The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1918-03-20

ANTI-REFORM PRESS
HOPELESSLY AT SEA

get clear conception of the political
situation in South Carolina today, and
to understand fully how completely
the Reform faction has that situation
IN its hands, it is necessary that recent
developments in connection with the
Tillman-L Lever fiasco and the result
ing stampede in the anti-Reform
ranks be viewed in the light of the
campaign of 1913, when Tilman deliv-
cred his eleventh hour stab against
Blease, forsaking the party which had
placed him in power in 1890 and kept
nm IN power for twenty-five yaers. .
The anti-Reform press is hopelessly
at sea today without the slightest pos
sibility of being able to right itself
and to rally Fundamentally to the
support of Senator Tilman, and with
out the possibility, now that Tillman
has definitely announced his candida
cy, OF being able to get it's forces SOL
idly behind any other man. The reason
is not far to seek. The anti Reform
press has never had any love for Till
man. The Columbia State was estab-
lished in 1891 for the uvowed purpose
of fighting him. There Is not the sha-
dow of doubt that in 1912 good por-
ton OF the anti-Rcform press would
have been delighted to see both Till
man and Blcase defeated and the Co.
lumbla State set a trap for Tilman in
TO which the senior senator walked
and out of which he came very nearly
not being able to extrcate himself
The conspiracy failed, however, and
blease was reelected governor. Till
man was also reelected senator, after
hard struggle, but he forever alien
atdd from himself the faction in South
Carolina politics which he had former
ly led, and which had made him gov
ernor and United States senator. In
, the hour of their need he had failed
them and gone over to the enemy, up
on the invitation of Mr.. William f.
Gonzales, then editor of the Columbia
State, and now minister to Cuba
The Columbia State has been writ
ing series of editorials during the
past several days in an effort to extri-
cate itself and the anti Reform fac
tlon from the meshes in which it has
become entanglcd. 1t has not vet
been able to muster up sufficient
courage to come out boldly and de-
clare for Senator Tillman for reelec-
tionfi but it is. holding its nose and
gritting its teeth and making grim
aces, which are pretty sure signs that
1t Is making an earnest effort to swal-
low the bitter pill.
"To avoid confusion in future" saws
the State, "to print and keep the rec
ord straight, it is we'll to saw now
that whatever opposition has develop
ed to the reelection of Senator B. r.
Iillman had it's origin in the group of
South Carolina politicians and voters
who call themselves the Reform fac
tion or Reform party. 1t has been un-
derstood and openly said for many
months that the Reformers would set
| out candidate for senator in 1918"
The records show how utterly with
out foundation in fact the underlying
basis of this statement is. The rec
ords show that the opposition by the
Reform faction to it's former leader.
Senator Tillman, had it's origin in the
/ Tillman- Gonzales "frame-up" of 1912.
for the Columbia State has never de-
| MED that on August 23, 1912, and
August "a, 1912, it's Washington cor.
respondent, Mr.. p. II. MCGOWAN, re-
celvcd from it's editor, Mr.. William f.
| Gonzales, three kilograms, somewhat
OF the tenor as follows:
"Tillman wrote private letter to
Ferguson in Spartanburg, which is Sc
we're arraignment. Blease knows con-
tents of letter and is sure to strike
iTillman with full force of his organ
I lHaIioh on IueSday III we could get
whole letter published, Tillman's gains
on Jones' side would countcract losses
sure to be sustained in present status
Keep Tillman from knowing source of
information. Place facts before him
and beg for whole letter."
'lf correspondent could get copy of
letter, the matter in it could be sent
out from Spartanburg"
"Tillman's letter must strengthen
Jones lines and cause Bleasc losses