Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-07-23
PeepIes's Letter.

FeepltS SSkNSi'
To the Editor of the state:
Columbia, =. c.. July II. 1918.
have read with great deal ot
interest the report 10y your corre-
sInndcnt OF the meeting held at
Florence Yesterday. in which it is stat
ed that | was denounced by the crowd
present as "A "slackcr' and "pro-Ger-
man." crying throw him out.
| desire to call to the attention OF
the people of South Carolina that there
is nowhere included in this report any
account of any expression when l
CAV. uttcrancc to other than my po-
Sition OF refusing to he hung on the
coat tail of any man.
am running on my own merits ana
if am not worthy individually. OF
the consideration of the voters. with
ON, running on the qualifications OF
any other person, then ! do not care
Tor their support.
As your editorial and the editorials
uf other papers have from time 10
time indicated tn" attitude that de-
v-loprd at the meeting yesterday, the
people OF South Carolina will realize
from the record which has been writ
ten that il was a very clear ana
unique political move to embarrass
and defeat me. am glad that | did
not step into the trap which had been
set.
Your editorials and the editorials In
the other newspapers of the state
along this line, no doubt are your
Irrrogativc and the prcrogativc oi any
politician who desires Ia use such tao
lies To carry into effect his or your
PURPOSES and ambitions. | can only
say that the whole matter Is one In
the hands OF the people of South Caro-
lima. who are the Judges as to fair
ness ana equity.
accord Ia every person and to cv-
cry newspaper the right to think ana
act as they please, and | entertain nO
malice nor bitterness against any one
of them for any charge which may be
founded in the least upon fact. or for
any policy which they founded in the
least upon fact. or for any policy
which they may pursue. This be-
sIs.aks my attitude and public life as
well as in private dealings for ] be-
lirvr that the people will bear me out
that my political career has been free
from bitterness, prejudice and bclit-
Elements. and | stand OXEN and above
hoard on all matters affecting the wei
fare OF the people at large. No one
dctcsts factionalism and prejudice
more than | do, and if | have not
grown to a sufficient height in South
Carolina To he big enough and broad
enough to ask the people of my state
for IN office, standing on my own
merits, then | ask them not TO con-
slider my candidacy. l reserve to my
sell just 'ns l grant to every one cl
my constitutional prcrogativc as
citizen and Democrat, to cast
ballot for the person think hest suit
cd in every way to fill the position
he may be seeking.
Your report of the meeting fails &c
include anything that | said in my
speech. as humble rs it may have been
rs to the issues OF the day, or the
issues involved in the campaign for tho
Office which | am seeking. | prepared
a written speech. but as soon rs
entered the courthouse | saw that tC
read Il speech would he simply Il
Waste of time. and in my remarks. as
my memory serves me, ] used excerpts
from that speech, anl in the course OF
my remarks | stated that my loyalty
to the government needed no defense
and that before ] would sacrifice q
Scintilla of my loyalty | would rather
80 down into ignOminOus defeat and
retire into the shadows Of private life
recalled to my hearers rendering
my services in any capacity to the
Hon. Woodrow Wilson on the day OF
he declaration OF war and that this
WAS followed by my every effort to sc,
into the service Of the judge advocate
generals department. and that just
governor was called upon by Il COM
mittrc representing the American Ban
association at Washington, ID. c.. tc
state whether | would enter the SER
vice without pay. which | answered In
the Affirmative. with the exception OF
my actual living expenses. for ] had
no other resources to draw from, and
that | was further willing TO serve
anywhere that might he the wish OF
the government to send me.
At that time | was in the race for
the United States senate. but | also
stated my willingness, upon the re-
quest Of the government, to give up
any political ambition that | might
have to serve the government in any
capacity. Notwithstanding these state
mcnts. your correspondent has sent
out to tho world n statement that
have been denounced by an audience
of South Carolinians as n Stacker and
Il pro- German for the sole reason that
| would not declare myself and sacri-
flee my prerogative as a voter for the
whim of politicians.
I entertain no hard feelings against
my opponents. or against any one who
acted squarcly in this matter. and !
want you and the people Of South
Carolina to realize that notwithstand-
ing this political situation. and your
attitude and the attitude of my op-
poncnts. the issues remain.
| also touched on other matters that