The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-08-23
THE DIspEAslRY ISSUE.
SENATOR TILLMAN REPLIES To
DIR. CRONfER.
Denies that He Has or Intends to Ap-
peal to Observation-Disclosures
Old Lines Can Not Be Drawn.

Old Lines Can Not Be Drawn.
Following is the reply Of Senator
3. r. Tillman to the "open letter. of
DR.. George B. Cromer, former pres
ident of Newberry college and now
mayor of Newberry:
Hon. Geo. B. Cromer.
My Dear Sir: AS your open let
ter" appeared in the Sunday News
and Courier and in today's Columbia
State, I presume you expect an an
sSswer through the same medium.
] desire in the beginning to express
my appreciation Of your kindly and
complimentary illusions to myself.
value them more highly because
in the past you have not been my
& political friend.
have read your letter carefully
and have endeavored to judge your
arguments and weigh the points you
present as 'sanely'' as may be. It
2sis not always possible for men to
/ agree even though both are actuated
BY the highest and purest motives,
fand it is Therefore natural that you
should misjudge me In some things
aud disagree with me in others.
Now about the appeal to factional-
ism: deny absolutely that have
made such an appeal or intend to
make such an appeal, and in justii-
catIon of the truthfulness Of this
J statement let me remind, you Of what
said at Edgefeld. 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 the strongest support
-aers of the dispensary now are men
who were and are yet probably Con-
servatives while some Of its most Bit
ter antagonists are former Reform
ers. It therefore cannot be charged
that I am endeavoring to draw the
old lines which rent the State in
! twain Again: 81 want this matter
settled entirely apart from my per-
sonal and political fortunes. It is
much greater question for the people
of South Carolina as to how they
shall wisely and best govern the sale
of nouor than as to whether I or
some one else represents them in the
senate. know there are many men
who will vote for me regardless OF
their formes political affiliations and
Of their present attitude on this
question, and it is possible that there
VIII be many who viii be aggrieved
: at my activity IN dealing with the
question -
When public man is vicioiusly
attacked with SANDER and abuse and
there is every indication Of a pur-
ese to press that attack in the next
3 amocratic primary with view to
kshis overthrow, it seems to- me it is
perfectly legitimate for him to give
notice to his friends and his enemies
alike to what is going on and let all
hands understand that he is prepared
TO fight. This is all I have done and
so far from expecting to make plea
to the Reformers, as you charge to
be my purpose t'by Implication"
have expressly said that the old lines
could not be drawn and want the
issue settled entirely apart from my
personal and political fortunes.
When I wrote my letter to Mr..
Higgins I merely alluded to the
4.true inwardness Of this movement"
which I then realized was being en-
gineered 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
the movement is political and
covert attack upon me. Your asser-
ton is too sweeping, my dear doctor.
The movement" against the dispen-
sary among the people arises from
the dissatisfaction with the manage
rnent and strong belief in corruption
which exists; but while the people
are fighting the dispensary either to
purify or destroy it the leaders are
fighting me. You may not be. In
fact know you are not and probably
there are many others who have no
such feeling or purpose, but look at
the numerous evidences Of the polit-
fcal purpose and significance OF the
movement in the minds Of the lead
ers. One Of these who attended the
Coy hi