The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-10-28
what He SAYS
Senator Tillman Defines Ris Position 10
Gubernaiorial Race.
BLEASE is MISTAKEN

Says He Will Be Neutral and Gives
His Reasons-Thinks Jones Has
Good Chance to yVin-Would Not
Fight Blease Unless He is Proven
Crooked.
"The statement given by Gov.
Bisase at Barnwell Tuesday contains
nothing new to me; for it is only a
rewrite of a letter I wrote him re-
Gently, and in which l wrote nothing
to lead him to believe that I had any
intention Of doing otherwise in the
approaching gubernatorial contest,
than [ stated to you when you were
here few weeks ago; that is that
intend to remain strictly neutral in
the campaign" said Senator B. R.
Tillman Wednesday,. at his home in
Trenton to a representative of The
Chronicle.
Il could not afford to take sides in
the contest for both Gov. 'Blease and
Judge Jones are personal and politi-
cal friends of mine, and l have told
Blease that. I also told him that, if
saw reason to take sides against
him at any time certainly would
not knife him, but would tell him
before I told any one else"
Senator Tillman smiled several
times, and winked during the read
ing of the article to him by the
newspaper mamie somehow had
missed getting his paper Wednes-
day.
"It is going to be close fight" he
said "and Blease is losing no time.
He is campaigning now and has been
for months.
"He is keeping before the people
and he is making friends, while
Judge Jones is seemingly doing moth
ing yet. The newspapers, somehow
always have some kind of story
about Judge Jones.
There are two things in Blease's
statement that he is mistaken in
though.
zone is with regard to Richards
being in a frame-up to bring Judge
Jones out to oppose him. Why l
know that Richards was seriously
considering entry into the race him
self. It has been his ambition to be
governor and he thought that, with
my ondition-supposed to be liable
to drop off at any moment-if he
could beat Blease and be governor,
he would be in line for promotion
and be able to beat any other man;
and he was one Of the most surprised
men in the State when Judge Jones
announced himself.
1.-THE other error Blease makes Is
in saying that was about to pub
lish a letter indorsing him in 1910,
but was persuaded from it by news
paper.
81 did write letter such as he
speaks of, but I did not publish it. l
changed my mind, and no newspaper
nor man connected with newspaper
had anything to do with that letter
not being published after it was
written.
However I voted for Blease in the
second primary, I voted for Richards
in the first"
Commencing further on the situ-
ton or as he called it, "muddle," :"
the senator said that because he had
proclaimed neutrality it did not fol-
low that he must maintain an armed
neutrality.
But" he said, "If Tom Fielder or
any one else goes before the legisla-
ture and proves actually proves
that Blease is, or has been, crooked
III take sides quick and fight him;
for South Carolina is proud State
and will not stand for rottenness if
she knows it..
Senator Gov. Blease says in his
statement that there are no differ
ences between you and him. Is that
true?" was asked by the newspaper
man.
There are no friendly, personal
differences between us. l suppose
that's what he meant"
The senator said that he does not
know who is responsible for the can
dida cy Of Judge Jones but that he
had no idea but what Judge Jones
told the truth when Judge Jones said
he had been urged by letters and
men all over the State to run, and
that he had laudable ambition to
be governor and 'in line OF promo
ton" for the senatorial toga "if any
thing should happen to me-"
Don't you think the attitude of
the governor toward him as chief
justice, and the clashes with him
the governor has precipitated had
something to do with his announce
ment?" was asked.
"Why, if man has any spirit and
pugnacity in him at all I should
think he would want to get at the
other fellow, under such circumstan-
ces-meet him on his own plane
and fight him. Don't you? / know l
would.
"And that's just what Jones has
not ~ do 20 bo oyDaotc to uin-fipht