The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-08-18
SENATOR TILLMAN
TO DR.. CRONER
DENIES THAT HE APPEALED
TO FACTIONALISM.
While The People Are Fighting Dis
pensary Leaders Are Fighting
Him-Other Monuments
Cited.

The State.
Following is the reply of Senator
B. R. Tillman to the ''open letter"
of Dr.. Geo. B. Cromer, former presi-
dent of Newberry college and now
mayor of Newberry:
Hon. Geo. B. Cromer.
My Dear Sir: AS your "open let
ter appeared in the Sunday News
and Courier and in today's Columbia
State, | presume you expect an an
swer through the same medium.
I desire in the beginning to ex-
press my appreciation Of your kind
ly and complimentary illusions to
myself.
I value them more highly because
in the past you have not been my
political friend.
I have read your letter carefully
and have endeavored to judge your
arguments 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 it is
therefore natural that you should
misjudge me in some things and dis
agree with me in others.
Now about the appeal to factional-
ism: 7 deny absolutely that I have
made such an appeal or intend to
make such an appeal, and in justifi-
cation of trutiifulness of this state
ment let me remind you of what |
said at Edgefield. To quote: II do
not wish to revive factionalism and |
am sorry to be compelled to have the
appearance of doing so. l am aware
that many Of the strongest support
ers of the dispensary now are men
who were and are yet probabs7 Con-
servativss while some of its" most
bitter antagonists are former Re-
formers. 1t therefore cannot be
charged that I am endeavoring to
draw the old lines which rent THE
state in twain" Again: Il 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
govern the sale of liquor than as to
whether I or some one else repre-
sents them in the senate. | know
there are many men who will vote
for me regardless of their former
political affiliations and Of their pres
ent attitude on this question, and it
is probable that there will be many
who will be aggrieved at my activity
in dealing with the question:
When public man is viciously
attacked with slander and abuse and
there is every indication Of a pur-
pose to press that attack in the next
democratic primary with view tc
his overthrow. it seems 70 me it /:
perfectly legitimate for him to give
notice to his friends and his enemies
alike Of what is going on and let al
hands understand that he is prepared
to fight. This is all | have done
and so far from expecting to make
plea to the ReformerS, as you charge
to be my purpose ''by implication,
I have expressly said that the ole
lines could not be settled and / wan
the issue settled entirely apart from
nv personal and political fortunes.
When I wrote my letter to Mr.
Higgins l merely alluded to the "tru'
inwardness of this movement" which
then realized was being engineered
by my inveterate political enemies.
You seemed to be grieved becaus'
I have shifted my position from tn
sane and judicial attitude of tn
Higgins letter" and now take tn
ground that the movement is politica
and a covert attack upon me. You