The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-10-04
LARRY GAN7T'S WEEKLY LETTER
By T. Larry CAN'T

the ruling element contended that the
property should go to the direct heirs
of Mr.. Calhoun. This contention re-
suited in calling the famous March
convention in Columbia, and which, to
the two factions in South Carolina,
was repetition of what the Charles
ton convention was to our Union.
Tillnaan had given up all hope Of be-
ing nominated for Governor, and had
left the convention hall, saying that
he woald quit politics and return to
his farm. But J. l.. N. 1rby held the
fort and secured the nomination OF
T:llman. Irby told me that after the
convention had acted, he found Till
man sitting on the river bank, with
head hung down and waiting for his
train to leave for home.
For years South Carolina was
wracked by one of the bitterest and
most vindictive political campaigns
that was ever known. Families and
communities were divided, and po-
litics even invaded the churches and
schools The story Of these cam
paigns is tco recent to need recount
ing here. 'Tiilman triunphed and for
years his faction absolutely controll-
ed the politics of South Carolina.
That political revolution can best
be compared to the French revolution,
only without it's lawlessness and cru
city. Tillman was the Robespierre,
Iroy the Danton, John Gary Evans
the Barnave, John L. McLaurin the
Desmoulins, and Jasper Tolbert,
Heriot. But in time the leaders CT
the victorious faction began to quar-
rel over a division of honors and like
unto the Giirodins Of France, 1rby
was the first to fall under the political
guillotine, worked by Tillman. Irby
never ceased to- denounce Ben TIL
man for treachery and ingratitude.
Other reformers went, one by one,
to the execution, until Of the old or
ganizers of the reform movement
Tillman was alone left in power.
Cole Blease, for a time, attempted
the role of the Little Corsican, but he
met his Waterloo at St. Helena, and
not even a weeping willow was plant
ed to mark his political grave.
After several political dog-falls,
the old regime again came into pow
er in the person of Gov. Manning.
The Blease faction, the offspring of
Tillmanism but repudiated by him,
was without a leader and went to
pieces. Gov. Manning, like unto
Louis XVIII, gave way to mild re-
former, Gov. Cooper, who today
holds the reins, of power. 1t was a
repetition of the dethroning of Louis
XVIII and placing on his throne
son of the man who voted in the con-
vention for the execution of Louis
XVI.
! This is the situation today in South
Carolina. There is truce between
the old warning factions, and both
sides are resting on their arms, one
afraid to challenge the other. 1T
would be a very great misfortune for
the State to have renewal of the
bitter and vindictive political con-
tests that characterized the early
wears of the reign of Tilhnanism.
But 1 find restlessness among the
plain people, and if they had leader
no one can predict the result.
But in spite of its ,warm-b FLOODED
people and bitter factional contests
the State continues to grow in wealth
and power. The Piedmont counties,
with their large white population,
hold the balance of power in the
State and can dictate its politics when
the people decide to organize and
assert their strength at the ballot
box.