The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-08-13
Senator Tillman:
"Office of the Times and Democrat,
"Orangeburg, S. c.

"Orangeburg, S. c.
Senator E. r. Tillman, Washington,
D. C.-My Dear Senator: Many of the
reformers who were with you in the
nineties and who still believe in you
and are doing all they can to have you
returned to the senate are supporters
of Judge Jones in his race for the gov
ernorship and hope to see him elected.
AS you doubtless know, Judge Jones
has been charged with being in favor
of social equality because he, with
many other good men, when in the
legislature, voted against a law pro-
viding separate cars for the races
when you were governor, because of
the unconstitutionality of such law
under the constitution of the State at
that time Other charges have been
made against Judge Jones because of
his acts as a legislator and justice of
the supreme court, which We need not
mention as they are familiar to you.
Judge Jones was speaker of the hous'
of representatives when he votef
against the bill providing separate cars
for the races, having been elected to
that position by the reformers, who
afterwards elected him associate JUS
tice. We feel that these charges
against Judge Jones are reflection on
all reformers, as they made him asso-
ciate justice after he committed the
act, for doing which he is charged with
being in favor of social equality. The
same may be said of the other charges
against Judge Jones. AS you were the
head of the Reform Movement and
were governor when Judge Jones vot-
ed against the separate car act, We
would like for you to say whether you
consider Judge Jones an advocate of
social equality because he voted
against that law, and whether in your
judgment he would make good COVER
nor of the State. With great respect,
| am very truly yours,
(Signed) "Jas. L. Sims"
Here is Senator Tillman's answer to
Mr.. Sims:
Senator Tillman's Reply.
United States Senate,
washington, D. c., Aug. 8, 1912.
"The Hon. James L. Sims, Orange
burg, S. C.-Dear Mr.. Sims: I have
your letter of July 20, for which please
accept my thanks. I have been sur
prised that Judge Jones has allowed
Governor Blease to put him on the de-
fensive and made him explain some
thing that needed no explanation, for
no sensible man in the State believes
that Judge Jones is in favor of social
equality, and Governor Blease has
laughed in his sleeve to see how
shrewdly he has muddied the water
In other words, he has played polite
more adroitly than the judge. In re
ply to your question: AS you were the
head of the Reform Movement and
was governor when Judge Jones voted
against the separate car act, We would
like for you to say whether you con-
slider Judge Jones an advocate of So
cial equality because he voted against
that law, and whether in your judg-
ment he would make a good governor
for the State answer: do not con-
slider that Judge Jones was an advo-
cate of social equality because he vot-
ed against that law, and l believe he
would make a good governor, for he is
eminently qualified. 1 say this more
willingly because il. can not be con-
strued as my taking sides as between
the men. I announced last fall that
l would not do this, and thus far
have seen no reason why l should
change my attitude.
IF the newspapers keep On publish
ing such stuff as Grace's attack on the
governor and the dictagraph 'slush'
they will certainly make Blease gov
ernor again.
VERY sincerely yours,
"(Signed) B. R. Tillman.