The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-03-22
ANTI REFORM PRESS
HOPELESSLY At SEA.
John X. Aull.

JOlu IN <1ull-
Columbia, March lin order .
get a clear conception OF the political
situation in South Carolina today, an!
to understand fully how completely
the Reform faction has that situation
in its hands, it is necessary that re-
cent developments in connection VITA
he Tillman-Lever fiasco and the re-
sulting stampede in the anti-Reform
ranks be viewed in the light of the
campaign of 1918, when Tillman de-
livered his eleventh-hour stab against
Rlease, iorsaking the party which had
placed him in power in 1890 and
apt hi II in power t0i twenty-five
years.
The anti-Reform press is hopelessly
at sea today without the slightest pos
sibility of being able to right itself
and to rally intellectually to the
support of Senator Tillman, and with
out the possibility, now that Tillman
has definitely announced his candi,
dacy, of being able to get its forces
solidly behind any other man. The
reason is not far to seek. The anti
Reform press has never had any love
for Tillman. The Columbia STATE
was established in 1891 for the avowel
purpose of fighting him. There is not
tho shadow of doubt that in 1912
good portion of the antl-Reform
press would have been delighted TO
see both Tillman and Blease defeated.
and the Columbia State set trap fer
Tillman into which the senior senator
walked and out of which he came very
nearly not being able to extricate him.
self The conspiracy failed, how
ever. and Blease was reelected gov
ernor. Tillman was also reelected
senator. after a hard struggle, pu:
ho had forever alienated from himself
the faction in South Carolina politics
which he had formerly led. and which
had made him governor and United
States senator In the hour OF tnelr
need he had failed them and gone over
to the enemy, upon the invitation OF
Mr. William E, Gonzales. then the
editor Of the Columbia State and now
minister to Cuba.
TIE Columbia State has been writing
q series of editorials during the past
several days in an effort to eXtrlcate
itself and the anti-Reform tactloH
from the meshes in which it has b"
come entangled. 1t has not yet been
able to muster up sufficient courage
to come out boldly and declare tor
Senator Tillman for reelection, but II
is holding its nose and grs?'1g It's
teeth and making gnimaces, which
are pretty sure signs that it is making
an earnest effort to swallow the bitter
pill
''To avoid confusion in future" says
the State, ito print and keep the rec
ord straight, it is we'll to say now
that whatever opposition has develop
ed to the reelection of Senator B. r
Tillman had its origin in the group
of South Carolina politicians and vot-
ers who call themselves the Reform
faction or Reform party. 1t has been
understood and openly said for many
months that the Reformers would set
out a candidate for senators 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 thu
noform faction to its former leader,
Senator Tillman, had its origin in the
Tillman- Gonzales "farme-up" of 1912
for the Columbia State has never de-
MED that on August 90. 1912, and Aug
ust "a, 1912. it's Washington corre-
.ocndent. Mr.. P. H. MCGOWAN, receiv-
ed from its editor, Mr.. William =.
Gonzales, three telegrams, somewhat
of the tenor as follows:
"Tillman wrote private letter to
Ferguson, in Spartanburg, which is
severe arraignment. Blease knows
contents of letter and is sure to strike
Tillman will full force of his organ;-
zation on Tuesday If we could get
whole letter published Tillman's gains
On Jones side would conteract losses
sure to be sustained in present status.
Keep Tillman from knowing source
of information. Place facts before
him and beg for whole letter"
eff correspondent gould oct copy of
letter. the matter in it could be sent
ont from Spartanburg."