The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-28
TIlLMAN SPEAKS OUT.
"BLEASE Is UTTERLY UNFIT TO
BE GOVERNOR"
Makes Public the Letter Written to
Spartanburg Supporter of Blease a
Week AgO@FOrcible and Unequi.
vocal Condemnation of GOV. Blease
His Record as Governor Proves
His Unfitness-PatriOtic Citizens of
South Carolina Advised to Vote for
Jones.

1
Tillman tonight issued the following
statement concerning the Ferguson
letter which has been much discussed
in South Carolina during the last few
| days:
Il have said repeatedly that l was
hands OFF in the race for governor in
South Carolina. and have tried faith
fully to remain neutral to the end,
but circumstances and conditions
have compelled me to change my
purpose. After the Sims letter was
published l was deluged with tele-
grams and letters both of protest and
importantly from my old friends or
men who claimed to be such. Some
of them touched me deeply because Of
their pathos. Most Of them demand
ed that i should say as much for
Blease as l had said for Jones. 9th
ers threatened me with retirement on
account Of interference in the gov
ernor's race. About ten days ago
wrote to one Of the latter IN Anderson
county and asked him specifically not
to let any one see it.
Three or four days ago 1 received
copy Of the letter from Governor
Blease. with the inquiry whether
had written 1t or not. On the 10Th
received a letter from Harrison Fer
guson Of Spartanburg, asking wheth-
er i thought Blease was not also
eminently qualified for governor, to
which / answered in the affirmative,
with some restrictions and explana-
tions. and marked it also Private and
CONFIDENTIAL and again the code that
obtains among gentlemen was violat-
ed by Mr.. Ferguson, and that part of
the letter shown which said Governor
Blease was eminently qualified If
MIR. Ferguson has shown all Of the
letter he has only done it to such
friends as he could trust, those of
the same type with himself 1 am
thus made 10 indOrse Blease as emf
nently qualified. while explanations
and restrictions are kept from the
pubic an unwilling IN This crisis
II l.-c States hi,tOry TO become Il
supporter az Governor Rlcl =. for ~
election, or appear to dD %. know
man! ot my Warmcst fricuds are
strong believers in Blease, and I
have known this from the beginning.
A less number of Tillmanites of old,
but us good friends as any Of them,
are supporting Judge Jones. do
not want to appear andi am uncom-
Portable in the role as q fence -strad-
oler. Therefore l have decided TO
give the letter in question publicity
so that all the people may under
stand exactly what ,ny ideas and
feelings are. have no doubt Gov
Blease has read the whole letter and
such Of his lieutenants as he chose
to give 1t to are already in possession
OF it. He is acquainted with my at
titude and will naturally-and l
would do the same, and I do not
blame him at abuse to my disad-
vantage. Without considering wheth-
er there will be any countervailing
advantage to me in making the let
ter public, l will at least have the
satisfaction Of know .ng that l am no
longer considered too cowardly to
known my opinion. In this grave
crisis i'm the states history i can bot
ter a,1Ord to retire to private life. IL
necessary. than 10 be- cons idercd. even
by indirCctiOn, H. indor~ing Govcrnor
BIcaSc. | will At least maintain lny
own sclf-reSpect, ana as my confidence
has been betrayed ! will give the
whole letter to the public. ~ tie
battle has progressed have been
more and more CO, .inced of Bicuso'~
unii' :c|s 10 bC governor. and rather
than fccl, rs ! would be competed
TO do, that was in part responsible
for it, If reiaained silent i wrtc
this statement and will take the con-
sequences.
'The state has been disgraced in
the eyes of tho whole world ana its
good name made byword and a hiss
ing and nobody can cleanse it and
redeem it except its OWE people.
81 implorc the people to take care
of the states good name next Tuos-
day"
Tho lctt,r to Ferguson is as follows.
My Dclr Sir:
-.N------ - A-.----.t . L1L ..------..----L :