The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-08-21
TiLLMAN FLOUNDERS.

anu ~ 10 all SO DlB ana broad and
great as to be beyond our complehen-
sion; but even recognizing such a pos
sibility, We have the temerity to re-
mark that the position of Senator Till
man, as outlined in his open letter,
would be amusing IL 1t were not more
or less pitiable.
While Senator Tillman has said and
done things in this present campaign,
especially back before the canvass
opened, that seemed to involve him
In partisan manner, If all that
should be wiped out. he could not
avoid being mixed up with 1t in way
that would swing votes to Blease or
Jones even though he were dead.
So far as the two candidates are
concerned, their status is about like
this: Judge Jones is former Tillman
lite with an anti-Tillman following.
and Governor Blease Is a former an
ti-Tillmanite with Tillmanite follow
ing. This may not be strictly true as
TO Governor Blease; but our recollec-
tion Is that during his early political
days he was not especially enthusias-
tic for Tillman. But nevertheless, It
is fact beyond dispute that original
Tillmanism is now the strongest ele-
ment behind Governor Blease, Just as
original anti-Tillmanism is the ele-
ment upon which the strength of
Judge Jones is based. There are ex-
| ceptions in both cases; but the excep-
tions are only sufficiently numerous
to prove the rule.
So far as the primary campaign of
To-Day Deing any nastier than was the
| campaigns of the early nineties is con-
cerned, that is all buncombe. Those
VINO are unable to remember have
only to look back into the newspapers
OF the day for corroboration of the
statement Neither Judge Jones nor
Governor Blease has INDUCED I'm any
hotter language than was used by
Senator Tillman in the old days. and
Doth nave talked az much high plane
talk as he ever talked We do not
want to be understood as iustifying
the exhibition now going on. We are
merely stating the truth. And also IL
is fact that III the old days Tillman
made as many unfounded and unwar-
ranted charges against the crowd he
was hghting, as are now being made
by either Judge Jones or Governor
bIease. In those days Senator Till
mans motto was, 81 make the charges
and 1t is up to you to disprove them. ="
lie made charges against the other
SIDE that 1T was never able to disprove,
and they made charges against him
that remain disprovcd until this
day. The fact remains, also, that
Governor Blesae has done more dis
proving than Senator Tillman ever
did.
The senator tells us that he disap-
proves the idea OF United States SEN
ator interfering in state politics. 1t
VIII be remembered that that was the
preteXt on which Wade Hampon was
defeated; yet it was common talk at
the time that Tillman helped John
Gary Evans all he could in that gen
tleman's first race for the United
state senate and in subsequent races.
Alleged Tillman letter in behalf of
Hon. John c.. Richards figured i'm the
gubernatorial primary of two years
ago. and now the senator tells us
frankly that if he could have had his
way John G., Richards would have
been governor now. Yet he does not
try to interfere, he says. I'll Is a fact
that his attempted interference did
not amount to much them but If the
senator really thinks he is going to
get off lightly this time, he is badly
mistaken.
The Jones crowd, the senator's for
mer enemies, want him to come out
for Jones. Their real reason, of
course, is political; but they are put
ting it on personal" grounds only.
They don't see how the senator can
remain neutral as between such fine
man as is Judge Jones and such a
"buccaneer" as Gov Bease. and they
insist that this is reason enough for
anybody AS a matter OF fact we are
inclined to think that for various rea-
sons. mainly through envy of Cover
nor Blease for out-Tillmaning Till
man, the senator would like to see
Jones elected, and If 1t was an of-year