The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-10-18
CREWS AND TuLM.AN.


en- out copy OK MS 'epy 10 senator
Tillman's letter which was published
some days ago. The reply Of Mr.
Crews Ia In part. as follows:
"on our nrst page will DO found
. letter from Senator Tillman to the
editor OF the Nsws-scimiter.s
In our article OF September 22.
to which Senator Tiilman refers-
The Plot Against Blease'-the only
manner In which We connected the
Senator'S name With tho plot vas
where ve sald:
Whether on not Senator Tillman
has given these conspiring politicians
any pegs on which to hang their po-
nticsi hopes. We don't knox; but
whether hs did or not. the aati-
Biesss politicians are trying to
make senator Tiliman's old friends
and supporters believe he did
Senator Tillman says that he
thinks Il unkind for us to lend our
self TO any suggestion or scheme that
viii weaken the confidence In him or
any Of his old friends and support
era Nov. We disclaim any intention
Of doing anything OF the kind. In
deed. % far from lending ouryelf to
an.' such suggestions or political
schsne In conversation with parties
who suspected that Senator Till
man had lent himself to the plot
and scheme now backing Candidate
Jones. and % accused him. we
stoutiy denied It. But the suspicion
seemed to be general. that an un.
eQuivocai denial from Senator Till.
man vas due his old friends and
supporters. and to that extent the
object of our editorial has been
accomplished. He says: The sub
Ject Of Jones' candidacy was not
discussed during my visit to Rich
ards etc. And further: I DO not
expect to take sides In the gover-
nor's race next year.
Having 90 emphaticaliy made de-
niai. the public will acQuit the SEN
ator Of all suspicion. and a. for our
self. we never ro- a minute suspect
ed that Senator Tillman was a party
60 the plot. and 30 expressed ourself
20 every one with whom We discuss
ed the matter. And In this connec-
ton. Il seems to us that Senator Till
mans umbrage ought not be against
us. but rather against those old time
auti-Ttliman papers who sought TO
create the impression that he was
favorable to and aiding In the
scheme to have Jones supplant
Biease as governor-and this, too.
right on the heels Of the Senator'S
visit TO Mr.. Richards.
Senator Tillman seems to labor
under the impression that somebody
or other has suggested the scheme
10 IN and that we were lending our
self To such suggestion. In harbor-
fng such suspicion. senator. you are
- 'unkind' as you accuse me Of be-
ing 'unkind' to you. During all the
yeSrs that I have written and fought
for you. I always wrote and spoke
my own convictions. not somebody
eise's. and IL have Matched a
mares nest in exposing that Jones'
Richards scheme was only fol-
lowing a policy which I loyalty prac-
ticed In your behalf ever since you
have been in public life--a mares
nest policy that you have never
heretofore found fault with. and
whether OF not they were mares
nests you have only TO ask your
political enemies who read the
IAurensviiie Herald when II was
your s'auchest champion.
But the burden OF Senator Till
mans letter. however. doesn't seem
To be so much. vindication Of him
self from such an assassin's blow
as II - an effort 90 clear Mr.. Rich
ards political skirts. Granting all
Senator Tillman says az To nj, hav-
Ing no connection with any plot
against Blease. nor even discussed
Jones candidacy. that doesn't clear
Richards and zones from the poll
fical conspiracy with which we
connected them. The very fact that
Richards has known all along that
Senator Tillmans candidacy for the
senate depended entirely on the
condition OF the senator's health was
the moving spirit that prompted
Jones visit and hts and Richards
political rrame-up. Possibly the
fact dawned upon them that Senator
H.. --zI-a