Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-02-08
Bennettsville. 5. G.. Feb. 3. 1915.


Bennettsville. 5. G.. Feb. 3. 1915.
Messrs. w ". Scott, H. Kelly, Asa
Hall. Jr., and II. Clinton Summers.
Jr. columbia, =. C.-Gentlemen:
Yours January l. You withdraw your
names from a petition requesting
line to become a candidate for COVER
nor. You say: What we wanted
and thought we would get in making
our call was a bold. honest. outspok-
en- and truthful man to advocate the
principles Of the Reform party OF
this state, which we hope to ad-
vance" That is exactly what you
would get, gentlemen, should ! con-
sent to become a candidate. but from
your letter it seems exactly what you
do not want
| What principle Of the Reform par
| " have / abandoned? ! merely de-
clined to support certain candidate
for United States senator. In your
request for me to be Il candidate you
referred to my patriotism. wisdom
and craftsmanship" plead guilty to
the charge and cheerfully acknowl-
edge that you were correct as To my
possessing in an eminent degree these
cardinal virtues. / suspected, how
ever, gentlemen, that you were not
very deeply concerned about wisdom.
patriotism or craftsmanship, and as
did not wish to obtain goods under
false pretenses." l gently informed
you that for certain reasons | did
not think it the part Of wisdom, pa
triotism or craftsmanship TO elect
either Governor Bleasc or Senator
Tillman TO the United States senate.
form principles. draw a distinction
between the personal ambition OF
men and the principles underlying
popular government. IL your theory
| the mourners' bench. | never had
religion at all and 1t was merely in
digestion that made me shout. groan
and say Amen. No, gentlemen, | in
fer from your letter that what you
want is not bold. outspoken. hon
est and truthful man to advocate the
principles of the Reform party. but
| somebody with brains and gift OF
CAB" who will prostitute himself to
help you elect the brother-in-law OF
one of you to the United States sem
ate, and cheerfully inform you that
I will see you in hell first.
am no office-seeker. have de-
clned since leaving the senate seat
on the Federal bench and place on
the Philippine commission. The only
thing that would induce me to take
office would be that this state needs
somebody to pull her out Of the mire
and mud of factional politics. i have
been a Reformer sine. 1885. NJ ,-tsai
office, but from principle. / endeaV-
ored to so word my letter as not TO
offend your sensibilities. and there Is
nothing in 1t to warrant the cheap
insults which you have thrown ut
me. J. declined to support Governor
Blease because ! did not believe,
with his attitude towards President
Wilson, that he could properly repre-
sent South Carolina in this crisis.
declined to support Senator Tillman
because of his physical condition.
What Principle Of Reform Do ] Vic.
late?
Is the promotion of one mans po-
litical ambition the cardinal principle
Of reform? This is what your letter
means and it Is because good men
like you have allowed yourselves to
be hoodwinked and deceived that the
Reform element in this state Is dis
credited and shorn Of power. am
trying to save 1t from utter destruc-
ton. helped it to success in 1890.
Who did more to keep you out OF the
ditch in 1915? l am trying to keep
you from going in again and i might
even go in the ditch with you as
did then, were there not other issues
of grayer import. / fear that you do
not realize the seriousness Of the sit
uation; we are just getting into this
war and We will suffer rs other ma
tions are suffering before il is
Through.
The German army in this country
lis our deadliest menace. Millions OF
dollars were sent here to hire news
paper editors and public men. Eight
million dollars were traced to one
German agent for distribution: it is
known where some OF this money
went. The result Is shown in the
systematic spread Of German propa-
ganda. They have burned up mill
lions Of dollars Of property; they
have used poison in water and food
and all the time are sowing the seeds
of dissension. This war can only be
won by self-sacrifice and unity OF
action. If the confidence Of the coun-
try in President Wilson could be de-
stroyed we would be an easy prey to
Germany. / have studied this sub
ject carefully and II We do not con-
quer Germany in Europe we will
have her to fight in this country. The
same causes now operating overthrow
Russia, and but for drastic action
would have destroyed England the
first year Of the war. In France a
former prime minister" has been
proven to have been in the pay Of
Germany.
| am not making charges against
lany one in South Carolina at this
time. / think our real trouble is
more a lack Of understanding than
Of disloyalty. Germany would have
been defeated before this II 1t had not
been for her spy system. II Russia
had fought on six months longer
the war would have been over. but
German agents undermined the con-
fdence OF the .eople and gave the
kaiser a new lease Of life. The same
thing happened in Italy; her troops
| -, ,tarni,ad uifb tho Garmana instead