The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-08-23
AIR. eRohER TO Mr.. TILLhAA.
A RINGING APPEAL AGAINST
BASE FACTIoNAL1SM.

Ex-President Of Newberry College
Summons the Father of the South
Carolina Whiskey Selling Law to
Leave Out of the Dispensary
Discussion Fact;onal Politics.
TIE Moral Issue Alone
Involved.
The Hon. George B. Cromer, former
president Of Newberry College, has
addressed the following open letter
to Senator B. r. Tillman:
The Hon. B. r. TiHnan.-Dear
Sir: I protest against the introduc-
ton of the tom-tom and the spirit OF
faction into the movement by which
the merits of the dispensary are to be
tested. The tom-tom is the instru-
nent Of one juggler and factionalism
is the resort of the politician. The
people of this State have the right
to expect something higher and bet
ter from you. Your recent latter to
Mr.. Higgins was calm, sane and
judicial statement of your attitude on
the dispensary question, but for this
very reason it was distasteful in GER
tain quarters, and you were accused
Of straddling. You gave that letter
out as an expression Of your views,
and, my name having been kindly
suggested by you, was asked to
answer it in the New Voice. I declin-
ed to do so-for the simple reason
that in this county we wish to test
the, dispensary question on its merits.
and, therefore, desire to exclude ev-
cry possible phase of ''Tilln1anism. y
In the Higgins letter you recog-
nized the widespread and well-found-
ed beliai that the dispensary is cor
rupt in its administration, and that
the present agitation is an expression
of popular dissatifaction. But in
your Edgefeld speech you shifted
your ground, and took the position
that the movement is, political in
significance and is 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 together and did
nothing but appoint q. committee;
that ever since you were governor
you have given advice and made
suggestions, but that your opinion
has had no weight with the legisla-
ture; and that if the next legislature
does not apply the remedy, you will
help to kill the dispensary.
BY Implication.
In your Edgefeld speech you said
that ii 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 Reformers for
that legislature.
I appeal from Philip drunk to
Philip sober-from the temper Of the
Edgefeld speech to the tone Of the
Higgins letter. In Newberry there is
no disposition to make an attack upon
you under cover Of movement
against the dispensary. It is not g..
political movement It was begun
in an off year in order that it might
be test Of a great moral question,
unclouded by personal and political
considerations. It is not a movement
Of the politicians, but a movement Of
the people. You have doubtless no
ticed that the counties that were
strongly "Conservative" are not in the
movement.
do not question your right to take
part in the discussion. independent
ly 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 tenaperately 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 a faction, but that
reason no longer exists. The system
has been on trial more than twelve
years. It will soon be voted on by
thousands of men who were only
eight or nine years old when it was