The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-10-07
BEN HANDS OFF
S.nator Tillman Replies to Accusation
That BE Is Plotting
AGAINST GOV. BlEASE

Son of Late Col. T. B. Crews Charges
That Tillman Has Joined Hands
With Richards and Ira 4. Jones to
Work Defeat of Blease in Race For
Governor.
Senator Tillman has been accused
OF entering into a conspiracy with
divers persons to defeat Blease for
Governor next year. The charges
came from w. T. Crews, son of one
of Senator Tillman's most ardent
supporters during his long life, the
late Col. Thomas E. Crews, of Lau-
rens. w. T. Crews, or as he is more
widely known, "Bose" Crews, is edit
ing a newspaper In Greenwood, the
first issue Of which appeared on Sep
tember %.
Following the Announcement"
and few other matters, appears an
editorial entitled, "The Plot Against
Blease" and it is in this article that
the editor charges Senator Tillman
with conspiring and plotting with
John G. Richards and Ira B. Jones to
defeat Blease for a second term as
Governor.
Senator Tillman, who has made
public statement to the effect that he
will be hands-off in the Governors
race, was naturally little wounded
by the article, especially since it was
from the pen of one so closely relat-
ed to the Senator's staunch support
er in the days of the'90s. Consequent
ly, Senator Tillman replied to the
editorial in a letter to Bose" cop
les of which were distributed for
publication. The letter from Senator
Tillman is as follows:
Trenton, S. c., Sept. 25, 1911.
Mr.. w. T. Crews, Greenwood, IS. C.
Dear Bose: This morning mail
brings me the first number of your
new paper, The News Scimiter. was
very much surprised to find that you
had hatched a mares nest out Of my
recent visit to John G. Richards at
Liberty Hill, and have been none too
tender of his feelings, and have dealt
very unjustly with him. Although it
is perhaps not worth while, I take
the trouble to write you this letter
which you are at liberty to publish.
Your father was my stauch friend
all of his life and it will not add to
my peace Of mind or contentment to
feel before I die that his son is not
the same loyal friend that Tom Crews
was. l know your paper will circu-
late, if it circulates at all, among the
pronounced Tillmanites of the State
because the Laurensville Herald with
which you have been connected was
always one of the blue hens chick
ems and outspoken as regard Till
manism.
!
lend yourself to any suggestion or
scheme which will weaken the conf
dence in me OF any friend of mine.
You know, if you know anythinf,
that l have nothing to do and never
will have anything to do with that
Gonzales crowd, or any emissary that
they will send to me. l may be a
fool and not recognize such emissary,
but think | have sense enough to
know an ambassador or agent of that
bunch of politicians should one ap-
proach me.
Your editorial, "The Plot Against
Blease," is So unjust to Richards and
to me and so calculated to mislead
that 1 write this in order to set you
straight. In the first place, Richards
is not the anti-rubber politician and
hypocrite you insinuate he is, but an
honorable and high-toned man, and
should have been elected governor
last year, if character and ability to
serve the people creditably had been
considered by the voters. The sub
ject of Jones candidacy was not dis
cussed during my visit to Richards
and his announcement was surprise
to me.
Richards has known all along that
my candidacy for the senate depend
ed entirely on the condition of my
health, and even if am in bed un-
less wholly paralyZed, / expect to al
low the people of South Carolina
who want to do so to have the oppor-
tunity to vote for me. I am anxious
to see whether or not they appreciate
my earnest and honest efforts to serve
them these twenty-one years. So any
hint or suspicion that l can be used
in the way you suggest in the editori-
al is an insult and outrage to me
and I am shocked to have such an as
sassin's blow come from Tow Crews
son. If am reelected will not re-
sign but dit in harness.
You of all men are the last one
to insinuate that l am SO cowardly
and so easily wrapped around peo-
pies fingers that I would join any
such combination. l am astonished
at you and of course you know l am
very much hurt. l do not expect to