Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-10-30
CALL TO DEMOCRATS.
Senator Tillman Issues Open
Letter Points to Danger to
Preservation of Demo-
cratic Party.

sue warning to the people of the
state. The Democratic party re-
deemed the state from radical and
negro rule and it has been in full
possession of all branches or the
state government since 1875. 1t
has had two senators and the full
delegation in the house of repre-
sentatives since the constitution
went into effect. We have had
honest government. and in the
main good government, and no
good citizen has any right to COM
plain.
The new constitution adopted in
1895 insures white supremacy
which every sensible man recog-
nizes as necessary fcr continuance
of good government. For just so
sure as the sun rises and sets every
day the mixing of the negro in our
politics again will bring demorallza-
tion and inaugurate an era of ex-
travagance and waste and dishon-
esty in governmental affairs. As
long as the white men stand shoul-
der to shoulder with unbroken ranks
there is no opening or opportunity
for the negro voters to get finger
in the public pie. But all expert
ence teaches that where the negroes
are active in politics corruption,
venality and rottenness abound. Is
it possible to have decent white
Republican party in South Caroli-
ma! Are there enough honest and
honorable white Republicans to be
trusted with any political power at
all? My experience and observation
teaches me to say emphatically,
no" Why then should the white
people of the state divide into hos
tile ranks unless those who are
responsible for the division desire
corrupt politics and rottenness in
office?
| am led to speak thus because
tie papers are more Or less full of
the sophislries and falsehoods of
so-called Democrats who are trying
TO bamDoozle and deceive the peo-
pie into voting for Roosevelt of the
Bull Moose party with the plea that
their participation in the last Dem
ocratic primary does not bind them
to support the Democratic presiden
l...l electors. Are we to witness
the spectacle of white men claim
ing to be Democrats and voting in
the Democratic primaries deserting
their brothurs in the presidential
fight? Can any honorable citizen
persuade himself that he can do this
and remain in good standing in
this party, or be allowed to partici-
pate in the next primaries. / serve
notice now that as far as any intiu-
elce | possess goes the primary
rules shall be made so stringent that
any such treachery as this will for
ever bar such white men from par
ticipation in our governmental af-
fairs. ask all good citizens to be
watchful at the polls on November
5th and take down the names of all
SO. called Democrats who desert and
vote for Roosevelt electors. 1t
ought to be an easy matter to watch
and see who vote for the straight
Democratic ticket or who vote the
Bull Moose ticket. THIS threaten
ed treachery leads me TO warn my
Democratic fellow citizens against
, apathy and Indifference. Cur pri-
maries have so long been the real
5 election and the November election
, the ratification or legalizing of the
primary that our people have grown
careless. This is one time that the
old adage, Eternal vigilance is the
price of liberty" should be recalled
and lived up to. We mast take no
chances and l hope every good white
citizen will go to the polls on 30
vember 9TH and vote the full Dem
ocra,ic ticket. Whether he voted
for Jones or Blease IN the primary
it is his duty to elect Wood1ow
Wilson and those men who stand
for good national government. As
between Taft and Roosevelt | know
that Taft is the better man of the
two.
As between Roosevelt and VIII
son for the presidential office, the
difference is so great and the con-
trast so much to Wilson's adEant-
age | cannot understand why any
, good citizen Of South Carolina
, should hesitate. Roosevelt gave us
T Crum; he is only trying 10 deceive
the people now because of his greed
for power. He is utterly Unscru-