The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-28
.DLEASE REPLIES TO T|LLMAA,
SAYS PEOPLE WILL CONDEMN
Ei.ItVENTH-HOUR ATTACK.
Governor Declares Understanding
Existed Whereby He Would not
Oppose TilIman for Senate and
Latter Would be Neutral i'm Fight
for GOvernOrship = Says Has AL
ways Beon Tiliman's Friend.

Columbia, Aug. 24-Gov. Blease
today issued reply to Senator Till
mans endorsement of Judge Jones,
the main burden of the reply being
that he has been Tillman's friend and
likens 1T to Brutus' stabbing Of Cae-
sar.
The Governors full statement fol-
lows:
/ have seen the morning papers
containing Senator Tillman's latest
command to the people-that they
defeat me for Governor.
"Tillman himself condemned Gen.
Hampton very severely for interfering
in the Governors race in 1890. and
took that as his reason for defeating
Gen. Hampton for the United States
Senate. Jones. in his speech, second
Ing Irbys nomination for the United
States Senate, said that Hampton was
trying to drag the fair escutcheon of
South Carolina in the dust by sup
porting independentism and asked who
1t was who saved the State. Now
Tillman does more than ever Hamp-
ton did in attempting to not only take
part in family quarrel, but Attempts
to dictate to the people of South Caro-
lima for whom they shall cast their
ballot for the Office Of Governor
II have always been Senator Till
mans friend; supported him in 1890,
and have voted for him in the pri-
maries and elsewhere ever since. /
have been close friend Of his fam
lily. and much of the abuse that is be-
ing heaped upon me today is on &C
count Of my stand for Tillman and
the Tillmans.
while in Washington, since being
Governor. Senator Tillman invited me
to come to his rooms in the hotel
where his wife and daughter were,
saying he wished to have a confer
ence with me. I called. The Sem
ator asked me about the rumor then
current that / was going to oppose
him for the Senate. told him that
as long as he wished to remain in the
Senate, would not oppose him; that
/ had been and was his friend. and
that 1 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 that l took il, the
matter.
I'VE met together later at Four
Holes Swamp, in Orangeburg County,
whore he made a short talk and where
I spoke. There was a mutual under
standing 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 Governors office to see me and
has called at the Mansion. and in all
conversations he has always assured
mo that he would be neutral In the
Gubernatorial race and his attitude
has always been friendly whenever
and wherever we met, and he has
made suggestions to me In regard to
the campaign, particularly at the
meeting in Orangeburg County, where
he himself asked me a couple Of
questions In regard to matters, and
suggested that I have friends of mine
ask me to explain matters about
which there was controversy. He has
assured me by letter, and by letters
to others which have been given me,
that he was not going to take any
part in the fight for election Of Gov
ernor. Naturally 1 was surprised at
the Sims letter. Then. / received an
other letter and sent him a copy and
asked him Of it's genuineness. lie
wired back that without seeing the
letter he could not declare it gen.
uine. but in the letter dated August
16, 1912, which l read at the cam
paign meeting, he says:
Il am trying the best l can to be
neutral. / have been tempted several
times, in fact ! have been importun-
ed by some Of the best friends l have
got to come out openly and oldly fcr
Jones and give my reasons; but
have rcfraincd from doing 50 simply
because ! did not think it is any affair
OF mine. and | sincerely believe that
olina can take care of themselves, as
they have always done. without bcinr
dictated to by any one ! do not lac.
licVc that Hampton had any right