The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-08-15
TILLMAN ASHAMED FOR
HIS NATIVE STATE.
Says South Carolina's Name is Being Dragged
in Mire-Senator Tillman Declares He
Wishes to Remain Neutral.

Washington, Aug. Ex-senator
Tillman to-day gave the News and
Courier correspondent the following
statement concerning the campaign
in South Carolina:
Many telegrams and letters have
come to my Office since the publica-
ton of my letter to Mr.. Sims, and l
deem it both necessary and proper.
under the circumstances, for me TO
make a statement to the press. In
that way alone can I prevent mis-
takes from being made and having
words and ideas put into my mouth
which are not warranted.
81 have not written any letter
which was intended, or could be le-
ultimately used as Jones campaign
literature. I have desired to main
tain the attitude of neutrality in the
governors race, which I announced
at the beginning. l have never be-
lieyed a United States senator ought
to take an active part in the nomina-
ton for State Offices. What letters
l have written were penned in the
hope of moderating the fury with
which charges and countercharges
we're being hurled back and forth, but
instead of producing that effect, 1t
has seemed to increase the bitter
ness. and 1 am resolved that l will
not permit myself to be drawn into
this fight further.
South Carolina's Time Of Need.
81 am in Washington discharging
the duties of my Office as senator
from South Carolina as we'll as my
health and blighted strength will per-
NIT. While my health is steadily
improving, 1 have no hope of its be-
coming sufficiently restored for me
to do any speaking in the campaign.
God knows I wish I could, for II
there ever was a time when the peo-
pie needed clearness of vision and
sound advice, it is now. 1 could speak
what 1 cannot write, and do it with
more force and effectiveness.
Among the public services which
I have rendered South Carolina, l
consider none of them more valuable
than the aid I gave in the establish
ment of the primary system for State
Offices, with the county to county
campaign. When rightly used, this
latter is great educational force IN
instructing the people upon many
public questions, and bringing them
face to face with the men who are
seeking their votes. have been sin
cerely anxious that nothing should
be done to impair the usefulness OF
this educational agency. Instead OF
our candidates discussing great pub
lie questions and teaching the peo-
ple, the meetings have been little
else than vulgar quarreling matches,
in which blackguardism, vulgarlty,
obscenity and abuse, almost without
limit, and all manner of filthy speech
es have been allowed to predominate
The States good name has been drag
sed in the mire to the disgust and
shame of all right-thinking Carolln-
ians. Patriotic citizens must take
council to get her now to lift these
meetings back to a high plane and
make them the great educators they
are intended to be.
Will Not Dictate to People.
Judge Jones ought to have been
content with what said and stopped
there. He had no right to incite Gov.
Blease's friends to lombard me with
telegrams and letters, by offering
one hundred dollars reward to any
one who would get me to declare
Blease or Duncan was 'emlnently
qualified for the governors office.
I do not feel that it is my business
to dictate to the people OF South Car
olina as to whom they should elect
governor. II could have done that,
John G. Richards Jr., would be gov
ernor now.
81 am naturally frank and blunt
and somewhat impulsive. Therefore.
in writing to friends in South Caro-
lima, 1 have not been on the watch,
lest some phrase in my letter would
lay me under suspicion of being a
Bleaseite, Jonesite or a Duncanlte'
For instance, some days ago in writ
ing to friend in Marlboro, l said:
Sensible men will never weigh Sen
ator Tillman and Gov. Blease in the
same scales. If the fools do, it is
not any fault of mine l said this
in the same spirit in which said No
sensible man in the State believes
tbo+ Judoo JoneS is in favor of SOci-