The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-08-17
AN OPEN LETTER
TO SENATOR TILLMAN.
MASTERLY REVIEW OF DISPENSARY
SITUATION BY DR.. GEORGE B.
CR0MER.

ceiNl by The State fo. publications:
HonN r IIl!ma".
Dear Sir: | protest against the
Introduction of the tOm-tom and the
spirit of faction into the movement
by which the merits of the dispen-
sary are to be tested. The tom-tou
is tie instrument of the juggler and
factionallsm is the resort of the poll
tician. The people of this State
have the right to expect something
higher and better from YOU. Your
recent letter to Mr. Higgins was
calm, sane and judicial statement of
your attitude on the diSpensary
question, but for this very reason 1t
was distasteful in certain quarters.
and you were accused of straddllng.
You gave that letter out as an eS-
preston of your views, and my name
having been kindly suggested by
you, | was asked to answer it in the
New Voice. declined to do so for
the simple reason that in this coun-
try we wish to test the dispensary
question on its merits and, therefore,
desire to exclude every possible phase
of "Tilllnanisnl.'
In the Higgins letter you recog-
nized the widespread and well
founded belief that the present agi-
tation is an expression of popular
dissatisfaction. But in your Edge
speech You shifted your ground, and
took the position that the move
ment is political in Signitican and Is
covert attack upon You.
In the Higgins letter you said that
the remedy for the corruption rests
with the legislature the friends and
enemies of the dispensaly got to.
gether and did nothing but appoint
committee; that ever since You
were governor You have given ad-
vice and made suggestions, bul 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 your Edgefeld speech yon said
that if the next legislature does not
adopt certain suggestions that You
mend to make, you will help to
elect Il legislature that will. And
you said by implication at least, that
YOU will 60 to the "Reformers" for
that legislature.
appeal flom Philip drunk to
Philip sober-from the temper of
the Edgefield speech to the tone of
the Higgins letter. In Newberry
there is no disposition to make AZ
attack upon you under cover Of II
movement against the dispensary. 1t
is not Il political movement. 1t WAS
begun in an off year in order that it
might be test of great moral
question, unclouded by personal and
political considerations. 1t is net
movement of the politicians, but a
movement of the people You have
doubtless noticed that the counties
that were strongly "Conservative'
are not in the movement.
do not question your right to
take part in the discussion. nde-
pendendently 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 temperately
as YOU did in the Higgins letter. You
owe great deal to the youth of this
State. You owe them the best that
you have to give. When the as
pensary was first put ON trial there
may have been " good reason for an
appeal toa faction, t that reason
no longer exists. The<ystem has
been oa trial more than II 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 en-