The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-02-09

Bennettsville, s. c., Feb. 8, 1918.

oShiACeSoNAiCp ~ Cc. u AVAO'
Messrs. w. w. Scott, II. Kelley, Asa
Hall Jr. and II. Clinton Summers.
Jr.. Columbia. S. C.-Gentlemen:
Your January 1. You withdraw your
names from a petition requesting me
to become a candidate for governor.
You say: What we wanted and
thought we would get in making our
call was bold. honest. outspoken
and truthful man to advocate the
principles Of the Reform party OF
this state, which we hope to ad-
vance," That is exactly what you
would get, gentlemen. should I con-
sent to become candidate. but from
your letter 1t seems exactly what you
do not want.
What principle of the Reform par
ty have I abandoned? merely de-
clined to support a certain candidate
for United States senator. In your
request for me to become q candidate
you referred to my patriotism. wis
dom and statesmanship." plead
guilty to the charge and cheerfully
acknowledge that you were correct as
to my possessing in an eminent de-
gree these cardinal virtues. sus-
pected. however. gentlemen. that you
were not very deeply concerned about
wisdom, patriotism or statesmanship,
and as I did not wish to obtain
goods under false pretenses" I gently
informed you that for certain reasons
I did not think It the part Of wis
dom. patriotism or statesmanship" to
elect either Governor Blease or Sem
ator Tillman to the United States sem
ate. You say that in this I forsake
reform principles. I draw a distinc-
ton between the personal ambition
or men and the principles underlying
popular government. II your theory
W correct, then l was deceived at the
mourners' bench. l never had rel-
gion at all and II was merely indiges-
ton that made me shout groan and
say Amen. No. gentlemen. / infer
from your letter that what YOU wan,
is not bold, outspoken, honest and
truthful man to advocate the princi-
pies Of the Reform party" but some
osdy with brain and the gift of "gab."
who will prostitute himself to helm
you elect the brother-in- law of one
OF you to the United States senate,
and I cheerfully inform you that
VIII see you in hell first.
am no office-seeker. / have de-
cined since leaving the senate a seat
on the federal bench and a place ON
the philippine Commission. The only
thing that would inducs me to take
once would be that this State needs
somebody to pull her out of the mire
ana mud OF factional politics. I have
Deen Reformer since 1885, not for
o'''ce' Dut from principle. I endeav-
ored TO so word my letter as not 70
onend your sensibilitics, and tbero ,s
o'"'s I" IL 10 warrant the cheap in.
suits which you have thrown NJ ma
L declined to support Gover,or
oieaso because l did not believe. with
MS attitude towards President WI
son. that he could properly renre.or,
south Carolina in this crisis de-
c'ned to support Senator Tillman be.
cause OF his physical condition
Is the promotion of ono
iitical ambition the cardina, nr,no,,
or reform This is what your ,o,,o.
means and 1T is because good mo-
IKE you nave allowed yourselves %
nc hoodwinked and deceived ,no,
the reform element in this s,o.o -
discredited and shorn q, no
am Trying 10 save it from utter de-
struction. helped it to succos. =,
1890. Who did more TO k.an
OF the ditch In 1916? am ,r,.;
Keep you from going i'm apai, ona
might even go i'm the ditch wi,h ,.
as | did then. were there not o,hor
issues of graver import. fear ,ha,
you do not realize the seriousness Of
the situation; we are just getting into
TINS war and we will suffer as o,bor