Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-08-18
STATESMAN OR
DBMAGOGuR? ?
Senator Tillman Replies
1 to DIR. CrOmer.
QUESTION OF FACTIONAL LINES

QUESTION OF FACTIONAL LINES
In Defense the Senator Claims That
the Anti Dispensary People Are
Fighting Him Over the Dispensary-
Says All the Speakers at Yorkville
Abused and InsuIted Him.
Following Is the reply of Senator B
r. Tillman to the "open letter" Of DR.
George B. Cromer, former president OF
Newberry college and now mayor OF
Newberry:
Hon. Geo. B. Cromer.
My Dear Sir: AS your "open letter
appeared In the Sunday News and
Courier and in today's Columbia State
I presume you expect an answer
through the same medium.
I desire in the beginning to express
my appreciation Of your kindly and
complimentary illusions to myself
I value them more highly because In
the past you have not been my politi-
cal friend.
have read your letter carefully and
have endeayored to Judge your argu-
ments and weigh the points you pre-
sent as "sanely" as may be. 1t Is not
always possible for men to agree even
though both are actuated by the high
est and purest motives, and It Is there
fore natural that you should misjudge
me In some things and disagree with
me In others.
Now about the appeal to factional-
ism: I deny absolutely that l have
made such an appeal, and In justifi-
cation Of the truthfulness Of this state
ment let me remind you Of what l 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. I am aware that many
Of 1.-THE strongest supporters Of the dis
pensary now are men who were and
are yet probably Conservatives while
some Of its most bitter antagonists are
former Reformers. 1t therefore cannot
be charged that I am endeavoring 10
draw the old lines which rent the state
in twain" Again: 81 want this mat
ter settled entirely apart from my per-
sonal and political fortunes. 1t Is
much greater question for the people
of South Carolina as to how they shall
wisely and best govern the sale OF IL
uuor than as to whether or some one
else represents them in the senate. i
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 1t Is
probable, that there will be many who
will be aggrieved at my activity In
dealing with the question"
when public man is viciously at
tackled with slander and abuse and
there Is every indication Of a purpose
to press that attack in the next DEM
ocratic primary with a view to his
overthrow, 1t seems to me 1t Is per-
fectly legitimate for him to give notice
to his friends and his enemies alilse
of what is going on and let all hands
understand that he Is prepared to fight.
This Is all have done and so far from
expecting to make plea to the Re-
formers, as you charge to be my pur-
pose "by implication" have expressly
said that the old lines could not be
drawn and I want the issue settled en-
tirely apart from my personal and po-
litical fortunes.
When I wrote my letter to Mr.. Hig-
gins l merely alluded to the true In
wardness Of this movement which l
then realized was being engineered by
my inveterate political enemies.
You seem to be aggrieved because
have shifted position from the sane
and judicial attitude Of the Higgins
letter" and now take the ground that
;he movement Is political and a covert
attack upon me. Your assertion Is TOO
sweeping. my dear doctor. The move
ment" against the dispensary among
the people arises from the dissatisfac-
ton with the management and strong
belief In corruption which exists; but
while the people are fighting the dis
pensary either to purify or to destroy
II the leaders are fighting me. You
may not be. In fact / know you are
not and probably there are many 9TH
ers who have no such feeling or pur-
pose, but look at the numerous evil
dences Of the political purpose and
Significance of the movement In the
minds of the leaders. One Of these VINO
attended the prohibition conference IN
Columbia declared 1t to be the inten-
tion to ",ilt the state up on edge and
spill out not only the dispensary but
the entire existing political status
The Darlington News declared that the
| "dispensary was so intimately inter-
woven with Senator Tillman's political
fortunes that the destruction Of the one
meant the destruction Of the other.
The mass meeting held at Yorkville
on the 7th Of this month under the lea
dership of the author of the Brice bill
discussed and abused me great deal
more than they discussed the dispen-
sary or prohibition and each and every
speaker who opened his mouth In II
paid his respects to me In the harshest
and most insulting manner Since II
will not be denied that the anti-dispen-
sary forces are an incongruous and In
many respects antagonistic aggrega- :
ton, ministers Of the gospel. doctors
of divinity, advocates Of high license
the old bar-room system In Its essence
blind tigers who. want free liquor Tor
the money they can make out or IT,
and yet with this army in motley leo
by men with all manner Of opinions
and marshaling its forces for my de-
struction, you, my dear doctor. tell me
that I must remain quiet, continue the
same calm. judicial, sane attitude as
sumed In the Higgins letter" and not
let the people know what Is going on
I stated in that letter II the legis-
lature did not apply the remedy FOR the
existing evils in the dispensary man.
agement that would help kill the dis
| Thought and q