The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-10-29
TILLNAN'S WARNING
TO 5. c. DEMOCRATS
SAYS THERE is DANGER TO PRES.
ERYATION OF PARTY.
He Hits Roosevelt-Says He Gave
South Carolina Crum-Danger OF
Political Corruption.

Senator B. R. Tillman issued the fol-
lowing open letter to Democrats from
his home in Trenton, S. c., yesterday:
AS South Carolina's representative
ON the National Democratic committee,
/ feel it my duty to issue warning to
the people of the State. The Demo
cratic party redeemed the State from
radical and negro rule and it has been
in full possession of all branches OF
the State government since 1875. 1t
has had two senators and the full
delegation in the house of representa-
tiyes since the new constitution went
into effect. We have had honest gov
ernment, and in the main good gov
ernment, and no good citizen has any
right to complain.
The new constitution adopted in 1895
insures white supremacy which every
sensible man recognizes as necessary
for q continuance of good government
For Just so sure as the sun rises ana
sets every day the mixing of the negro
in our politics again will bring demor-
alization and inaugurate an era Of
extravagance and waste and dlshon-
esty in governmental affairs. AS long
as the white men stand shoulder to
shoulder with unbroken ranks there is
no opening or opportunity for the
negro voters to get finger in the
public pie. But all experience teaches
that where the negroes are active IN
politics corruption, venality and rot
tenness abound. Is it possible to have
a decent white Republican party in
South Carolina? Are there enough
honest and honorable white Republl-
cans to be trusted with any political
power at all? My experience and OBJ
ser7ation teaches me to say emphatl-
cally, mo" Why then should the
white people of the State divide into
hostile ranks unless those who are
responsible for the division desire cor
rupt politics and rottenness in Office?
I am led to speak thus because the
papers are more or less full Of the
sophistries and falsehoods Of so-called
Democrats who are trying to bam-
boozle and deceive the people into Vot-
ing for Roosevelt Of the Bull Moose
party with the plea that their partlcl-
patton in the last Democratic primary
does not bind them to support the
Democratic presidential electors. Are
we to witness the spectacle Of white
men claiming to be Democrats and
voting in the Democratic primaries de-
serting their brothers in the presiden-
tial fight? Can any honorable citizen
persuade himself that he can do this
and remain in good standing in this
party, or be allowed to participate IN
the next primaries. I serve notice
now that as far as any influence !
possess goes the primary rules shall
be made so stringent that any such
treachery as this will forever bar such
white men from participation in our
governmental affairs. l ask all good
citizens to be watchful at the polls on
November 5 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 the straight Demo
cratic ticket or who vote the Bull
Moose ticket This threatened treach-
cry leads me to warn my Democratic
fellow citizens against apathy and in
difference Our primaries have so
long been the real election and the No
vernber election the ratification or leg
aIizing 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 re-
called and lived up to. We must take
no chances and I hope every good
white citizen will go to the polls on
November 5 and vote the full Demo
cratic ticket. Whether he voted for
Jones or Blease in the primary it is his
duty to elect Woodrow Wilson and
those men who stand for good nation
al government AS between Taft and
Roosevelt know that Taft is the bet
ter nan of the two.
As between Roosevelt and Wilson
for the presidential Office, the differ
=: ~ o~roo+ on6 tho contrast SO