Governor of South Carolina
Benjamin Tillman's campaign on behalf of the South Carolina Farmers Association advanced his political power and influence in South Carolina. A quarrel between Wade Hampton and one of his lieutenants—Johnson Hapgood—led to the defeat of Wade Hampton as governor in 1880 and the election of Hapgood. The change in the governor's office, however, did not mean any change in the Bourbon rule of South Carolina.
Ben Tillman's skills as an controversial and rabble rousing orator, became apparent during a speech he made at the ninth annual joint session of the State Grange and the State Agricultural and Mechanical Society held at the courthouse in Bennettsville, South Carolina on August 5, 1885. Tillman's speech along with the resolutions in favor of aid to the small farmers "electified" the convention. According to the Columbia "Daily Register" the speech "was the sensation of the meeting. Almost every sentence was responded to with prolonged applause."
In January 1886, Tillman wrote a letter of address to the farmers of South Carolina, who Tillman said composed 76% of the total population of the State of South Carolina. The letter invited farmers to attend a state convention in Columbia on April 29, 1886 which would address the problems of farmers in the state and attempt to solve those problems. In response to Tillman's suggestion various county conventions were held on April 5, 1886 to elect delegates to the state convention. On April 29, the state-wide "Farmers Convention" was attended by some 300 delegates from all across the state. The "Farmers Convention," as it became known, was the first state-wide meeting of the Farmers Association. Once again Tillman's speeches at the convention provided most of the excitement. At this time, Ben Tillman was called the "Agricultural Moses." It was said that like Moses of old, Tillman was willing to die before he reached the "Promised Land."
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