The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-12-28

| man on t1e Stuup. Iuo CoASeA w
will vote as a unit for General Belllnger
against Ben Tillman, as will also
a large number of reformers, who
have spite against Ben. Every reform
er who has been defeated for office lays
| it to Tillman and has knife up his sleeve
to use when the time comes. Ex-Con-
gresham Talbert is bitter against Till
man, and I do not think Ex-Governor
Evans has any very ardent love in his
heart for the senior Senator. The truth
is, Tillman has never helped anyone but
himself, and while the old-time reformers
are yet devoted to him, they are now in a
hopeless minority. 1t will take hard
fight to beat Ben Tillman, but believe
it will be done, and that General Belling-
er is the winner. At least it looks that
way just now. The conservatives are
bent on having his political scalp, and
will leave no effort untried to lift it.
Senator Tillman has never faced direct
primary by the people, but always man
aged to be nominated by convention, or
scare his opponents off the track. There
are thousands of voters in South Carroll
ma who will put in secret ballot against
Tillman, but who would not oppose him
openly. Tillman is discerning enough
politician to know his weakness. He will
doubtless attempt to whoop up the one
gallus boys, and resurrect the dispensary
issue. But it will be like blowing breath
into a corpse. I believe that Senator
Tillman will be defeated, unless some re-
volutioning change takes place"
"How about Senator Latimer?" we
asked.
"He's also a.goner when the conserya-
tives get whack at his political scalp.
AS you know, I am one of Latimer's old
est and staunchest friends, but this will
not save him. Latimer is what you
might call an accidental senator. There
were four conservative candidates in the
race and two reformers. This of course
divided the minority, and placed the two
reformers, Evans and Latimer, in the,
second primary. The conservatives hated
Ex-Governor Evans worse than his Satan
ic Majesty is reported to hate holy water,
and as choice between what they con-
sidered two evils, cast solid vote for
Latimer and thus nominated him. Had
two of those conservatives dropped out OF
the race Latimer would not have been it
but one of their own faction chosen. But
Asbury. Latimer is one of the best cam.
paign speakers in the South, even strong
er than Ben Tillman, and as the election
is long time off things may change.
Latimer has done some splendid work for
his people, and is hard worker"
"With whom can they defeat Latimer?"
we asked.
"Why. Governor Hayward, of course.
He is already in soak. He would not run
against Tillman, for Tillman, SO reports
say, promised to be hands off in his (Hey-
ward's) race, but this does not apply to
Latimer. Governor Hayward is one of
the best and cleanest men in South Caro-
lima, and captivating speaker. He is
thoroughly sincere and honest, and while
elected as conservative and opponent to
the dispensary, in his administration has
known neither faction, and has enforced
the dispensary law in the face of strong
prejudices."
''Is there much factional feeling now in
South Carolina?" we asked.
, eyes and no. In some sections there
is about as much bitterness as ever, but in
other sections it has died out. The con-
servatives yet dread an arousement of the
Tillman element, for if they only had
leader in whom they could trust, that fac
ton would continue to control the poll
tics of the State. But as I before stated
they are without organ or leader, while
the conservatives, even when in the hope
less minority, have ever stood together,
working and hoping for the end they.
have at last achieved. What defeated the
reformers, is that they took up too many
sorry and incompetent men on account
of family influences, and put those scrubs
into offices far ahead of their ability, and
which turned their heads and made them
fools. They brought disrepute upon
their party, and fell an easy prey to the
fattery of the conservatives, who sized
them up at their true value. But no one
at this time can tell what will be the out
come in Carolina. Everything is quiet
now, but you know there is always calm
before storm. It may be agreed that
in consideration of the conservatives be-
ing given entire control of the State gov
ernment, they may not oppose Senator
Tillman and let him 60 back for another
term. Some of their leaders advise this
policy. But if opposition does appear to
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