Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-26
REFUSES TO BE LIMITED.
Senator TilIman Issues an Address to
the Voters.

OeudLOT lHlUldU toodco Nu 1SNsSee ~
the Voters.
Senator Tillman has given out the
following address to the voters Of the
state:
Fellow Citizens: The primary system
Of the Democratic party In South Car
olina 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 politi-
cal machinery. The daily papers have
always opposed this programme be-
cause 1t broke up the old system under
which the editors of those papers exer-
cised immense power and in q 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 rendering 1t
imperative and largely nugatory by
giving very meager, unimportant and
often garbled accounts of the speeches.
The people being told that the candi-
dates are saying nothing, do not turn
out to the meetings and this makes
the plan a failure because the people
do not see or hear the men who want
their votes and the newspapers accom-
plished their purpose Of controlling our
politics.
The meetings are rendered ridiculous
by the short time given to any candi-
date In which to present his views and
make known his qualifications. The
discussions instead of being educative,
enabling the voters to select the can
didate 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 ana
thirty minutes time allotted to him
under the plan now being carried out
and something must be done to change
this condition or government by news
paper will come again to stay. have
no quarrel with the newspapers or our
state, but nothing ever broke up the
old ring which governed the state prior
to 1890 except the joint discussions.
between the candidates for governor,
and nothing will restore the conditions
of ring rule so easily and inevitably as
to have such rules and regulations as
are now being carried out. Every cam
didate wants a hearing In every county
but he does not get 1t, and the people
are unwilling to 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 candi-
dates. leaving out those who have no
opposition and who, therefore, having
no need to speak, and where a con-
gressional candidate has opposition this
number Is increased.
| have something / want to say to
the people of the state, because l be-
lieve It Is my duty to say 1t, but l
am unwilling to join the present state
campaign party and be limited In my
speeches, as l must be. 1t would be
unjust to the others If were not linn
tied. l. therefore have decided That
I will attend none Of the state cam
paign meetings, unless specially invited
TO do so by the county executive COM
mittee, and shall have all OF the time
want. Instead I give notice that af-
ter the 7th of July, when l will make
my first speech at Sandy Flat, in
Ireenville county, I will be ready and
am desirous of the opportunity to ad-
dress the people at picnics or other
public gatherings to be held always In