Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-17
INDEPENDENT TINKERING."
Senator Tillman Writes Pretty

Hon. j. d. BiVenS, or Dorchester
county, a member of the minority rep
resentation on the committee apoint-
ed to investigate the fraud charges as
to the recent primary, has given an
interview to the News and Courier in
which he insists that his sole desire Is
to complete the work in hand without
running too close into the general elec-
ton, which cannot be postponed. He
does not say a great deal that Is not
comprehended in the letter Of the mi
nority to the majority already pub
lished; but gives out a letter Of TILL
mans to John Gary Evans with copy
of which he had been furnished by
Tillman. The letter is as follows:
Trenton, S. c., September IL, 1912.
The Hon. John Gary Evans, Spar
tanburg, S. C.-Dear John: I have
seen in the morning papers the protest
Of the three Blease members Of the
subcommittee appointed by the state
committee. 1t Is a sensible, judicious,
patriotic utterance. If you do not ex-
and stop this dawdling and fooling
about, the whole committee will be
forever damned in the estimation Of all
decent people. What Is worse, the
Democratic party will go to the dem
milton bow-wows. White men will not
tolerate any such impudent tinkering
with their rights. We had better have
len years Of Blease than to have the
negro brought back into our politics
as the balance Of power between our
white people. Unless all signs fail, that
Is inevitable. Neither will the people
of this state stand for counting Blease
out without justification. Already val
liable time has been lost, and the more
hafnra hn Of ha
primary the more angry the people be-
come, and the more ready to vote for
an independent or for the devil before
they will tamely submit to have their
will nullified. 1t was all very we'll for
white people to cheat negroes in 1876
and 1878 and even into 1880, but white
men will not tolerate having other
white mcr cheat them. You are re-
sponsible in the eyes of the people for
the tink@ring that is going on now, and
every day you are losing friends by It.
There Is absolutely no justification for
the dawdling and delay that has al
ready taken place. 1t seems to be the
intention of the sub committee. to con-
tinue indefinitely. The Bleaseites have
shown remarkable self-control. They
are watching and the people are watch
ing too. / have enough faith In the
people of South Carolina to believe
that, while it will be n bitter dose to
have Blease as governor, they had
rather have him one hundred times
than to have a Moses or a man like
him. If the entire committee does not
meet with the Blease members Of the
committee Monday and begin to inves-
tigate where 1t Is necessary, see no
earthly power that can prevent Blease
from running independently in Novem-
ber and sweeping the state, for great
many Jones men do not stomach cheat
ing or any such high-handed proceed
ings as are going on.
do not like to have the appearance
of meddling with things which do not
concern me, but this Is Of vital impor-
tance to me and to every patriotic
South CarOlinian to save the primary.
But ii Is of more vital concern to save
the Democratic party, and as sure as
you are living the unity Of the Demo-
cratic party Is very much in jeopardy
right now. Very respectfully,
(Signed) r. r. Tillman.