Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-07-05

through ordinary means ana tnat W ne
was to win out at all he must resort
to more drastic measures.
Considerable organization work had
been done through the Farmers
Movement" and in the winter OF 1890
came what took its name in the poll
ltical history Of the state AZ thr
"Shell Manifestos." This was a
clarion call to the farmers of the
state to hold a convention in Column
bia in March for the purpose Of con-
sidcring the political situation gen.
orally. and II 1t should be deemed
desirable to Suggest" candidates for
the nomination Of the regular Demo-
cratic party.
The Shell manifesto gave rise to a
political Juror. The Democrats in
control Of the dominant organization
protested most vigorously: but the
more vigorous their protests the more
determined became the farmers Of
the state-and the March convention
was held.
In a speech in that convention. Mr..
Tillman referred to the Shell manifes-
to as a document, with the writing Of
which | had something to do" and
he stirred the delegates to a pitch Of
enthusiasm that put them in shape
to embrace whatever was proposed.
There was in the convention a
strong sentiment against radical ac-
ton OF any kind. II came through a
realization Of the fact that the whole
movement was OF an irregular and in
ldcpcndcnt nature. and that failure
meant political ostracism for all con-
cern.d. BY a vote Of 12l TO ia the
convention decided 10 make nomina-
,ions by acclamation to make the
fight.
There followed one OF the hardest,
most strenuous and most bitter cam
poigns in the history Of the state.
The farming and laboring element
was aroused to Il pitch of enthusiasm
the like Of which had never been
known before. and Tillman was
nominated for governor along with n
full ticket of "Reformers" in sympathy
with his movement.
The old line Democrats continued
10 fight for about two or three cam
paigns and then gave 1t up as hope
less proposition. Tillman soon had a
safe and enthusiastic majority in ev-
cry county in the state, and after q
few years, he succeeded in revolution
izing every department Of the govern
ment, including the supreme court
After two years as governor. Cap
tain Tillman secured his election to
the. United States senate, where he
has continued ever since.
So long as he remained in the gov
crnoh's office he held the political
rcins of the state with a tight grip.
No man known to have been In SYM
pathy with the old regime was allow
ed to go even to the legislature II =it
could he helped, and very few were
able to get by.
After he went to the senate, howev-
er, Mr.. Tillman became less relentless.
Realizing as he did that many OF the
men who had been swept into power
were too raw and incompetent to be
relied upon, while most Of the political
talent and experience was on the oth-
or side he gradually adopted a
policy of accepting as converts all
who would give him and his party
satisfactory assurance of continuing
allegiance. !, 81
EeS nor. than twenty -xee-.S
TiIIman continued the undisputed
political boss of the state. There were
those who chafed under his domina-
ton and who were ever hoping for re-
lief. hut all Of these. who indicated
the slightest indication in the direc-
ton of open revolt were quickly
s,Iuelchcd.
The last strictly Tillmanitc COVER
nor-choscn and elected by the old
Tillman party, was William Fl. Eller-
he, who died in office In 1899. He was
succeeded by Miles b. McSweeney as
lieutenant governor, and McSweeney
was elected for the succeeding fall
term by the Tillmanite vote. But Nc
sweeney was not man who would
have been chosen as the nominee OF
that marty. He got the position rath-
or as n matter of political accident.
and he failed to develop a great deal
of force 1t was not in him.
With the end Of McSwecney's term
the govcrnorship passed back to the
old party, and continued there with
Hcyward and Manning, until the elec-
ton Of Blease in 1910.
The election Of Blease was in a
sense n re-assertion Of the spirit OF
original Tillmanism-not entirely so:
but in n measure so, and Tillman so
recognized 1t when in public speech
he endorsed Mr.. Blease.
But at this time Tillman himself
had begun to realize that his star was
waning. He had seen the state gov
ernment steadily slipping from his
grasp and his acknowledgement of
Blease was somewhat in the nature Of
an effort to renew his old align
ment. The outlook was not promis-
ing, however. for 1t now began to ap-
pear that his mantle was about to
fall on rival, and he was driven to
look TO other connections.
When. in 1912. Senator Tillman was
last before the people for reelection
it began to look as II the influence
of Blease was going against him.
with n possible chance Of defeat he
issued his famous eleventh hour as
sault or Blease.
The assault was so timed with re-
ference to the election that II could
get TO the people who hated Tillman
less than they hated Blease: but not
to the people who were most likely
to vote for Tillman because Of old
sentiments and traditions.
The effect of this letter was OF but
small harm to Blease. bat Of great po-