The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-05-02
(Continued.)
". =. Senate, July 2S, 1919.

my fear MT 6race' arm In re-
ceipt OF your letter OF July 18th, and
have read ir with care. I note the
question OF an "old time Tillmanite"
To the affect that he does not under
stand why I do not jump into the
night against Whaley on the same
grounds that would induce me to pro-
test the swearing In OF Rlease. should
IL develop that his election was
bought The answer to this is simple.
am member OF the senate
and have n right to speak from
the floor of the senate and to COM
nand attention. am not a member
of the house of representatives, and
While as n member OF the senate, 1
am entitled to the floor OF the house,
have no rights under It's rules to ad-
dress that tody. This you know as
well as I do.
love my state. Its honor, and Its
good name: and am not willing to
bring either Its honor or It's good
name into question upon hearsay tes-
timony or belief. nor am I willing to
confess the incapacity OF the people
OF south Carolipa--keeping In mind
their proud history-to recify any
wrongs that may exist among them or
To govern themselves I'm accordance
with the best tradition Of civilized
government For me to confess such
thought would be an admission of
my disbelief In the capacity Of my
State. with les splendid history and its
great accomplishments I'm the past, to
govern itself do not believe that
you believe South Carolina IL incapa-
BILE OF self government; and IL you
thought 80. am sure you would be
ashamed TO confess Il.
While I ain not IN accord with the
dominant political factors in south
Carolina at this time. and while there
is much TO criticize in the conduct OF
the Affairs of the state. du not agree
with you that ''the pubic In already
scandalixed at South Carolina"
but even IL your statements were
true. Y have made up my mind. after
conferences 18th those who love the
state as much az do you or i. that the
state Itself with the facts before IL
should not only be given the chance
through its Legislature and the Dem |
ocratic state convention tn handle the
situation In the interest of pure cleo
lions. but l am equally persuaded that
IL given the opportunity. she will see
to IL that her elections are clean and
that the Democratic party. in its con-
vention having had the opportunity to
cleanse Is own stable. will cleanse 1t.
have not changed my opinion
as expressed to you in my letter OF
May 18TH; II would rather you fall in
and help me. as you can most effect
lively to reform State politics through
the State convention next time IL
meets. by changing the rules Of the
party and fortifying all along the
line against fraud and corruption: and
then go to work when the legislature
meets again to see that the statutes
are changed in regard to- primary
elections so as to preserve the purity
Of the ballot among white men,"
You will recall that In recent in
terview l urged upon Governor Blease
tn use his powerful influence with the
Legislature for the enactment of such
legislation as would protect the purity
OF the white mans ballot In the prim-
AIRY and the general elections. 1 do
not know what Governor Blease Is
going to do. and no one else knows;
nor can 1 say what the legislature
will do. But as a last resort, IL the
legislature fails us. we can go to the
Democratic party and by agitation
and making a few speeches. L know
that the people will rise In their wrath
and compel a reform of the party
constitution. because there In nothing
more certain I'm politics than this: We
have had the last primary In the State
unless the people become satisfied
that they can vote at the primary and
have their votes honestly counted.
This has been the course which has
appealed to vac all the while since you
first brought this Whaley matter to
my attention; and the more consider
the consequences of your suggestion
for an immediate congressional inves-
tigatlon. the more convinced my judg-
ment becomes that my first opinion is
the proper and only one. ~ we are to
the state and for the future of our
party.
do not question at this time the
motive which prompts you to Insist
upon the washing Of tho dirty linen