The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-01-22

stood, ana shortly AFTER eA-Chiel
Justice Ira B. Jones announced
his candidacy for governor
against me, l addressed a letter
to Senator B. R. pillman, at
Trenton, in which I told him that
he was so used "to be led on by
the newspapers, " and had seen
so much of it on me, that L feel
that it is absolutely useless for
me to write you in regard to the
many malicious lies that are now
being circulated" I did, how
ever, 60 on to call his attention
to some misstatements, which
had appeared in the public prints,
in regard to that are now being
circulated" I did, him and my.
self, in connection with each
other. and went on to say:
:'Of course. I would be glad to
have your vote and influence in
my race for governor; but, to be
frank, I do not believe that it is
absolutely necessary to my sue
cess, because I have not yet
reached the point where | believe
that any one man can dictate to
the people of South Carolina as
to who they should or should not
have in office, and I have too high
an opinion Of you to believe that
you would attempt to do so; and;
from information received from
all parts of the State, [ am salts
fed that I will be re elected, re-
gardless of who may oppose me- )
In reply to that letter, | recelv'
ed letter from Senator Till
man, under date of October 10.
1911-the very next day after my
letter was written. This letter
have on file in my Office, and the
whole of it may be read by any
one of you who may be so much
interested. I desire, for present
purposes, to quote few sentenc
es. Senator Tillman said:
II have yours of the 18th IN
slant and am glad to get it, fol
though the lies that have beer
numerously circulated lately have
not made any impression on me
it is pleasant to have your re
newed assurance of friendship
and good will. They are certain
~ trying to play a subtitle game.
And, further, ''I do not know
| who persuaded Jones to enter the
race, and have not seen him al
all this summer. One thing yor
may rely upon: If I decide te
have anything to do with the
governors race, you will be the
first man I will tell. agree with
you that the people Of this State
would resent, as they have al
ways done, any appearance o.
dictation from any man."
The State campaign came on
Charges flew thick and fast, Till
man wrote what came to be knowr
as the Sims letter, and I was pub
lished. with glaring headlines
headlines so distorted that ever
Tillman could not stand them
Even Tillman began to protest.
In a letter under date of Angus
| y, 1912, even Tillman said:
II am sick and disgusted at the
unfairness and dishonesty,-es
pecially in ther headlines.-witt
which certain newspapers have
used my letter to Mr.. Sims ane
tried to give it a construction i
does not bear and which was
never intended"
It was about this time, how
ever, in face of former state
ments that he would be 'hand:
off" and in contradiction Of latel
statements by wire to me, tina
TiIlman began to write secre
letters throughout South Caro-
lima stabbing me in the back. Un
der date of August 16, 1912, ht
wrote one of his supporters a
Newberry, attacking me, saying
II do not want you publish this
letter, but you can read it to any
direct friend that you can trust
I warn you, now, that if the peo
ole of South Carolina re-elec
Blease governor, they will rue i
as long as they live" On Angus
18th he wrote a letter to Enoref
"a letter Of the same genera
tenor-closing by saying: ''Thl$
letter is not for publication, bu'
for your own use and such O.
your friends as you choose tt
show it, or press on all who reac
| 1t, Or hear 1t, thaG IL IS nOC 10 oe
made public" He was still say
ing, however, that he was hand:
off" as witness a letter of the day
before, dated August 16, 1912
written to a gentlemen at Town
Vile: II have done my best tx
hands off, as between the twe
candidates forgovernor. and shall
continue to do so. | am not re
sponsible because the newspa
pers are deceiving the people by
putting lies in the headlines"
In the same letter TlllmaI
again reiterated his view that he
did not consider the governor:
race any affair of his, in the fol
lowing words: Il am trying the
best | can to be neutral between
the men. I have been tempted