Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-10-27
BLEASE AND JONES.
Senator TiIIman Gives the Augusta
Chronicle Another Interview.

The Augusta Chronicle of yesterday
contains the following interview with
Senator Tillman, by John l. McWhor-
ter, a staff correspondent:
The statement given by Governor
Blease at Barnwell Tuesday, contains
nothing new to me; for 1t Is only re-
write of letter l wrote him recently,
and in which / wrote nothing to lead
him to believe that had any intention
of doing otherwise in the approaching
gubernatorial contest, than l stated to
you when you were here "a few weeks
ago; that is, that l intend to remain
strictly neutral in the campaign said
Senator B. R. Tillman, yesterday, at
his home in Trenton, to a representa-
tive of the Chronicle.
Il could not afford to takes sides in
the contest, for both Governor Blease
and Judge Jones are personal and po-
litical 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, l certainly would not
knife him, but would tell him before
l told any one else"
Senator Tillman smiled several
times, and winked, during the reading
of the article to him by the newspaper
mamie somehow had missed getting
his paper yesterday.
1T is going to be a 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 nothing yet.
The newspapers, somehow, always
have some kind Of a story about
Blease, while you see very little about
Judge Jones.
There are two things in Blease's
statement that he is mistaken in,
though.
"One is with regard to Richards be-
ing in a frame up to bring Judge
Jones out to oppose him. why, l
know that Richards was seriously con-
sidering entry into the race himself.
1t has been his ambition to be COVER
nor and he thought that, with my con-
dition-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 Jones announced himself.
THE other error Blease makes Is In
saying that | was about to publish a
letter endorsing him in 1910, but was
DeTSudueu lIOlIl IL ny a newspaper
Il did write a letter, such as he
speaks of, but did not publish it.
changed my mind, and no newspaper.
nor man connected with a newspaper,
had anything to do with that letter
not being published after it was writ
ten.
However, l voted for Blease in the
second primary. l voted for Richards
in the first"
Commenting further on the situation,
or as he called it, "muddle." the sem
ator said that because he had pro-
claimed neutrality, it did not follow
that he must maintain an armed neu-
trality.
But" he said, IF Tom Fielder, or
any one else, goes before the legsla-
ture and proves-actually proves-that
Blease is, or has been, crooked, I'll
take sides quick and fight him; for
South Carolina is a proud state and
will not stand for rottenness if she
knows it."
Senator, Governor 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 diff
| ferences between us. l suppose that's
what he meant"
The senator said that he does not
know who is responsible for the can
didacy 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 a laudable ambition to be gov
ernOr and lin line of promotion" for
the senatorial toga, ''if anything
| should happen to me-
Don't you think the attitude of the
! governor toward him as chief justice,
and the clashes with him the COVER
nor has precipitated, had something
to do with his announcements" was
asked.
"Why. if a man has any spirit and
pugnacity in him at all, should think
he would want to get at the other fell
low. under such circumstances meet
ing him on his own plane. and fight
him. Don't you? l know | would.
And that's just what Jones has
got to do if he expects to win-fight
him. He has got to take the stump
and fight-and he's got to use Blease
tactics. If he does that and makes
his fight on Blease's record, he will
Win'