Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-11-01
TILLMAN SPEAKS OF THE RACE.
If Blease is Proven Crooked, Will
Fight Him Next Year.

JOnn II. McWhOrter, Of the staff of
the Augusta Chronicle, had the fol-
lowing interview with Senator Till
man, which will be Of muchsinterest
to the people Of South Carolina:
"The statement given By Cover
nor please at Barnwell Tuesday con-
tains nothing new to me; for 1t Is
only rewrite OF letter wrote him
recently, and in which wrote him
nothing to lead him to believe that
had any intention of doing other
wise in the approaching gubernato-
rial contest than | stated to YOU when
you were here few weeks ago; that
Is, that intend to remain strictly
neutral in the campaign" said Sena-
to- :. Z. Tillman, yesterday, at his
hone IL Tlenton, to a representative
of The c.. :2Hi"le.
u "cr!a not AFFORD to take sides
IN tie contest for both Governor
Blease and Judge Jones are personal
and Nt ,it!cal friends OF mine, and l
have told Blease that. also told
nam that, If saw reason to take
sides against him at any time, GER
tainly would not knife him, but
would tell him before l told any one
else"
Senator Tillman smiled several
tines, and winked, during the read
Ing of The article to him b. the
newspaper, man-he somehow had
missed getting his paper Yesterday.
1T is going to be a close fight" he
said, "and Blease is los!n" no time.
he Is campaigning now and has been
for months.
He Is keeping before the people
ana ne is making friends, while
Judge Jones is seemingly doing moth
ing yet. The newspapers, somehow,
always have some kind Of story
about Blease, while you see very lit
tie about Judge Jones.
There are two things in Blease's
statement that he is mistaken in.
though.
'One is with regard to Richards
being in frame-up to bring Judge
Jones out to oppose him. Whv I
know that Richards was seriously
considering entry into the race him
self. 1t has been his ambition to be
Governor, and he thought that, with
my condition-suppose to be liable
TO drop off at any moment--if he
could beat Blease and be Governor
he would be in line for promotion
ana be able to beat any other man;
ana ne was one Of the most surprised
men in the State when Judge ,Joncs
announced himself.
The other error Blease makes is
IN saying that ] was about to publish
a letter endorsing him in 1910. but
was persuaded from 1t by newspa-
per.
II did write a letter, such as he
speaks of, but ! did not publish It.
changed my mind, and no newspa-
per, nor man connected with news
paper had anything to do with that
letter not being published after it
was written.
However. voted for Blease in
the second primary. I voted for
Richards in the first
Commenting further on the situa-
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 arm
ed neutrality.
"But,' he said, "if Tom Fielder, or
any one else goes before the Legisla-
Lure and actually proves
nat Blease is, or has been, crooked,
I'll take sides quick and fight him;
for South Carolina is proud State
and will not stand for rottcnncss If
she knows it,"
Senator, Governor Blcasc says in
his statement that there arc no diff
fcrcnces between You and him. Is
that true?' was asked by the ncws-
paper man.
"Thcre are no friendly, personal
differences between us: I suppose
that's what he meant"
The Senator said that he does not
know who Is responsible for the can
uidacy 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 pro-
motion for the senatorial toga, if
anything should happen to me. "
'Dont you think the attitude Of
the Governor toward him as Chief
Justice and the clashes with him the
Governor has precipitated, had some
thing to do with his announcement"
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 fellow, under such circum-
stances-mcct him on his own plane
and fight him. Don't YOU? | know
] would.
"And that's Just what Jones has
got to do if he expects to win-nght
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 Bleasu's record, he will
win.'
Baby won't suffer five minutes with
If annlv mr. 'Nhnnoc' Ifp1np-