there are many
others who have not such feeling or
purpose, but look at tic numerous
evidences Of the political purpose and
Significance Of the movement In the
minds Of the leaders One OF those
who attended the Prohibition Confer
ence In Columbia declared 1T to hc the
Intention to tilt the State UP on
edge and spill out not Only the dis
pcnsary, but tho existing poitical
status" The Darlington News de.
clared that the "dispensary was sc
intimately interviewer with Senator
Tillman's political fortunes that the
destruction OF the one meant tho de
struction Of the other"
The mass meeting held at YorkVille
on the 75h OF this month, under the
leadership OF the author OF the Bricc
bill, .Soussed and abused me q graat
deal more than they diicussed the uis
pensary or prohibition, and each and
every speaker opened his M tuyh IN
many respects to mo In the hnishost
and most Insulting manner. Since il
VIII not be d,nicd that the anti dis
pcnSary forces are an incorgruouS anG
In MAN. respects antag nIstic a2Rrc
gatiCn, mi listers OF the Gospel, doc
tors OF divinity, advocates OF higt
license, the old bar room system In 1t,
essence blind tigolS, who want fret
liquor for the money they can make
out OF it, and yet with this army Ii
| motley, led bY men with All upnnc