The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-08-18
OPEN LETTER TO TILLMAN
FROM GEORGE B. CROMER.
Appeal From Philip Drunk to Philip Sober---No
Excuse for Factionaism, No Danger of Political
Defeof Lurking in Result of Dspensary
Fight--Duty of Worthy Leader
to His State

The following "open letter" to
Senator Tillman from Hon. Geo. B.
Cromer of Newbcrry has been re-
ceived by The State for publication:
Hon. B. r. Tillman.
Dear Sir: l protest against the
introduction of the tom-tom and
the spirit of faction into the move
mcnt 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 peo-
pie of this State have the right to
expect something higher and better
from you. Your recent letter to
Mr.. Higgins was a calm, sane and
judicial statement of your attitude
on the dispensary question, but for
this very reason it was distastcful
in certain quarters, and you were
accused of straddlimg. You gave
that letter out as an expression of
your views, and, my name having
been kindly suggested by you, l
was asked to answer it in The New
Voice. | declined to do so for the
simple reason that in this county
we wish to test the dispcnsary
question on its merits and, there
fore, desire to exclude every posi-
bic phase of "Tillmanism."
SHIFTING OF GROUND.
In the Higgins letter you rccog-
nized the widespread and we'll
founded belief that the dispcnsary
is corrupt in it's administration
and that the present agitation is an
expression of popular dissatisfaction.
But in your Edgcficld speech you
shifted your ground, and took the
position that the movement is po-
litical in significance and is a 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 to-
gcther and did nothing but appoint
a committee; that ever since you
were governor you have given adj
vice 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 dispensary.
In you Edgefield speech you said
that if the next legislature does not
adopt certain suggestions that you
intend to make, you will help to
elect legislature that will. And
you said, by implication at least,
that you will go to the Reform
ers" for that legislature.
appeal from Philip drunk to
Philip sober-from the temper of
the Edgefeld speech to the tone of
the Higgins letter. In Newbcrry
there is no disposition to make an
attack upon you under cover of a
movement against the dispensary.
1t is not a political movement. 1t
was begun in an off year in order
that it might be a test of great
moral question, unclouded by per-
sonal and political considerations.
1t is not movement of the poll
ticians, but a movement of the
people. You have doubtless noticed
that the counties that were strongly
Conservative" are not in the
movement.
DUTY TO SOUTH CAROLINA's YOUTH.
do not question your right to
take part in the discussion. Inde-
pendently of the fact that you are
the author of the system in this
State, it would be strange if you
were to remain silent. BY virtue
of your high office and of your great
influence it is your duty to speak,
but to speak sanely and tcmperately
as you did in the Higgins letter.
You owe a great deal. to the youth
of this State; you owe them the
best that you have to give. When
the dispensary was first put on
trial there may have been good
reason for an appeal to o. faction,
but that reason no longer exists.
The system has been on trial more
than IL 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
craftsmanship and not of partisan
politics.
Besides, you have too much
sagacity to fear that this movement
against the dispensary can endanger
yo,1r pOlitical fntura Won oooupy