The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-03

South Carolina whose entire record
does not make it plain that he VIII
support the nation, etc" has roreren .,
OF course TO the senatorial race. The
president could only have receive
this information from those who wc,c
interested in bringing him TO that
conclusion. and thereby saving MIR.
Lever from defeat and obscuritv 4,
the hands of the aroused Tillman.
Would these men who furnished THIS
assurance have taken such a stop
without consulting Mr.. Lever? Danish
the idea! Mr.. Lever processes great
surprise upon receipt OF the presi-
dents letter. Does any one believe
that President Wilson would have
written this letter without being as
Sured that it would more than meet
with Mr.. Levers approval? Would
he have come to this conclusion with
out consulting Mr.. Lever, the man
above all others who would save the
''N''eN WV 'il TIC expense Oh breaking
falth with Senator Tillman? Was not
Lever entitled to give an opinion be-
fore the president made up his mind?
And do you not know that if he Was
not consulted, he certainly would have
been if the president had not been
assured that it was all right with MIR.
r
Lever, and that he was more than
willing just then to get back what he
had lost? Yet, Mr.. Lever tries to
make the people believe that he was
surprised at the contents of the pres
idents letter. Could anything he more
absurd? Does it not show, if any fur
her proof is needed, that interested
'rl"hdS OF Mr.. Lever, with his knowl-
edge took the matter up with the
president and secured this letter nv
withholding the fact that a campaign
was then in rOSrcss in the Seventh
District OF SoCth Carolina. i'm which
I'll the 60 didates were loyal friends
81 the ninistration, and by repre-
denting that the only effect of such a
!Ctter would be the clearing of the DO
itical atmosphere in the senatorial
'ace i'm this state? BY such method
/ believe the attempt was made TO
make it appear that the president was
IoViatng from his expressed purpose.
not TO interfere i'm campaign be-
tween loyal friends of the adminstra-
ilon, i'm order TO keep Mr.. Lever in
congress. Thus do believe that the
resident was misled and deceived.
ma resent such conduct toward him
'S much as anything else connected
With the incident
! yield to no one in admiration for
President Wilson, in implicit conf
'cncc in his Judgment in directing tn"
lllairs of the nation. He however
acts upon information he has receiv-
at. He can be misled by those whom
re trusts, and | believe he has been.
md that Mr. Lever for the salvation
IF himself, has committed IL crime
lgainst democracy, when. i'm order to
lttain his ends. ne seeks to bring
lbout political interference by tho
administration in the local affairs OF
| district. Note, Senator Tillman SAYS
N his letter of May Sth to Mr.. I}urle-
ion, TO which the letter above quoted
VAS reply, Tho president and his
'abinct cannot afford to butt in in q
states political affairs" The answer
II Mr.. Burlcson and the answer of the
resident agree to that proposition.
Now as TO the necessity Of Mr. Lev
rs remaining in the house. This
claim is based upon three conditions
'irst, the necessity Of his remaining
chairman of the committee of aericul
ture; second, that he is necessary be-
ause Of pending legislation; and
bird, that he cannot go upon the
for the reason that his pres
nee Is required in Washington.
Mr.. Levers appreciation of the ne.
'essity Of remaining as chairman OF
he agricultural committee is fully eX-
PRESSED ana answered by him. when
4 the hope of being elected TO the sen
,tc, he was willing to surrender Tho
iutics Of that Office. The change
which comes over the spirit of his
lrCams and his ideas of the enhance.
nent OF value of himself to that com
nittec unfortunately comes after tn,
Xposurc and caStigation administers
ID him by senator Tillman. AS :,
matter of fact the man who would
.uccccd him rs chairman Of ttat com
nittec is Gordon Lee of Georgia. a