Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-08-27


Carolinians who have always been the
backbone of the reform movement
Very sincerely yours,
"B. r. Tillman."
Governor BIeass in Reply.
Replying to the foregoing last Sat-
urday, Governor Blease gave out the
following:
II have seen the morning papers con-
tanning Senator Tillman's latest COM
mand to the people; that they defeat
me for governor. s
"Tillman himself condemned Cen
eral Hampton very severely for inter-
fering in the governors race In 1890,
and took that as his reason for de-
fearing General Hampton for the Unit
ed States senate. Jones, In his speech
seconding Irby's nomination for the
United States senate, said that Hamp-
ton was trying to drag the fair escutch-
con Of South Carolina in the dust by
supporting independentism and asked
who 1t was who saved the state. Now
Tillman does more than even Hampton
did in attempting to not only take part
In q family quarrel" but attempts to
dictate to the people Of South Carolina
for whom they shall cast their ballot
for the office Of governor.
Il have always been Senator Tillman's
friend, supported him in 1890. and have
voted for him IN the primaries and
elsewhere ever since. have been q
close friend Of his family, and much of
the abuse that Is being heaped upon me
today is on account Of my stand for
Tillman and the Tillmanites.
while In Washington. since being
0avarnnr Ganofny. rVfIlxaor tnx,ffaH mo
to come to his rooms In the hotel.
where his wife and daughters were,
saying that he wished 10 have a con-
ference with me. When I called the
senator asked me about the rumor,
then current, that was going to OPP
pose him for the senate. told him that
as long as he wished to remain In the
senate i would not oppose him, and
that had been and was his friend, and
that did not believe he would have
any opposition. He and Mrs. Tillman
seemed to be very much pleased and
both thanked me for my assurances
and the position took In the matter.
We met together later at Four Hole
Swamp, In Orangeburg county. where
he made a short talk, and where I
spoke. There was a mutual understands
ing that would not oppose him for the
senate and he held himself out to me
and to my friends as being my friend.
He has paid several visits to the gov
ernor's office to see me and has called
at the mansion, and In all conversa-
tions he has assured me that he would
be neutral In the gubernatorial race
and his attitude has always been friend
ly whenever and wherever we met. He
has made suggestions to me In regard
to the campaign, particularly at the
meeting In Orangeburg county, where
he himself asked me couple, of ques-
tions IL regard to matters and sug-
gested that / have friends OF mine ask
me to explain matters about which
there was controversy. He has assured
which have been given me, that he was
not going to take any part In the tight
for election Of governor. Naturally. !
was surprised at the Sims letter.
Then I received another letter and
sent him copy and asked him for its
genuineness, He wired back that with
out seeing the letter, he would not de-
clare II genuine, but In the letter dat
ed August 16, 1919, which he read at
the campaign meeting, he says: I am
trying the best can to be neutral.
have been tempted several times. In
fact, importuned by some OF the best
friends have got to come out openly
and boldly for Jones and give my rea-
sons, but / have refrained from doing
so, simply because did not think II
IL any AFFAIR Of mine and I sincerely
believe that the people of the state of
South Carolina can take care Of them
selves, as they have always done. with-
out being dictated to by any one. DO
not believe that Hampton had any right
to meddle in the campaign as he did.
nor do I think ought to try to die.
tate to the people as to whom they
should vote for have done my best
to remain hands OF as between the
two candidates for governor. I shall
continue to do so. am not responsible
because the newspapers are deceiving
the people by putting lies in the head
lines
II believed Senator Tillman and pro-
claimed at the campaign meetings the
truth Of his statement as to his neu-
trality and to his attitude.
"The campaign meetings for govern
or and for the United States senate have
closed, one at Greenville on Thursday,
the other at Aiken on yesterday. Ssna-
tor Tillman has waited for the close OF
these campaign meetings; he wires hia
letter, last night, to be published In the
papers, I am of the stump. II
Is doubtful whether / can make any
speeches before the election; I am af-
flicted with severe cold and can
scarcely talk above a whisper without
much pain. I have no opportunity to
reach the people. I have no daily news-
papers to express my views, and the
few papers which are for me are
weeklies and will not be published again
until after the election. Let every man
tha toh Go, tny- Ixao
has given out, and which have been
made public at the campaign meetings
and in the public press during the cam-
paign. and then let them read this LETT
ter, which he withholds until the CAM
paign is closed. leave II to the people
Of this state to Judge Of Senator TILL
mans conduct. leave to the plain,
common people Of this state, who have
voted for and elevated him into office,
who have voted for and elevated me
into office, to say whether he has treat
ed them and has treated me with fair
ness and candor.
From the kilograms and long dis
lance phone messages / have received
this morning (Which wish had room
10 Insert every one Of them in this ar
.icle) have been strengthened and not
hurt in my fight for popular govern
nent against the newspapers, the cot
.on mil mergers and other corpora
ions.
From these 1t is evident that in the
minds of a justice-loving public an
eleventh hour attack will find no justi-
ication. 1t will be condemned by the
people Of South Carolina on Tuesday
lext, who must remember that Junius
3rutus gave the eleventh hour stab to
Caesar, who had been his friend. Such
'tabs have been condemned by all men
Who were men for twenty centuries.
Ind fear no evil from Senator Till
mans letter, except with the possible
that possibly his mind has
become more diseased of late than IL
vas when had my last talk with his
physician.
"Cole L. Blease,"
Judge Jones Expenses--Judge ira B.
lal hfe To- 30