The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-10-28
SENATOR 1|LLMAN IS NEUTRAL
"BCT. If TOM FIELDER, OR ANY.
BODY ELSE, PROVES-ACTUAI
LN PROVES - BLEASE Is
CROOKED; I'LL FIGHT
HIM."
Senator Says Blease is Mistaken in
Some Things the Latter Has Said
If Judge Jones Fights Blease,
Using Blease Tactics, and on
Blesac's Record, Jones Will Win.

Using Blease Tactics, and on
Blesac's Record, Jones Will Win.
Augusta Chronicle.
The statement given by Governor
Blease al Barnwell Tuesday contains
nothing new To me; for it is only d
rewrlte OF a letter l wrote him re-
Gently, and in which | wrote nothing
TO lead him to believe that [ had any
intention Of doing otherwise in the
approaching gubernational contest,
than | stated 10 YOU when you We're
mere few weeks ago; that is, that
intend 70 remain strictly neutral in
the campaign" said Senator b .R.
Tillman yesterday, at his home in
Trenton, TO representative Of The
Chronicle.
Il could not afford to take sides in
the contest for both Governor Biease
and Judge Jones are personal and po-
litical friends of mine, and | have
told Blease that l 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 be-
fore I told any one else"
Senator Tillman smiled several
times, and winked. during the reading
of the article to him by the newspap
er mamie somehow had missed get
ting MS 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 moth
ing yet. The newspapers, somehow,
always have some kind of a story
about Blease. while you see very lit
lie 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
considering entry into the race him
self. 1t has been his ambition to be
governor. and he thought that. with
my condition-supposed to be liable
to drop off at any moment-if he
could beat Blease and be governor.
h would be in line for promotion and
be ahle to beat any other man: and
he was one of the most surprised
men in the State when Judge Jones
announced himself.
'The other error Blease makes is
in saying that l was about TO publish
a letter endorsing him in 1910, but
was persuaded from it by a news.
paper.
Il did write letter such as he
speaks Of but l did not publish it. I
changed my mind, and no newspaper.
nor man connected with a newspaper.
not being published after it was writ
ten.
However. voted for Blease In the
second primary. I voted for Richards
in the first" rs
Commenting further on the situa
ton. or as he called 1t, "muddfe. sth.
senator said that because he had pro-
claimed neutrality, it did not follow
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. Governor Blease says in
his statement that there are no dif.
ferences between YOU and him. Is
mat true?' was asked by the news
paper man.
There are no friendly, personal
differences between us, suppose
that's what he meant"
The senator said that he does no1
know who is responsible for the can
didacy OF Judge Jones but that ne
had no idea but what Judge Jones
tod the truth when Judge Jones said
he had been urged by letters and
men all over the State to run. and that
ne had laudable ambition to be