The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-05-24

Tillman from MS. Inc uluel eIiIe Do-
tween the two chairmansnlps seems
TO he that Mr.. Ttllman is no longer
active, while Mr.. Lever is, all OF
which has reacted against the anti
reform doctrine of chairmanships, so
far as both Mr.. Lever and Mr.. Tillman
are concerned.
It was noteworthy that the conven-
tion was afraid to tackle the county
to-county campaign plan. AT the last
moment everybody hoped on the
bandwagon. Mr.. Lever several days
ago came out in a statement urging
its continuance, and Senator Tillman
said it was his child and he wanted
to see it live. However, he made 1t
plain that he would not attempt to
make the canvass. The fight against
the system. which has been waged
bv the anti-reform faction, died
sudden death The truth OF the mat
ter is that it is realized that the Re-
form candidates can draw the crowds
and the anti-reformers have shown
marked inability along this line. They
were simply afraid to risk it, and III
an anti-reform convention the re-
formers won out in their fight for TIE
preservation of the system, not be-.
cause they were strong in the con-
vention or on the committee, but be-
cause the other side was scared.
Loyalty Resolutions, Nothing Else
Except the passage of the loyalty
resolutions, the convention simply did
nothing. 1t lodged every state issue.
There was a flood of oratory, but
aside from the reafflrmation of alle-
glance the convention was a nonenti-
ty. It might as we'll not have been
held. except for the fact that its fail
ure to act upon important issues
shows the people of South Carolina
more clearly than ever before the ab'
solute necessity for general clean
ing up in the primaries this summer.
Blease's Statement.
Following is former Governor
Blease's statement, made to The
American today:
"I must say that I am not at all
surprised at the action of the state
convention, because, having looked
over the list of delegates, I expected
to see a bitter partisan and factional
display, both in words and action. l
am satisfied that the convention has
STRENGTHENED very much the prospects
of the reform candidates in the COM
ing campaign.
"There is no question as to the
loyalty of all the white people OF this
state. They are absolutely unanimous
in their support of America in the
present worldwide war, and do not
believe there is a true American in
the Union who for moment would
wish anything but the greatest de-
gree of success and speediest victory
for American arms.
However, I am very much dlsap-
pointed in the platform of the con-
vention, for it referred to no single
issue confronting the people of South
Carolina. The loyalty of our people is
not an issue. The nations cause is
not an issue. Upon that we are all
agreed 1t was proper that the con-
vention by resolution should reafhrm
this allegiance to democracy and to
the nation in this war, but this con-
vention, by camouflage so apparent
that it ceases to be camouflage, has
endeavored to mislead the people into
believing that there are no state Is"
s" IS o. m o.: nee both at home and
to aid the nation in the successful
conduct of the war. There are a
number of vital questions confronting
the people as to affairs here at home,
and every single one of them the con-
vention completely and absolutely
lodged. They have endeavored to
wrap the American flag around them,
claiming that they are the only ones
who are loyal, and have attempted to
hide behind the flag, making rich
mixture of patriotism and politics.
They are absolutely silent as to edu-
cation, taxation, good roads, the state
warehouse system and asking assist
ance of the federal government in
establishing a graded system for
wages in all government plants, ana