The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-10

attacks oil the policies of President
Wilson and on the loyal senators
ana congressman who supported the
National administration i'm the great
world crisis brought about by Ger
many's attempt to destroy civiliza-
ton and democracy. to viciously as
sail Senator Tillman. He boastfull!
declared it to be his intention to meet
.Til!man OH the stump. ii he dared to
offer for reelection. and expose his
CTillman's) betrayal of the Reform
faction and other political crimes that
Blease alleged Tilman had commit
ted. This attack on Tillman was
evidently made with calculated pre-
meditation and for a purpose. Blease
wants to get into the senate and he
knows that he can never be elected,
IL he has to fight for the nomination
against determined and aggressive
opponent. who can be neither bull
dozed nor bamboozled by Blease's
cheap. feather-legged bluster and his
clap-trap methods of stump speaking.
He fears. and with just cause. an op-
ponent who makes an aggressive
night and holds up for the contempt
and derision of honest men his Of
fensive and sorry official record. He
learned the lesson most thoroughly in
the gruelling campaign in which Jen-
nings and Pollock harried him on
every stump in South Carolina with
citations from his official record. Jen-
nings and Pollock marshalled and
hammered home damaging and damn
Ing facts that Blease could not dis
prove and dared not deny: and he was
kept so busy trying to dodge and ex-
plain his black record that he had
no time for his usual aggressive tao
tics OF insinuation and innucndo.
Blease has no stomach for another
such experience. and with his wontcd
devious cunning has sought a way ou
by indirection. Assuming that ar
attack on Tillman would arouse tht
anger and resentment of Tillman's
loyal friends and stimulate the sen
timental feeling that Tillman should
not be permitted to retire from the
senate while his ability to render val
liable service 10 the State and nation
unimpaired: and assuming,
llso. that Tillman himself would re-
sent the attack, and his well known
iehting spirit being aroused, ne
would not quietly retire from the
ield in the face Of direct challenge.
Blease knows full well. as does every
'ther man in South Carolina. that
Senator Tillman is physically unable
% stand the fatigue and hardships OF
4 State campaign. and that, shoult
ne undertake to stump the State, ho
would not survive the ordeal. II,
knows that Senator Ti,lman woulo
have to be n passive candidate, re.
inactive at home. relying up
on his friends to rally to his supper,
and re-elect him on his record as &
testimonial Of appreciation of
what he has done for the State in pas
years, and as G. mark Of confidence in
his ability to fiji the large place n
has so long held I'm national affairs b,
reason OF the force OF character an
vigorous intellect that he still retains.
despite physical infirmity. Bleas
knows that with Tillman as his only
antagonist he would be free to ramp
age up and down State, unopposed and
nnexposed on the stump; that he coulG
make unfounded charges. that n
could slyly insinuate all manner of
things to Tillman's discredit, withou
fear Of the lie direct being rammed
down his throat in the presence o.
4 thousand witnesses. and would hav,
license to preach un-American doc
trines. and villify President Wilson
and all other loyal men who have ar
rayed themselves on the side of civil
ization. humanity. dccency and de
mocracy against Kaiserism and Teu-
tonic barbarism. That Is the real mo-
tive actuating Blease i'm throwing the
stiletto into Tillman at long range;
thta is why he blatantly defies the old
gladiator of the hustings to meet him
on the stump. He knows that 1t is
impossible for Tillman to meet him
face to face on every stump I'm South