The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-25

twenty minutes. During the time of
Senator Tillman stopped once or
twice to weigh a sentence, but he
finished it without interruption and
without suggestion from anyone pres
ent. After taking the statement in
shorthand, Mr.. Wyche wrote it out on
a typewriter and gave it to Senator
Tillman, who read it aloud to us.
He made, as l remember, but one
change in the draft, and that was a
minor one, in the phrasing of a SEN
to give copies Of it to the different
| newspaper men.
After getting through with this
Senator Tillman drew a long breath
and then laughed. Il feel that 1 have
simply discharged a duty" he said
"and now l feel totter. J am off the
fence"
/ walked from the Dewey Hotel to
F street in company with Mr. Daniel
and Mr.. Murray. They had been
impressed, as 1 had been, with Sena-
tor Tillman's force in debating the
statement. One of us remarked
that while Senator Tillman had had
severe illness it had not impaired
the vigor OF his intellect, and this
was heartily agreed to by the 9TH
ers. Senator Tillman's statement was
filed in the telegraph office on F
street for transmission to the South
that Senator Tiilman gave out the
statement against the advice of Mrs
Tillman and some of his closest
friends, and certainly it was die
tated when nobody was present ex-
cept those mentioned above, and
without suggestions Of any kind from
any of them.
(Signed) A. NJ. Carpenter
Washington, d. c., JAN II, 1912.
The South Carolina newspapers
had bounded Governor Blease so
continuously during the campaign,
had been so unfair in their opposi-
ton, that the people Of the state had
lost absolutely all faith in their hon
esty or truthfulness. When the state
ment appeared in the newspapers
Saturday morning, / received a num-
ber of kilograms asking if it was
authentic. Many Of my friends had
been misled by Governor Blease to
that point where they doubted not
only the newspapers, but also doubted
me.
The fourth charge of jealousy is
so ridiculous that 1 cannot bring my
self to consider it seriously Ben
Tillman jealous Of Cole Blease! 1t is
unthinkable, and, were to answer 1t
seriously, 1 would be convicted in the
minds Of all sensible people Of South
Carolina of the next charge:
.. Feebleness Of mind. Whether
my mind is feeble or not the people
will judge for themselves. 1 am will
ing to leave it to any jury in South
Carolina, Bleasites or others, wheth-
er Ben Tillman is feeble minded or
Cole Blease crazy.
The Blease circular, issued on Aug
ust 25th, which he republishes in
the message, says-and he prints it
in capitals-"I have never seen the
Ferguson letter. and did not know
what was in it until 1 saw it in the
newspapers, and when Gonzales says
| did, and that 'Bease will fight
Tillman,' he wired what was willfully
untrue
Notwithstanding Governor Blease's
denials, ] know that he did fight me
in more counties than one and that
his trusted lieutenants were very
active in marshaling his followers,
many of them once my best friends,
to vote against me in the
primary. News to this effect came
to me from all over the state, and
the vote shows it. / have no doubt
whatever that the Ferguson letter
caused me to lose $4,000 votes, while
it gained me about 10000. This was
what / expected when I gave it out
but | could not remain quiet after
my confidence had been so betrayed.
The "midnight stab" Of which he
omplains-meaning the lateness in
given out-Was attributable to my
wife's influence. She begged me to
stand by my oft-repeated promise to
remain hands-off.
wac plpcta6 in cnita Of him, nd