The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-08-20
1ILLMAN ADDRESSED
PEOPLE OF CHESTER
SPOKE AT RICHBURG TO COUN-
TY FARMERS UNION.
Address Lacked None Of the Former
Vigor Which Has Characterized
Former Utterances.
GO. .lmbia. State.

sav Senator Ben Tillman is an in
valid and has lost his power Of in
vec:ive?
The Senator Tillman who address
ed some 5000 people assembled from
every part Of Chester county. and
from over the State, at the Chester
County Farmers union rally and pic
nc today saw a man in rugged health
with power Of invective unlmpalred,
and welding his pitchfork with all
the vigo- that has made him unique
IN public life.
His iabs were directed at the press
of he State in general and The State
in particular; at the railroads; at the
Stale senate and at the present cam
paign for compulsory education. He
also handled the negro question at
considerable length.
This was the first public address
made by Senator Tillman in Sc h
Carolina in the past year. He will
make a number Of speeches during
this and next week in South Carolina
and promises to rub it in' on the
Interests that have incurred his antag-
onism.
The speech at this place was made
in response to an invitation from the
Chester County Farmers union. He
was introduced by Senator P. L. Har-
din Of Chester county.
IN opening, Senator Tillman said
he could not brag Of being a farmer,
but that he has little farm on which
he las better crop than any he has
seen. He acknowledged that he him
self is not much of a farmer; in fact
tina: his farming is usually consid-
cred something Of joke. He alluded
to MS long absence from home, and
said his return from time to time
vas to get some clean clothes. Sub
stantially he said:
II have been among the Northern
Yankees, hammering into them a bet
ter understanding Of the negro ques-
ton. With the Yankees Of the North
the negro problem is theory; with
US Of the South it is a condition.
Il am not yet member OF the
Farmers union. I was a member OF
ehe Grange and Of the Alliance, and l
will give the Farmers union chance
TO reject me.
II am not going to make a pre-
pared speech. I don't cook up my
speeches before I come to meet my
people. will say something about
the matter Of mileage system the rail-
roads, with the connivance Of your
penal legislature, have imposed upon
you.
There is no reason why when the
railroads in South Carolina sell a
mileage book for 1000 miles at 2
cents a mile they should require you
to take your mileage book to the tick
ct agent and buy ticket to where
you are going. In the State Of Penn
:sylvania the mileage in a book IS
good on the train for any distance
within the 1000 miles, and can be
used to pay the fare of yourself and
family and anybody else, as long
as the mileage lasts. The railroad
company gets your money. You get
the mileage and use it to pay your
fare.
t:In South Carolina they make you
20 20 the ticket agent and exchange
your mileage for a ticket, often caus-
ing delay.
This morning when my wife and
] went to take the train at Bolton
the connection was short. and l hur-
ried to the ticket office to get my
mileage exchanged. Before | could
get my wife's ticket through the red
tape proceedings the train started and
] had to grab up my books and we
ran to catch the train before It lett
us there.
S'When the conductor came around
he said I must pay my fare. I told
him I would be put off the train be-
fore I would submit to being made to
pay the fare over again, and l ten,
dered the mileage I bought and paid
for.
my friends, We must be given the
same rates on the railroads that the
Yankees have. You can get your
rights if you contend for them AS
long as YOU keep raseals in your leg
nslature and let them do as they please
-ou sill continue to get the worst OF
1t. / can not watch the rascals IN
- I n