The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-09-24
Senator Tillman's Reply.

Cdlly. pSSpCSlAuAAS SoNAo'
(Signed) J. B. Park.
Senator Tillman's Reply.
Trenton, Sept. Is, 1912.
Mr.. J. B. Park, Greenwood, S. c.
My Dear Sir: 1 have just received
your letter OF September IA, and am
surprised and "shocked,' too, to use
your own phrase, to see how you have
flown off the handle at nothing. l
made no insinuations or charges
against the committee. | only stated
plain facts as l understand them. The
Jones men are doing the talking now
as | know, for there are very few
Bleaseites around Trenton. l have
cast no imputations against the con-
mittee or any of its members, but
can't you see, my dear sir, that with
Mr.. Stevenson in Atlantic City ana
the whole machinery of the Demo-
cratic party stopped, people on the
''qui vive" and honest men wonder
ing what is to happen next, tnat l
was justified in what | wrote? Re-
member that Mr.. Stevenson was the
leader of the "anti-BleaSe' forces IN
the last legislature and was very Sc
we're in his criticism of Gov. Blease.
Do you suppose that the Democrats
who voted for Blease do not recall
this and that they are not watching
to see "how the cat jumps?' AT the
leisurely gait the investigation is now
going, or the socalled investigation, tor
nothing has been done so far as the
public knows, it, will be a year Or two
before the result is known. When you
recall the legal election is about SIN
weeks off, you can readily see that II
we are to have second primary, no
tice ought to be given as soon as pos
sible. | hear Jones men talking every
day, wondering what the committee
means by wasting so much time. When
| wired Chairman Evans urging in
vestigation and punishment of fraud,
did not expect to start machinery
which would run year. A man can
"go slowly and carefully without
stopping and doing nothing. Recoi-
lect the primary election has been
over two weeks and more; second
primary has been ordered in all the
counties and is over with, that the
nominees for the county Offices and
legislature are already known. Is it
possible that you do not see that the
people are considering whether these
are the legal nominees of the party or
not? And if so, why the votes Tor
State nominees are not counted too
and the result declared? The question
will present itself to even the dullest
intellect, as to how the same voters
can legitimately and legally nominate
members of the legislature and yet 1all
to nominate State officers? Then there
are so many State officers who had
no opposition, and others officers IKE
United States senator and rallroad
commissioner who are undoubtedly
elected in the last primary. All these
things ought to be taken into consider
alton in making the committee hurry.
Don't you see it was absurd in Judge
Jones to protest the vote in every
county in the State and it only LENDS
color to the suspicion now getting
deep-seated and disseminated that the
whole scheme l., to coun, Blease out!
The only way to prevent this IDEA II ON
taking deep root l.. 10 hurry Il. None
want. and least Of al do no: Want
sham inrestiga:iJf.; nor do WANT
anybody counted ii. Neither do | want
ANYBODY counted out. That is all |
wanted to say 70 eX-l1oy. Evans. ''a' e
not the slightest suspicion that there
is any member Of the calnmlt;er VIII
would stoop so low rs tc count ary-
body out; but what said was 10 can
the attention of the members OF the
subcommittee to the feeling among
the people and to justify that feeling
In other words, | wanted to hurry
them up and bring things to con-
clusion. A wrong conclusion would De
better than to dawdle along like the
committee is doing now. Dismiss from
your mind, my dear sir, that nave
made any charge against the commit
tee at all, for my language does not
warrant any such conclusion. II you
feel that | have gratuitously lnsulteo
YOU, most humbly apologize, for sucn
was not my purpose. l am naturally
blunt and frank and go straight to
the mark when have anything to say.
| have never willingly or knowingly
used language to conceal thought. /
have merely acted as spokesman Tor
the people, and from my experience l
felt that | could speak as did With
out being misunderstood by senslole
men.
l enclose you clipping which came
in this mornings mail from the
Dnetscbe Zeitung, which will give you
some insight as to what is going on.
Very respectfully yours,
(Signed) b. 4. Illlman.