The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-08-13
TILLMAN IS NEUTRAL
IN GOVERNORS RACE
DOES NOT WANT WORDS AND
IDEAS PUT IN HIS MOUTH.
States His Position on South Carolina
Politics and Reviews the Situa-
ton at Some Length.

Senator I1llman gave OUT IN WASH
ington On Saturday the following
statement concerning the campaign in
South Carolina:
MANY kilograms and letters have
come to my Office since the publication
of my letter to Mr.. Sims, and deem
it both necessary and proper, under
the circumstances for me to make a
statement to the press. In that way
alone can 1 prevent mistakes from be-
ing made and having words and ideas
put into my mouth which are not war
ranted.
81 have not written any letter which
was intended, or.could be legitimately
used as Jones campaign literature. I
have desired to maintain the attitude
of neutrality in the governors race,
which 1 announced at the beginning
have never believed a United States
senator ought to take an active part
in the nomination for State Offices.
What letters I have written were pen
ned in the hope of moderating the fury
with which charges and counter
charges were being hurled back and
forth, but instead of producing that
effect, it has seemed to, increase the
bitterness, and 1 am resolved that I
will not permit myself to be drawn
into this fight further.
81 am in Washington discharging the
duties Of my Office as senator from
South Carolina as well as my health
and blighted strength will permit.
While my health is steadily improving,
l have no hope of it's becoming suffi-
GENTLY restored for me to do any
speaking in the campaign. God knows
wish I could, for if there ever was
time when the people needed clearness
of vision and sound advice, it is now.
l could speak what l can not write,
and do it with more force and effec-
tiveness.
Among the public services which I
have rendered South Carolina, con-
slider none of them more valuable than
the aid gave in the establishment OF
the primary system for State Offices,
with the county to county campaign.
When rightly used. this latter is a
great educational force in instructing
the people upon many public ques-
tions, and bringing them face to face
with the men who are seeking their
votes. l have been sincerely anxioEs
that nothing should be done to impair
the usefulness of this educational
agency. Instead of our candidates
discussing great public questions and
teaching the people, the meetings have
been little else than vuglar quarreling
matches, in which blackguardism, vul-
garity, obscenity and abuse, almost
without limit, and all manner of filthy
speeches have been allowed to predom-
mate. The States good name has. been
dragged in the mire to the disgust and
shame of'all right-thinking Carolinians.'
Patriotic citizens must take council TO
get her now to lift these meetings
back to high plane and make them
the great educators they are interIed
to be.
Judge Jones ought to have been
content with what l said and stopped
there. He had no right to incite ov-
ernor Blease's frionds to bombar> 'e
with kilograms and letters, by Offer
one hundred dollars reward to anv
one who would get me to declare
Blease or Duncan was 'eminently qual-
flied for the governors Office do not
feel that it is my business to dictate to
the people of South Carolina as to
whom they should elect governor. If
l could have done that, John G. Rich
ards, Jr, would be governor now.
81 AN naturally frank and blunt and
somewhat impulsive. Therefore, in
writing to friends in South Carolina, |
have not been on the watch, lest some
phrase in my letter would lay me un-
der suspicion of being Bleaselte,
Jonesite or Duncanite. For instance,
some days ago in writing 10 friend In
Marlboro, said: Sensible men will
never weigh Senator Tillman and
Governor Blease in the same scales.
If the fools do, it is not any fault OF