The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-08-30

III IL ume the people should know
about the status of the Whaiey mat
ter I'm Washington. The following
correspondence will throw a strons
light upon II. 1t begins rather in the
middle of the case: fer before these
letters were written somewhat OF a
confidential character In parts) and
great deal of verbal communica-
ton was had between Senator Till
man and Mr.. Grace. This may all
come out later, and 1t will come out II
Senator Tillman can be induced to
remove from his letters the seal of
confidence. The whole correspond
eDce will show that the senator az
hrst promised 20 press the whaley
matter In the. house, and then, as his
friend Captsin Martin became GER
tsinly involved In the mess Of COR
ruption backed out. However, none
of the following part Of the corre-
spondence Is CONFIDENTIAL: so It is
published. and from 1t the public can
form their own conclusions. Can
anybody now blame Mr.. Grace IL he
goes over the head OF the South Car
olina delegation I'm bringing the mat 9.
ter to the attention of congress?
Charleston. s. c., July 20, 1913.
Honorable B. r. Tillman. United
States Senator. Washington. ID. c.
Dear Senator Tillman: noticed
what you said The other day In the
paper about the possibility of Blease's
election To the senate by fraud and
corruption and OF the fight that you
would make against him In Washing
ton. The News and Courier had a
little editorial on the subject, of
course commendatory. not because II
hates corruption. but because IL hates
Blease. Other South Carolina papers,
Tor the same reason. took the same
view. An old time Tillmanite and
general admirer of yours came in to
say that he had read some of the press
approvals of your sentiments, which
he Intended sending you, but at the
same time he would ask you why you
did not jump into the fight against
whaley on the same grounds. have
no doubt he expressed an almost uni
versal question which the people are
asking In their minds about you. They
realize the Inconsistency of your posi-
tion. and your fame as a senator and
your power as a counsellor next sum-
mer In the fight against Biease will
depend upon the genuineness OF your
stand against corruption and perjury
as illustrated In the Whaley case. II
Washington Is the place to fight
Blease. why not fight Whaley there?
When 1 was in Washington recently.
you treated me cordially; altogether
in SUI d way as almost to disarm me
from persisting in bringing this
Whahy matter to direct issue be-
,weeppus. You would talk to me about
everything else, and you permitted me
TO tatk to you about a great many
thingg but you would hardly come
to the point. man to man. on the
Whalsy, question. You talked about
affidatits. testimony. etc. and told me
that Son would prepare an affidavit
which, II would sign you would use
as the basis of fight against whaley
and that you would send IL to me-
told you that would sign II II could
But I have not seen 1t. Weeks and
months are passing. My patience Is
being taxed. am honest about 1t
and In dead earnest about 1t. The
case against whaley is overwhelming.
i cannot believe that you hate fraud
and corruption as much as you have
said you do: because have presented
TO you. and am ready to present to
congress. the clearest possible case
OF II; and you only generalize and
temporize.
Nobody can deny that my fight
against Bleaseism has not only been
uncompromlsing, but has been pushed
To the point OF personal danger and
even the risk OF my life. az all South
Carolina knows. All reports to the
contrary notwithstanding. you know
that I look upon Bleaseism as the
crownlng curse OF South Carolina.
yearn To have II blotted out But
arm beginning To have doubts. For
twenty years the people have con
ferred upon you their every power
You have enjoyed a fullness OF lead.
ership which carries with II the obliga-
tion Of fearlessness. You cannot b,
afraid To fight whaley because It will
Involve the exposure of some OF your
lifelong allies In this congressional
district. ana at the same time com
msnd any respectable attention from
the people OF Solth Carolina. Blcas,
can only be bca On by combination