Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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MUST BE REFORMED TILLMAN SAYS PRIMA 11Y SAFE* V GUARDS MUST RU MAI)K. TO KEEP OUT THE NEGRO ? ^ Senior Seuator Says People Will Not Take Part In Primary If Frauds Are Permitted, Rut Will Turn to the General Flection, Where Negro Holds Balance of Power. f Senator Tillman handed the newsJi paper correspondents the following J1 interview Saturday: * The near annroarh nf tho stntn Vfl ' ~ * *" " W " V*,N/ V ^ f convention and th? importance of its expected action emboldens me to give expression to some opinions on the subject of safeguarding the primary. I deem this more necessary because I know I shall not be able to attend the convention in person, and I have 4* received many letters asking my advice in this crisis. Almost every South Carolina newspaper I see has something to say about this all-important subjesct and there a,re scores of schemes or propositions, as to how it ought to bo done?some good, some bad, some indifferent ,aml many ^X entirely impracticable and unjust. It will be remembered that just after the last primary two years ago, cries of fraud went up all over the State and the executive committeo did not declare the result promptly. This caused intense anger on the part of the supporters of Gov. IlloaRe, as v they believed there was an effort bo* ing made to cheat him, and I raised my voice in no uncertain way urging promptness in investigating and reporting the results of the election, and thus relieving the suspense. The governor was finally declared the nominee of the party and things ^ quieted down. He Makes {Suggestions. We have another primary coming on In August, and there are many mousanua of men in the State who boldly avow the purpose never to take part in the primary again unless there are some safeguards thrown f J around it to prevent fraud and corruption. I havo given the subject much thought and venture to make the following suggestions: i It is a pity the State legislature ( * did not deal with this question and settle once foi all by law the reguM lations that are to govern of the prl j?PHLunary, but Gov. Itlease by threats of the veto and with the powerful influence ho wields prevented any action. Therefore, the party must act, if anything is to bo done, and the white men of the State had just as well realize that unless somthing is done this will bo our last Democratic ^primary of white men only. The improbabilities are, the almost inevitable consequences indeed will be, a fight to a finish in the November election, with the negroes holding the balance of power and thus controlling. One Vote for Every Man. down as a general principle, which no honest man can dispute aafely, or object to, that every whito Democrat who is entitled to vote under the ruies and regulations of the party should bo allowed to vote once, and once only, and that that vote should he counted honestly and the result declared promptly. No decent ^or honest man wants to cheat another white man out of his right to iuiuuipauuii in uie government, anil o patriot desires anything but fair lay and equality of rights. I^at evry whito man have the same chance s any other whito man, rich or poor, Igh oi^ low, and let the majority ule. That is Democracy, or Til 1lanism as I have taught it, and he ho would not be content to abide y such an election is no patriot and o Democrat either. Our trouble eretofore, and our trouble this year, F we have trouble, will be dishonst and padded club rolls and stuffed allot boxes. The club rolls we have ow are old and have not been revisd or corrected in a long while. Our olitics have been running along in jogtrot, peaceful, way and dead len's names are on the club lists, bsentees who have moved away are n the club lists, and the names of ion whom nobody ever knew or saw nd can not find aro on tno club lists, 'his is a fruitful source of fraud, and , ur first effort should bo to get an ;bsolutely new enrollment of the )emocrats who are. entitled to vote inder the rules of the primary. Three Club Rolls. I For reasons that, are apparent to any man who thinks about it, after 0io> new rolls are made up?and this should be done by a given date?they should bo filed in home convenient place where they can bo examined to detect if there has been any fraud practiced In placing names on them. Twenty days should elapse between ^the filing of the rolls and the primary, and entry of no name be allowed after the period fixed. No name should be put on the roll unless i the voter applies in persons or sends i written authority asking that his ] name bo enrolled. There should be i ^hree clrtb rolls, one copy to be sent to the county chairman, another copy < . t to the clerk of court, and the third copy remain with the secretaryvof the club as a registry list to govern on tfle day of the primary election. No man should be allowed to vote whose name has not:been enrolled in accordance with the above regulations. If the money can be had, it would be well to have the club rolls published in some one county paper twenty days before the primary, but as I fear this may be considered too expensive, the tiling of them with the clerks of court and the county chairs men is sufficient in my judgment. Facts as to Voters. The voters, when they enroll, should state the place of residence, giving the street and number of the j house, if they live in a town, or the township when residing in the country. No club roll should be made up of men from two townships or two wards, but each subdivision of a county or city should have one club and no more. The residents of that nolitical sub-division could thon termlne whether any fraud has been practiced in the enrollment or not. This regulation will compel me to go six miles to vote in the primary, although there is at present a voting precinct within half a mile of my home, llut no inconvenience can be too great to prevent our taking every precaution possible to prevent fraud, or the charge of it, The promiscuous enrollment such as wo have always had, the free and easy way in which wo have conducted our political affairs,, will not do now that white men have grown so suspicious and unscrupulous. The honors and emoluments of oilice are so. great that inevitably human selfishness and greed will cause men to act the rascal. liCssons of '7(1 Pester Us. On the day of the election, no man not enrolled according to these rules should bo permitted to vote. Every ballot when deposited in the box should be stamped and the voter's name checked off the club list, showing that he has voted once at that precinct. Rubber setamps for this purpose should bo provided by the county executive committee. The stamping of the 'ballot will prevent voting several tickets at once so folded together that they will fall apart after they have gone into the box, or bo taken apart by the managers when they go to count them. This way of stufling the ballot boxes was used throughout the State when it was dftfUHRarv fnr nu to fho nowmoa w v . J ?. V > W viiVUV VUU UV/^5 1 UCOj as many of our oluer citizens remember well. Indeed, I say without hesitation, that the lessons we learned in '76, '78 and '80, until the "eight box law" was enacted, are returning to pester us now. Dire necessity forced us to use our brains to circumvent ignorant negroes. We felt the vital necessity then to our civilization to prevent ignorant, semi-barbarous negroes from controlling our affairs. It is of equal Importance now to prevent unscrupulous white men from cheating their fellow citizens and robbing them of their rights. Responsible for Present System. I perhaps more than any other one man am responsible for our present primary system. I wrote the constitution of the Democratic party, and I wrote most of the rules and regulations governing the primary. I therefore am an old hand at this business, and having been charged with being responsible for present conditions, my advice should have weight in pointing out the remedy as I now see it. I always felt that white men would bo above cheating their own brothers and that South Carolinians were too honorable and clean to attempt such a thing; but unhappy experience hasj shown the falsity to make reparation as best I can. Pride of Authorship. When the State convention meets I anticipate that pride of authorship and egotism will cause a very protracted debate. Every man who has a scheme?and who has not??will want his scheme to be adopted. I do not claim that the suggestions I make are perfect, but they are the best I have been able to think of at this time, and I feel sure that if adopted and carried out, they will improve conditions in the State so much so that it will be a very long time, if ever, be fore we have further trouble with our primary. It is all-important that we should not attempt too much, or make the regulations so strict or laborious and costly that it will tend to keep men from complying with the conditions. A reasonable reform insuring purity and honesty is all that can be accompuished and it is all that should be attempted. B. R. Tillman. ' ? ? Second Victim of Week. Fireman Claude IT. Nettles died early 'Friday morning from injuries received in tho Southern railway wreck Thursday afternoon at Ludowici, Ga. He was the second victim of tho wreck, Engineer T. J. Winn having died Thursday night. Failure of the freight train flagman to display proper signals is given as the cause of the wreck. ? Criminal Assaulter Paroled. George Crockett, convicted in Greenville county in 1901 of criminal assault and sentenced to life imprisonment, has been paroled by the governor. In February his sentence was commuted to thhty years service on the Greenville chain gang. WORKS TO GET SAMPLES SENATOR SMITH 8KOVUKS $100,000 FOR THAT PURPOSE. Government Exports Figure That Tliey ('an Provide Four Thousand Sots of Samples. Officials of the department of agriculture estimate that with the sum of $100,000 they can furnish 4,000 full vets of samples of official government grades of c6tton, together with 4,000 rnts of bleached and unbleached yarns made from these various government grades. These sets will bo sufficient to furnish every primary market in the South with samples of cotton and yarns. Son.'itdr KUIIsrtn U SmUh r\f QnnMi Carolina had an appropriation of $100,000 incorporated in the Senate committee's report on the agricultural appropriation bill for this specific purpose, and expects the Item to pass the Senate and he accepted by the House conferees on th bill. He wants those who sell cotton to bo able to compare their cotton with samples of government grades right in front of them. He says that because a buyer calls a balo of cotton "good ordinary" that in itself is not necessarily proof that the cotton is that particular grade. Senator Smith exhibits to his colleagues the same card that he has frequently shown to farmers in South Carolina, a card that shows some astonishing facts. On the card are samples of bleached and unbleached cotton warns, spun under exactly the came conditions in tests made by the department of agriculture. The yarns are made from four grades of cotton, ranging from good middling to good ordinary. Between these two grades there is ti difference in market price in raw cotton of $35 a bale. The difference in the yarns produced from these grades is so slight that an expert can not distinguish between them. The yarns look exactly alike and are practically equal in strength, as spinning tests show. "I don't ask you to take my word for it. This is the government's work," argues Senator Smith. "I think these samples ought to be in reach of every cotton farmer, so he can see just what ho has been losing heretofore through ignorance. I don't think the government can spend $100,000 better than by placing this information before the farmers." ? ? SNIPERS ARE MEXICANS. + Quintette Captured in Vera Cruz Given Freedom. The five Bo-called South American snipers under arrest in Vera Cruz have turned out to bo Mexicans and have been released in pursuance to the action taken in the case of other Mexicans arrested during the occupation. Scretary Garrison announced this Friday. He said investigation by Gen. Funston and Rear Admiral Badger had developed* that one of the prisoners who claimed to be a Chilean was a Mexican and that the other four "probably were Mexicans." It was assumed that the snipers, upon being arrested >by an American naval officer, set up the claim that they were "South Americans", thinking this xwould save them from the wrath of the Americans. As a matter of fact, it was pointed out, their positions as citizens of Mexico, acting under - patriotic enthusiasm, gave them a defence more powerful than any aid that might have been obtained had they been foreigners. REMAINS AT WORK. 4 Lover Feels it. Ills I>uty to Cancel Speaking Engagements. Representative Lover Wednesday cancelled a number of acceptances to invitations to deliver addresses in South Carolina during the next few weeks because of the legislative situation, which demands the presence . of Democrats in Washington. lie was to have delivered the commencement address at Kingstreo, Coker college, ] Limestone colleg, Summrland college , and Newberry college, and to deliver an address at the annual banquet of , the XJ. C. T. at Greenville .and an agri- i cultural address at Simpsonville, j Greenville county; Farmers' union address at Bishopville and education- j al addresses at Pelion and Gillison- j vllle. i Mr. Lever said he regrets the nec- j esSity which caused him to have to . cancel these acceptances, but he feels ? it his duty to remain in Washington , while the important legislative pro- . gram mapped out by the caucus is , concerned. ( ? ? Three Women Humeri * A Uoofll I Miss Naomi Strong and Mies Gen- \ evievo Brown, school teachers of ( Yuma, Ariz., and the mother of Miss , Brown wero burned to death Tuesday ? in a fire in the hotel in which they j lived. j ( Hundreds Injured at Funeral. , More than one hundred women t were trampled upon at th > funeral of i D. W. Haggerty at Cambridge, Mass. i Haggerty was one of the marines killed at Vera Cm*. < CHAKUE RiOltiULED 1 # democratic leadeks iikfvte cii akok acainst president. NO SOCIAL EQUALITY Williams ami Hankhead Vigorous in Their Characterizations of Claim as Til founded?Exactly Contrary is Khoyn to he True as Administration Works for Segregation. "Leaders in the Democratic party Saturday ridiculed charges brought by a correspondent of The State that the national Democratic party tends towards encouragement of social equality between the races that Pros Ident Wilson is "forcing clerical equality in departments at Washington". When Senator John Sharp Williams of Mississippi was asked by a reporter of The State about the matter and for his views he sized up the whole situation in a dozen words: "You may tell The State for mo," he said, "that such a charge as that made by a correspondent is not only ridiculous but untrue from start to finish." Asked to elucidato the matter and to be more specific in his statement that such a charge was not only not well founded but "untrue from start to finish", the Mississippi senator replied : "There is nothing that 1 can say any more emphatic than what 1 have already said. When 1 say that a thing is without foundation, ridiculous and untrue from beginning to end, there is nothing more I could add that would give force to the statement. That is all there is to it. I do not know who the correspondent is who makes the charges you have asked me about but my sentiments have been expressed as above. The administration is not leaning taward social equality." Senator John H .llankhead, another national Democratic leader, for many years a member of the House from Alabama, and now serving in 4U * liiw upper nouse 01 congress, was even inoro emphatic than his colleague from Mississippi and went into details at some length. "You may state for me," Senator Rankhead said, "that more has been done by the present administration just opposite to what is charged by the man who wrote the letter to The State than has been dono before in 20 yoM-s. In all the Republican administrations that I can remember not half as much was accomplished to segregate the races and to keep them from being placed on the same clerical equality as the present Democratic administration has done. "Of course there are isolated cases of colored appointment, but these were made because it has been a custom for many years to give certain positions to men of tho colored race. Had the correspondent of The State who makes the charges you mention been in Washington recently or had he observed the efforts made to separate the white and colored employees such charge would seem to be without justification. In tho post office department, especially, where for many years white and colored persons worked at the same desks, they have been separated and this not in a Republican but a Democratic administration. "That the national Democratic party tends towards encouragement of social equality between tho races is not true, as will be noted from a resolution introduced in the Senate on August 1, 1913, by Senator Moses Clapp of Minnesota, and he a Republican, demanding to know why there had been a segregation of the races in tho post ofilce department in Washington, this resolution being as follows: " 'Whereas, it is reported that there has been a segregation order Issued by some unknown source or authority in the post office department, and " 'Whereas, the clerk and employes liave worked together peacefully for over 50 years; and " 'Whereas, the said segregation order will cost the government of the United States over $1 50,000; therefore bo it " 'Resolved, That'the committee on post offices and post roads be and Lhey are hereby authorized to inquire nto and to report by what authority the said segregation order was issued \nd what necessity, if any, exists for inch order in the executive department after 50 years of perfect peace \mong the employes of the department, which order makes it very inconvenient for the clerks.' "This resolution offered by a Republican to know why this segregation order was issued speaks strongly than any language I could possibly lfie," Senator Bankheau continued. 'L will say that the same-thing which las been dono in the post ofllce department has been denn nlsmvhnrn In )filcial clerical work. Hut I have lathing moro to add. This resolu;ion should entirely satisfy The State's correspondent of his error and efute his cbar#?o entirely." Other national leaders in the Demjcratic party who for various rea\ ADRIFT THIRTEEN DAYS | CUITEH TICKS VP FOUK 8UKVIVOILS OF COLUMBIAN. Freighter Sank and Two Boatloads Were Rescued, But Third Was Located Sunday. Two weeks ago the dispatches announced the sighting of a burning < steamer south of Sable Island. In 1 the courso of the next few days two boats, containing 27 men, were pick-j ed up, but the third boat containing , fifteen was not sighted until Sunday.] rfM% a TTMHA J rii -1 ?? ? i m; u 111ii*u ouu.es revenue cutter tseneout sighted the open boat and hastened to its rescue. Four were found alive. Eleven others of the boat's crew, who left the Columbian when she was burned south of Sable Island, May 3, had succumbed to injuries and privations and their bodies had been thrown overboard. The death roll of the lost freighter now stands at 15. The survivors had lived on a few ship's biscuts and a cask of water, which long since had been exhausted. They had gone tho limit of human endurance. Hope for this missing third boat had been abandoned after a dozen trans-Atlantic liners searched for five days within a radius of tho spot where the Columbian burst into flames. To seafaring men it seemed impossible that a small boat could pass through the series of gales that since have swept tho waters on which the boat has drifted and the news that the Seneca had picked up survivors was received almost incredulously. Although the survivors were too weak from their suffering to tell the story completely, the revenue cutter's officers gathered that some of the 1 (? who had hastily piled into the third boat had been so badly burned that they died within the first few days. It was decided to lighten tho boat by casting the bodies overboard. Somo who had tumbled from their bunks at the first explosion and had rushed on (look hnlf plnfhAll Q m K . ed to tho cold; others, weakened by hunger and thirst, gradually sank into lethargy that was scarcely to be distinguished from death. Somehow tho survivors managed to keep the boat head-on to tho seas when tho weather became rough, but for the past few days little or no effort could be made to guide the craft. Day by day the number dwindled until tho five were left, who sank limply to tho bottom of the boat and awaited the end. When the lookout of the Seneca, scanning the horizon for bergs on the ice patron, sighted tho small boat through his glasses, not a sign of life was seen. The Seneca put on all speed and racing to the life boat sent her gig along side. The emaciated survivors were quickly transferred to the deck of tho cutter and brandy forced between their lips. As all the men wero in apparent need of hospital attention, the Seneca was pushed under forced draught to Halifax, the nearest port. The dispatch from Capt. Johnston of the Seneca follows: "Ten a. m., 4 0 miles south Sable Island, rescued lifeboat with Officer Robert Teire, Sailors Oscar Kendal, Peter Relanger, Fireman Michael Ludwigsen, survivors of 15. Oiler Oeorgo Gull died 10th. Peter Triel to-day. Others between. All died exposure and hunger. Short allowance biscuit and water. Rating biscuit crumbs and boot leather when rescued. Saw three steamers first two days, none since. Much rain. Fine to-day. All under doctor doing well." sons did not wish to be quoted at this time were equally strong to-day in their statements that tho administration, far from leaning toward an equality of the races, at the present time is doing Just the opposite. One well known party leader pointed to the fact that John Skelton Williams did when appointed assistant secretary of the treasury was to cause an order to bo issued providing separate wash rooms for white and negro employees of tho treasury department. This action at tho time it was taken caused a howl of protest from negro employees and their sympathizers. In other departments besides tho post ofTioe and the treasury practical- 1 ly tho same thing has been going on sinco tho present administration took 1 hold of government affairs, and : among thoso interviewed regarding the letter to The Stato on this matter ! there was practical unanimity that ' should specific instances bo cited it ' would be found that tho writer of such letter was in error. Others asked for further information beforo committing themselves but without 1 exception tho idea of the Democratic 1 party tending towards a social equality between tho races at tho present 1 timo was said to bo most ridiculous. s ? ? + , i Situation at Tampico. , Roar Admiral Mayo and American officers received renewed assurances from Constittuionalist authorities late Friday that all foreign property ( at Tampico would bo adequately pro- j tected. , i TCnginecr and Fireman Killed. j In a freight wreck Thursday an ? engineer and fireman on the Southern f road at Ludowici, Ga., were killed. 1 DECLARED HOSTILE ACT IF HARM HAS REFARLKN PRIVATE PARKS BY MEXICANS. Repeated Request** for InfonnAtArm Regarding Infantryman Ignored by lluerta. The United States Friday demanded of the Huerta government news ot the fate of Private Parks, the American infantryman. who strayed into \(nvl/'or? li noo noo d ntvAivau uuco UUIII > *3* n VI uc, Uf claring that unless Information about him was given immediately the American government would consider that "an unfriendly and hostile i?t", had been committed in violation of the understanding for a cessation of hostilities pending mediation. President Wilson and Secretary Bryan, it was 1 mmed, drafted a strong communication, after receiving work from tho Brazilian minister, in Mexico City, th U Par us had been "executed". No nivutlon was made in the minister's report of whether he was shot as a spy after a eourtmartial or whether liis body was burned, as has been reported persistently to Gen. Funston. The American government cabled the Brazilian minister to inform the Huerta government of the strong feeling of the United States in the matter. Tho note directed the minister to protest vigorously to the Huerta government that if Parks were alive, the failure to explain his whereabouts was in itself, an unfriendly attitude, and that if the soldier had been executed, as had been reported, such execution of a man, who came into the Mexican lines, in full uniform, was contrary to military procodure of civilized nations, and was an act of hostility. No mention was made in the American noto of the course the United States intends to pursue in the matter, but an ollicial close to the president said Friday night it was one of tho things which would be held up against tho Huerta government when the final reckoning came ovor the offenses committed against the United States; The receipt of word by the British embassy, from Sir Lionel Carden, British minister in Mexico City, that. J. It. Silliman, missing American vice consul, was on. his wav hv roll frnm Saltillo to Mexico City, brought the first news about Silliman in several days, considerably relieving the anxiety that had been felt by officials. The British vice conTl at SalfPlo telegraphed the information to Sir Eionel Carden. The Parks and Silliman incidents havo been looked on in many quarters as likely to embarrass the mediation negotiations, but those close to the administration said both incidents probably would bo cleared up by this week. ? ? THEY WOULDN'T TALK UfKItK I India's Commissioners Pass Thru Charleston. On their way to Washington from where they will go to Niagara Falls to represent the Huerta government of Mexico before the "A. B. C." mediators, the three commissioners appointed by the Mexican dictator passed through Charleston shortly before 1 1 o'clock Friday night on an Atlantic Coast Bine train. The train stopped in Charleston for only ten minutes and the three envoys refused to bo interviewed on the Mexican situation or on any mattors pertaining to the present troubles in that country and the efforts being made to bring about a peaceful settlement. They are accompanied on the trip to Washington bv Soedmnn H Hanks representing the American State <!epartment, among others. Eighteen persons are in the party, including members of the commissioners' families, secretaries and newspaper men. THItEE MEN ACQUITTED. ? Charged With Suspending Negro by Thumbs to Force Testimony. W. W. Adams, magistrate's constable, G. W. Smith and J. W. IlJachwell were acquitted in court of genoral sessions at Anderson Thursday afternoon of charge of assault and ... 111. 1 - ? a ? - v ... . . uauri.y ?HJl 1IIIUI1L lO Kill. AfKtfnt* and Smith wero charged with suspending ,by his thumbs John Walker, colored, to a tree, also assaulting him with sticks and pistols. HJackwell was charged with assaulting Walker with a stick. Walker declared that, these men made the alleged assault ind suspended him by the thumbs to make him agree to give perjured testimony against a negro named John Huff, who had been arrested by Constable Adams, for the murder of Policeinan MoConnell in Asheville, for which there was a large reward. ? + ? Sillinum Reported Safe. John R. Sllliman, American vice consul at Saitillo, who was arrested Mexican Federal officials and over whoso safety there has been grave fears, left Saltlllo Thursday for Mexico City, according to a telegram Friday night to Ambassador Spring-Rice from Sir Uonel Oarden, British Minister in Mexico City.