The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-07-04
Tillman to Have
His Own Primary
Objects to Being Limited in Time of Speaking

An address to the People of the
State:
Fellew citizen: The primary sys-
tenn of the Democratic party in South
Carolina is very largely my own work
The canvass of the candidates from
county to county seeking office dis
cussing issues and letting the people
meet them face to face is an essential
and very valuable feature of our polit-
ical machinery. The daily papers
have always opposed this programme
because it broke up the old system un-
der which the editors of those papers
exercised immense power and in a
measure dictated our politics. Unable
to get the constitution changed so as
to do away with this state campaign,
they have hit upon device of render
ing it imperative and largely nugato-
ry by giving very meager, uninpor-
tant and often garbled accounts Of the
speeches. The people being told that
the candidates are saying nothing, do
not turn out to the meetings and this
makes the plan failure, because the
people do not see or hear the men who
want their votes and the newspapers
accomplish their purpose of controll-
ing our politics.
The meetings are rendered ridicul-
GUS by the short time given to any
candidate in which to present his
views and make known his qualitica-
tions. The discussion instead of being
educative, enabling the voters TO select
the candidate whose personality and
platform are most to his liking, are
farces. No man can do himself or any
important subject justice in the ten,
twenty and thirty minutes time al
lotted to him under the plan now be-
ing carried out and something must
be done to change this condition or
government by newspaper will come
again 10 stay. have no quarrel with
the newspapers of our state, but moth
ing ever broke up the old ring which
governed the state prior to 1890 except
the joint discussion between the cam
didates for governor, and nothing will
restore the conditions of ring rule 80
easily and inevitably as to have such
rules and regulations as are now being
carried out. Every candidate wants
hearing in every county, but he does
not get il, and the people are unwill-
ing 10 lose the day, especially when
they are busy in their farms, listening
to the kind of speeches that are being
made, and no other kind can be made
under the circumstances. There are
about twenty-five candidates, leaving
. out those who have no opposition and
who therefore have no need 10 speak,
and where congressional candidate
has opposition this number is increas-
ed.
have something I want to say to
the people of the state, because l be-
lieve it IL my duty to say it, but l am
am unwilling 10 join the present state
campaign party and be limited in my
speeches. as / must be. 1t would be
unjust to the others if were not linn
tied. l, therefore, have decided that
l will attend none of the state cam
paign meetings, unless specially invit-
ed TO do so 10y the county executive
committee, and shall have all the time
/ want. Instead I give notice that af-
ter the 7th of July, when shall make
my first speech at Sandy Flat, in
Greenville county, will be ready and
am desirous Of the opportunity 10 ad-
dress the people at picnics Ur other
public gatherings to be held always
IN the open air at such time and place
as may be desired that l shall speak
to them. Of course, I will reserve the
right to select the counties in which
1 will accept invitations and will ar
range 10 Accommodate as many as pos
sible in the month which / will de-
vote to This work. / have no object
inn on1 mill u,a1nnpna tho
of such other officials and candidates
rs my friends may see fit to invite.
A moments reflection will show that
the programme now being carried out
of limiting speeches would be altogeth-
er TO my advantage because MIR.
Lumpkin could never make much of
an impression in the limited. time
which he can obtain. While he
thinks candidates for the senate
should not discuss state issues, l think
very differently and want to discuss
them, but I can do no good and will
waste lot of valuable time, which l
had rather devote to rest and recuper-
alton after my hard winters work than
follow the campaign as it is being con-
Quoted. Mr.. Lumpkin will be at lib
erty to tell the people all about nation
al issues that do not know, while /
will tell the people about state affairs
and how they have been mismanaged
and how they. ought to be reformed.
At this time / have only two en-
gagements in the State, one at Sandy
Flat, in Greenville county, on July
7th, and one at Elloree, in Orangeburg
county, July l4th, the place where l
made my second speech in the state.
AS soon as 1 have arranged schedule
of meetings l will announce the dates
and places and shall hope to make
the meetings thus arrange both in
structive and satisfactory to those who