The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-14
T|LlMAh ASHAMED FOR State
SAYS SOUTH CAROLINA'S NAME,
IS BEING DRAGGED IN MfRE.
Sena;Or Declares He Wishes to Re-
main Neutral in Fight and that
What He Has Written was Intend
cd Only to- Moderate Fury of Cam
paign-Urges Election of Good
Legislators.

Washington, Aug. Ex-senator
Tillman today gave The News and
Courier correspondent 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 l deem
it both necessary and proper, under
the circumstances for me to make a
statement to the press. In that way
alone can l prevent mistakes from
being made and having words and
ideas put into my mouth which are
not warranted.
Il have not written any letter
which was intended. or could be le-
ultimately used as Jones campaign
literature. l have desired to main
tain the attitude Of neutrality in the
Governors race, which l announced
at the beginning. / have never be-
lieved United States Senator ought
to take an active part in the nomi-
nation for State offices. What letters
l have written We're penned 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,
1T has seemed to increase the bitter
ness. and l am resolved that l will
not permit myself to be drawn into
this fight further.
II am in Washington discharging
the duties of my office as Senator
from South Carolina as we'll as my
health and blighted strength will
permit. While my health is stead
lily improving. have no hope of it's
becoming sufficiently restored for me
to do any speaking in the campaign.
God knows / wish could for If
there ever was time when the peo-
pie needed clearness of vision and
sound advice. it is now. T could
speak what I cannot write, and do it
with more force and effectiveness.
Among the public services which I
have rendered South Carolina. I con-
slider 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 a 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 sim
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-
pie. the meetings have been little
else than vulgar quarreling matches,
in which blackguardsm. vulgarity,
obscenity and abuse, almost without
limit, and all manner Of filthy speech
es nave been allowed to predominant.
ihe states good name has been
dragged In the mire to the disgust
and shame of all ight-thinking Caro-
linians. Patriotic citizens must take
counsel to get her now to lift these
meetings back to high plane and
make them the great educators they
are intended to be.
Judge Jones ought to have been
content with what | said and stopped
there. He had no right to incite Gov
ernor Blease's friends to lombard me
with kilograms and letters, by Offering
one hundred dollars reward to anv
one who would get me to declare
Blease or Duncan was 'eminently
qualified for the governors office
do not feel that it is my business to
dictate to the people of South Caro-
lima as to whom they should elect
Governor II could have done that
John G. Richards. Jr.. would be
Governor now.
Il am naturally frank and blunt
ana somewhat impulsivc. Therefore,
IN writing to friends in South Caro-
hna. ! have not been on the watch
lest some phrase i'm my letter would
lay me under suspicion of being n
Bleascitc, Joncseitc or Duncanitc.
FOR instance, some days ago in writ
ing to friend I'm Marlboro. 7 said.
sensible men will never weigh Sena-
tor Tillman and Governor Bleasc i'm
'hc same scales II the fools do it is
not any fault of mine. said this
IN the same spirit in which said no