Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-04-21
TO INSTRUCT OR NOT.
Summary of National Political Sltua-
ton In South Carolina.
Charlotte Chronicle.

ton In South Carolina.
Charlotte Chronicle.
Columbia, S. c., April 1S.-The
| fight in South Carolina over Bryan is
| not so important or bitter as the
the fight in New York, but it is warm
enough and will come to the issue on
| the goth of May, when the state DEM
ocratic convention meets in this city
| to elect delegates to the Denver con-
vention. At present the fight on the
surface is a newspaper war, but In
reality the choice of delegates Is at
stake.
The leading Bryan boomer in South
Carolina at this time is the aggressive
and powerful Columbia paper, The
State, the editor Of which, Capt. Will
| liam T.. Gonzales is a candidate for
delegate te-at-large to the Denver con-
yention. Whether the advocacy or
Bryan by The State is intended to ad-
vance the candidacy of Capt. Coma
les or whether the candidacy or capt.
| Gonzales is intended to advance the
candidacy of Bryan Is not necessary
to induire and ii Is sufficient to say
that Capt. Gonzales is looked upon as
the chief Bryan advocate In south
Carolina today. He is putting full
days work for Bryan through the
editorial columns OF The State six
days i'm the week, resting from politics
| for Sunday. The State has always
been Il Bryan paper. but In 1904 was
the chief supporter of Parker i'm South
Carolina before the st. Louis conven-
ton. Since then Captain Gonzales has
entertained Bryan at an elaborate lun-
cheon at his elegant home In this
city. when Mr.. Bryan spoke here
about a year and a half ago. II Bry-
an should become president, the edi-
! tor of The State, along with Senator
Tillman, would undoubtedly have a
say-so in things political in South Car
oina.
On the other hand the chief oppo-
nent of Bryan in this state Is The
News and Courier of Charleston, the
other great daily newspaper OF the
state, which has never been Bryanish
| in it's politics, but, on the contrary,
was a gold-bug in 1896, though not
supporting Palmer and Buckner. The
News and Courier has for some
months been sounding the praises OF
John Johnson, and the editor of that
paper, Major ]. c. Hemphill, one OF
the most forceful editorial writer's in
the south, speaks from intimate per-
sonal acquaintance when he extols
the Minnesota man, as Major Hemp
hill and Governor Johnson served to-
gether on the international policy
holders committee two years ago
when the insurance fight was on.
From the friendship formed at that
time, Major Hemphill entertains a
high regard for the ability of Govern
or Johnson.
The debate at this time is taking
the form of a discussion Of the advis-
ability of sending a delegation TO
Denver instructed for Bryan or unin-
structed at all, The State contending
for an instructed delegation very We
hemently and The News and Courier
holding that this Is unwise and unde-
sirahle from every standpoint. The
situation in this state is just about the
same as in other states; the Bryan
men seem afraid to trust their cham
pion's chances to a convention OF un-
| instructed delegates while the anti
BRYAN men believe that Bryan can be.
defeated for the nomination II the
convention is not bound to him before
| it convenes.
The most powerful figure in South
Carolina politics is Senator Tillman
when national politics Is concerned,
| though he can no longer control do
mestic politics as he did 15 years ago.
But Senator Tillman is sick In Attain
| ia and has announced his intention
kinds behind for the sake Of his I'M
paired health. Senator Tillman Is
pretty close to Bryan in a way, though
at times he has differed from the
Nebraskan sharply on matters Of par
ty policy and has said so to Bryan's
face. However, should Bryan be-
come president, Tillman would be an
even larger natural figure than he
is now. OF course neither The
State nor The News and Courier Is a
Tillman paper, though the Charleston
paper is more friendly to him than Is
the Columbia paper. The State re-
Gently sent a staff man to interview
the senator and he was asked his
opinion as to the proper course for
the state convention to take. He
pointed out very clearly the danger or
instructing for Bryan-which lies In
the possibility of the Republican con-
vention being stampeded for Roose-
welt, and Bryan having already en-
dorsed most of Roosevelts policies.
He said, however, that II Taft Is to be
the Republican nominee, Bryan
should be put up by the Democrats
and would have a good chance OF
election, but as the Republican con-
vention meets alte rthan the Demo-
cratic state convention, the senator's
position is taken up as advising
against instructing the delegates.
In 1904 when an effort was made
to instruct the state delegation for
Parker. Senator Tillman opposed the
proposition In 1900 no other candi-
date but Bryan was thought Of at all
and the convention like all other con-
ventions Of the party, sent delegations
instructed for Bryan.
1t has been customary in South
Carolina to send at least one or the
United States senator's, the governor
and the state chairman to the nation
al convention as egates-at-
In 1904, the delegates at large were
Senator Tillman. Governor Hayward,
Gen. Willie Jones, state chairman, and
Mayor Rhett. of Charleston, the late
Senator Latimer being defeated and
Mayor Rhett being put in as rec
ognition of Charleston. This year
Senator Tillman will be unable to go,
Governor Ansel has stated that he
does not care to go, but General Jones
and Senator Gary are understood to
aspire to the honor while besides Cap
tain Gonzales the names Of Capt. H.
H. Watkins, of Anderson. and Mr.. n.
3. Dial, of Laurens, both lawyers,
have been put forward by their
Watkins and Mr.. Dial stand on the
Bryan issue. General Jones does not
especially favor the idea Of instruct
ing the delegation but is great ad-
mirer of Bryan an knows him per-
sonally very well. Senator Gary, who
owes his position in the senate to
providence. is a new hand in national
politics.
The state convention not only elects
the four delegates-at-large but also
elects the fourteen district delegates
from this state and the instructions
given apply to the entire delegation II
given at all. The precinct clubs meet
on Saturday, April 25th. in this state
and the county conventions on Mon
day. May 4th, the county conventions
electing delegates to the state con-
ventiOn i'm Columbia on the goth OF
May.