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Tillman Attacl Gov. Bleas r TILLMAN DIRECTS AN ELEVENTH-HOUR STAB BLEASE FEARS NO EVIL FROM TILLMAN LETTER. * Tillman Abandons Attitude of Neutrality in Which He Posed Until Saturday. Washington, August 23.?Special: , Senator Tillman to-night issued the . Ferguson letter, which has been much discussed in South Carolina during the last few days: "I have said repeatedly that I was hand off in the race for governor in South Carolina, and have tried faith-J fully to remain neutral to the end, but circumstances and conditions .have compelled me to change my purpose. After the Sims letter was published I was deluged with telegrams and letters, both of protest and importunity j from my old friends, c.' men who claimed to be such. Some of them touched me deeply because of their pathos. Most of them demanded that I should say as much for Blease as I had said for Jones. Others threatened me with retirement on account of interference in the governor's race. About ten days ago I wrote to one of the latter in Anderson county, and asked him specially not to let anyone see it. "Three or four days ago I received a copy of the letter from Governor Btease, with the inquiry whether I had . written it or not. On the 19th I re- | ceived a letter from Harrison Ferguson, of Spartanburg, asking whether I thought Blease was not also eminently qualified for governor, to which I answered in the affirmative, with some restrictions and explanations, and marked it also private and confidential. And agaic the code that obtains among gentlemen was violated by Mr Ferguson, and that part of the letter shown, which said Governor Blease was eminently qualified, if Mr Ferguson has shown all of the letter he has only done it to such friends as he could trust, those of the same type "with himself. I am thus made- to en* dorse Elease as 'eminently qualified,' white explanations a-.-.d restrictions are kept from the public. Uncomfortable As Fence Straddler. | "I am unwilling in this crisis of the State's history to become a supporter of Governor Blease for re-election, or to appear to do so. I know many of my warmest friends are strong believers in Blease, and have known this from the beginning. A less number of \ the Tillmanites of old, but as good friends as any of them, are supporting Judge Jones. I do not want to appear and I am uncomfortable, in the role a? a fence-straddler; therefore, I have decided to give the letter in question publicity- so that all the people may understand exactly what my ideas and feelings are. "I have no doubt Governor Blease has read the whole letter, and sucft of. his lieutenants as he chose to give it to are already in possession of it. He . is acquainted with my attitude, and ? 11 x 11.. a T ; * j _ i t. ? wm uaiurauy?anu 1 wuuia uo me same, and I do not blame him at ah? us.e it to my disadvantage. "Without considering whether there will be any countervailing advantage to me in making-the letter public I will at least have the satisfaction ct knowing that I am no longer considered too cowardly to come out in the open and make known my opinion.In nrro nrio l n i n rV? CJ f o f a'n Tiicf Arv ^iavr V/iiois iu o iatt o uiotvi j I can 'better afford to retire to priyate life, if necessary, than to be considerv ed, even by indirection, as endorsing Governor Blease. I will at least main tain my own self-respect, and as my confidence has been betrayed, I will give the whole letter to the public. '"As the battle has progressed, I have been more and more convinced ui me uuer unntness or tfiease to oe governor, and rather than feel, as I would he compelled to do, that I was in part responsible for it, if I remained silent, I write this statement and will take the consequences. "The State has been disgraced in the eyes of the whole world, and its good name hiade a byword and a hissing. Nobody can cleanse it and redeem it except its own people. "I implore the people to take care of the State's good name next Tuesday." ''The letter ,to Ferguson is as follows : Letter to Ferguson. "My Dear Sir: Yours of August 14ih received. I am not in the habit of evading direct answers to direct questions from my friends, so I will say to you, this: As far as brains go, Blease ^ ^ 7U/7. KitSiSfiSsS is Blease; ;e Makes Reply is "eminently qualified" to be governor, but he is hopelessly deficient in judgment, wisdom and catholicity of spirit, and there is so much smoke about his corruption that I am bound to believe there must be some fire. For instance; why did he not cut Ben Stothart's head off when Stothart refused to swear under oath, that he had not been bribed, under the pretext that he would 'Incriminate himself?' Why has it 'been his habit to refer most of those who Vanted to get pardons to some friend like Sam Nicholls? Why did he not do the pardoning business himself on his ova judgment, rather than turn, it over to a shifty lawyer to charge a fee, unless ho wa? orGtting: some of the money? Why is it that he is so intimatp with Ben Abney, the leading counsel for the Southern Railway as to take him into his own house! when he knows Ben Abney is the greatest lobbyist we have ever had in South Carolina, a manipulator of legislatures and railroad commissioners. j | "If I had been running for governor I like Jones is, what do you suppose 1 would have said to Blease when he charged me with having 'Son Charlie' - - ? ? '"Ho ' A on nrom m6gelPII(Jilt? up WJ ra WJU IUC ou^i^mv bench? I would have retorted: 'Governor Blease, Ben Abney does not have to use a megaphone or telephone to reach you and tell you what the Southern Railroad wants. He can'talk to you three times a day across the table, and if he does not finish by supj per he can ge to bed with you, and talk over and get everything fixed. Every intelligent man in the State knows Ben Abney's pernicious activity in Columbia. Through the lawyers in the* iftErisifltnre. in the emnloy of the railroad, he has prevented any relief to many people about the mileage book situation and all other railroad matters. t m I "Because Gonzales and all the other State papers are supporting Jones is no reason why Jones is unfit to be governor, or that he will be controlled by them, if he is elected.. My friends who have been so outraged because I said Jones was 'eminently qualified to be governor," and have demanded that I should say the same "Ripn<;p hflri hetter take heed lest in their passion and prejudice and madness, they get a worse, governor than Jones can possibly make. ? "I undertake to guarantee that Jones, if elected governor, will be governor of all the people and not of his "friends" alone. Because all the newspapers, which have howled at me, and some of them are still howling, are now howling against Blease and for Jones is no manner of proof that Blease is the best man of the two or will make the better governor. Says Blease had Chance. "Blease has had his chance. Has he made good? On your honoi; do you think he has made good as governor? Xo man can be a good governor unless he realizes that it is a high office and that he ought to do nothing to bring it under suspicion. The honor of the State is like the honor of a woman and ought to be dear to every Carolinian. "I have tried my best to stay out of this fight, but my friends are trying in every way possible, it" seems to me, to drag me into it, having no thought of the consequences to me, but intent only on electing Blease or Jones. I could not say Blease was as well qualified as Jones without lying, except as I have explained in this letter. "If I could speak to every South Carolinian in the State who is a Tillmonito Wwoon nnw anrl fho nrimarv UIUlllVVj UV/W M 'I r* * *"w* *J this is what I would say: 'I am the same man that I have always been, and have not changed one particle. I still believe the poor people and the farmers ought to have as many rights and privileges as anybody else in t^ie country, but they only play into the hands of their enimies and fight against their own interests when they vote for an unworthy. I did not win tneir contiaence and love Dy lying to them, and I do not purpose to retain it by lying to them. I do not believe Blease would make as good a governor as Jones, but a very much worse one than we have ever had since the Radical days, and he would bring us disgrace if elected again. "I know many of my friends regard Blease as another Tillman. He can use the pitchfork as well or, per haps better than I can now, but I never dipped the pitchfork in filth, and that is what he has done; and I hope for the credit of the State, he will be beaten. Consider how idiotic and foolish it is to vote against a good man because Gonzales will vote for him and supports him in his newspaper. If ^e Should happen accidentally to support me some time, th$t f would be sufficient to damn me forI ever in the eyes of some men, judging , by their actions at this tii^e. Such j I feeling is nothing but madness, and j is unworthy of the brave Carolinians who have always been the backbone of the reform movement, Very sincerely yours, B. R. Tillman." Blease's Reply. Governor Blease on Saturday issued the following statement : I have seen the morning papers containing Senator Tillman's latest command to the people?that they defeat me for governor. Tillman himself condemned Gen. I Hampton very severely for interfering in the governor's race in 1890, and took that as his reason for defeating Gen. Hampton for the United States Senate. Jones, in his speech seconding Irby's nomination for the United States senate, said that Hampton was j trying to drag the fair escutcheon of I South Carolina in the dust by sup-1 porting independentism and asked; who it was who saved the State. Nowj Tillman does more than ever Hamp- J ton did in attempting to not only take ] part in a "family quarrel," but at- j tempts to dictate to the people of | South Carolina for whom they shall i cast their ballot for the office of gov-j ernor. I have always been Senator Tijl- j man's friend; supported him in 1S90,, and have voted for him in the prima-1 ries and elsewhere ever singe;. I have been a close friend of his family, and much of the abuse that is being j heaped upon me today is on account j of my stand~for Tillman and the Till- | mans. While ,in Washington, since being j governor, Senator Tillman invited me to come to his rooms in the hotel j i where his wife and daughters were, f ; saying he wished to hare a conference j | with me. I called. The senator asked j I me about the rumor then current that I II was going to oppose him for the ; senate. I told him that as iong as he j i wished to remain in the senate, I j would not oppose him; that I had j been and was his friend, and that I ; did not* believe he would have any op- j i position. He and Mrs Tillman seem-1 i j |ed to be very pleased and both j thanked me for my assurances and j 'the position that I took in the matter, j Mutnal Agreement. We met together later at Four 1 i | Hole Swamp, in Orangeburg county,! | where he made a short talk and! where I spoke. There was a mutual j understanding that I would not op- j ! pose him for the senate and he held ' i i himself out to me and to my friends ;as being my friend. He has paid sevjeral visits to the governor's office to see me and has called at the mansion, ; and in all conversations he has always 'assured me that he would be neutral in the gubernatorial race and his attitude has always been friendly when: ever and wherever we met, and he: has# . made suggestions to me j : in regard to the campajgn, : particularly at the meeting in Orangeburg county*where he himself asked ;me a couple of questions in regard to | matters, and suggested that I have j friends of mine ask me to explain matters about which there was controver! sy. He has assured me by letter,- and by letters to others which have been | given me, that he was not i.;oing to take any part in the fight for election of governor. Naturally, I was surprised at the Sims letter. Then, I | j received another letter and sent him ia copy and asked him of its genuineness. He wired back that without {seeing the letter he could not declare I it genuine, but -in the letter dated Auigust 16, 1912, which I read at the campaign meeting, he says: So Affair of His. "I am trying the best I can to be nontMl 7 hnvfl hppri tpmritpH f^pvpral | times, in fact, I have been opportuned i by some of the best friends I have got i ito come out1 openly and boldly for ;.Jones and give my reasons; but I have refrained from doing so simply because I did not think it is any affair! 1 of mine, and I sincerely believe that ;the people of the State of South Caro;lina can take care of themselves; as jthey have always done, withotrt being dictated to by any one. I do not be ! lieve that Hampton had any right to j 'meddle in the campai'gn as - he did, | nor do I think I ought to try to dictate to 'the people as to who they should vote for. I have done my best I to remain hands off as between 'the ; two candidates for governor, I sh^ll i continue to do so. I am not responsible because the newspapers are deneivine the neonle bv- nutting lies in [the headlines." | I believed Senator Tillman and pro-; claimed at the campaign meetings the truth of his statement as to the I (CONTINUED ON PAGE 7.) COLUMBIA, XEWBERRY & LAUB? ESS R. R. ! Schedule in .effect June 4, 1S12, Sub-, i the Newt Capital Stoc Rsn Ijy II ' f You may be a I or it matters not I some of your moi I to save tor a rain I be able to earn a: I "The Bank Th CAM* Drt? rAnt 1 Iruui ici \jsw i ? BSHBHBHnHHDnHi I ject to change without notice. Schedules indicated are not guaranteed: A. C. L 52. 53. |I W Lv. Charleston .. .. 6.00am 10.30piL S Lv. Sumter 9.41am 6.55pm g i C., N. & L. Lv. Columbia 11.35am 4.55pm Lv. Prosperity 1.12a*m 3.34pm M ' ^ Lv. Newberry 1.29pm 3.20pm i g Lv. Clinton 2.30pm 2.35pm j? Lv. Laurens.. .. 2.52pm 2.05pm ? c. & w. c. a? Ar. Greenville 4.00pm 12.20pm Ar. Spartanburg. .. 4.05pm 12.20pm j S. ^ A. L. Ar. Abbeville 3.55pm 1.02pm ! 9 j Ar. .G reenwood 3.27pm 1.33pm { Ar. Athens.: 6.05pm 10.30am j ?ji Ar. Atlanta 8.45pm -8.00am I A. C. L. 54. 55. Lv. Columbia 5.00pm 11.15am Lv. Prosperity 6.26pm 9.50am I Lv. Newberry 6.44pm 9.32am g QJ Lv. Clinton 7.35pm 8.44am Lv. Laurens 7.55pm 8.20am m c. & w. c. Ar. Greenville 9.30pm 7.00am , S. A. L. ^ At. Greenville 2.28am 2.38am Ar. Abbeville.. 2.56am 2.08am Ar. Athens 5.04am 11.59pm Ar. Atlanta 7.15am 9.55pm 0|( Nos. 52 and 53 arrive and depart from Union Station, Columbia, daily, and run through between Charleston and Greenville. I St Nos. 54 and 55 arrive* and depart i Gervais street, Columbia, daily except j Snndav. and run through between Co- | Jumbia and Greenville. . W. J. Craig, P. T. M.. ^ I Wilmington. N. ? I SO BEASON FOR IT. 1 You Are Shown a TFay Out There can-be no reason why any I reader of this who suffers the tortures I of an aching back, ihe annoyance of jl urinary disorders, the pains and dan- j I gers oi Kiuxiej' ins win i-a.ii. nj uv&u mo word of a resident of this locality who has found relief. The following is cians a convincing proof. ' remedie Mrs. J. M. Wheeler, Prosperity, S. least. I Car., says: "My kidneys were disor- of ever dered for a long time, causing terrible law pro< pains through my loins and limbs, ney Pill i There was also a constant ache in my j "Son's d: back and on some occasions I could they wei scarcely get about The kidney secre- induced tions were unnatural and annoyed ite after I 3 greatly. I .consulted several physi- boxes r 1 ' ' ' tavircr Noinnffc R IU1J UUIUIgO u k, - $50,00 vl a^p% M / Fanner, or a Miller, or a Can what your trade or professio ley in the bank It will he \ iy day or a day when you m s much as now. at Always Has The M( nterest Paid on Savings Depi t J. E. NORVOOD % /V liming Vrightsville t Is calling you?the s i . . r_? V i cry our ror you owd. No more delightful 1 South Atlantic G g, boating, fishing easures. Reached in a few egant service' of th AST LINE RAI andard Railroad of nnections. Fmmihva f#.i* vafpc $ il5i|Ull C IVA A ? jyour local agent, 01 W. J. CRAK Passenger Ti Will % nd tried a number of kidney and *n; v s, but did not improve in the their n had about given up the hope mende< being cured when my son-in- of my cured a supply of Down's Kid- do so." s for me at W. E. Pelham & For rug store. He had read that cents, re good for kidney trouble and New Y me to try them. I did so and States, had taken the contents of two Remi ay backache ha<k disappeared take u< ank | , O.OO j * pm I gfsS t'lii * . center, in^pat ^ Ip yoo ay not 1 ? I x )sits i / Cashier . ' ! * PHHBBHHHBBPHHHflBBEBHBDHB m h ; inn 1 ^ ; Beach j r * t iurf, the music, | r 11 / .1 to touow me / seaside resort aast, for bath- / and vacation >! hours via the I e ATLANTIC ! A LROAD, The I the South, and I "" schedules, etc., ' address ' 'affic Mgr., j" minorfnn. N. f!. y kidneys had been restored to ormal condition. I have recom1 Down's Kidney Pills to many friends and shall continue to ;> . sale by all dealers. Price 50 > 4 Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo, ork, so'.e agents for the United a smber the name?Doan'e?and > otJwr.