Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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%X1 IIi I) 4 XXTl MIANNING. S. C. WEDNESDAY, JUN,19112 10 THE PEOPLE. An Address Explainirg Why Ht Resignepd His Seat ISSUED BY BEN. TILLMAN. Says McLaurin W.As Viuall Organ z ng a Rfipub!ican Parly in this Sia'e Un derAnotherName. Senator Tillman furnished the press the following address Tuesday after ncon: To the Democratic Voters of the Statc. Fellow Citiz ms: An extraordinary and unparaileied situation hi s unex pectedly arhen in the State, and as I am manily respcmib!e for this, I feel that a proper reept ct for you, requires an explanation of my actions and mo tives. Eleven years ago by a very large vote you elected me govertor of the State, and two years afterwards I w a; reelected ly an overwhelming majir ity. In 94 I was sent ts your repre sentative in the corgre. s of the Ur.ited States as one of the senators frcm Scuth Carclina. After six year' ser vice in that body 1 vias last year cho een without oppoEition to ba mv own euacessor. I was sworn in on March 4th, la st for the six yt arm' term end ing in 1907. The ink has haraly be come dry upon my oath of offize and yet I have tendered my resigr a ion tc take effect September 15 h nt xx. My colleague has also tendered his resig nation to take fleet the same date, and thus there will be two vacancies to be filled by appointment of the gov ernor until the legislature can eleet cut successors in January next. I deisre to announce my candidacy to succeed m3 self and shall ask you to vindicate my acticn by 5our votes in the prinia-y, which will be ordered by the State Democratie committee. This is an fi year in politics and but for the condi tions which had come about my action in precipitating a political campaign, and primary eledon would be inex causable. A britf review cf recent po litical exents will be necessary to give that exaplanaticn My colleague, Jro L. McLaurin, was elected to the een ate at a prinia'y held in '97 to succeed the lamented Earle. Be was elected as a Democrat star ding upon the Chi cago platform of 1896. Early in '99 tenator McLaurin larted company with his Demccratic colleagues in the senate, and has since voted fer and advocated everything that the Repub lican party now stands for, and his persistently antagonized his own I.arty in all of his public utterances and acts. Notwithstainding that a new State con vention last May laid down the prin ciples and policies of the party, and a new national convention at KaSas City in July announced the principles of Democracy as now understood throughout the union, your junior sen ator has acted though he were entirely independent of the people who elected him and has ielt under no obiigations to obey their wishes or do their will as their representative. When con gress adjourned last March he and his sympthizers in the S ate began at once an active propaganda of his new doctrines, which he claimed were Demcratic, but which all true DX mo crats must know are only Republican ism in disguise and very tbinly dis guised at that. He maae a speech at Charlotte. April 16 h, in wthich the Demcratic party is sneered at and assailed. He made another speecn at Greenville last week fuling out and develtp.ng his new theories, and took pains to indicate his perfect acaord wit~h Mir, McKmnley in all his policies. He lad appointmnents already ar ranged to make speeches at a least three other places-Gaffney, Yorkville and Spartanburg-and had begun an active canvass f or reelection, Afteen months before the regular campaign, which would choose hss successor, in the Democratic pria ary of 1902 would open. It was natural that these gen tlemen who proposed to contest for his seat should be unwilling to premature ly announce their candidacy and take the field againts him. He had the dis pensing of federal patronage placed at bis disposal by the Republican presi dent, and he had unlimite d money fur nished by his Republican allies, or Mc Kinley Democratic followers in South Carolina and his purpose was to go up and down the State unopyosed and unanswered to organize his new po litical machine. This was the situa tion up to the Gafiney meeting and I was confronted with the question of what was my duty under the circum stances. Recollect that I am a member of the national Democratic committee, as y our representative; I was on the ~' committee on platform in both of the last national conventions and helped frame the declarations of principle and policy upon which we went to battle, and 1 was chairman of the committee on platform in your last State conven tion. Remember tco that both at Charlotte and at Greenville, directly and indirect ly, I had been assailed by Mr. McLau rn and you will understand why I was anxious to meet my colleague at Gaff ney, and when invited by a large num tercof citisens of Cherckee county I will ingly accepted. The result o' that meeting is now well know~n. Mr. Mc Laurin was unexpectedly brought face to face with the question of resignation and appeal to the people whose~ confi deuce he had sased ar di whose trust he had betrayed. He tried to dodge the thrust, by charging that I was attempt ing to dictate and boss the people and interfere in the race with which I had no concern and ag safely esconced in i y seat for six years and had nothing to lose, but well afford to lay down a code of moral ethics, for another whie~ 1 was unwilling to follow myself. I saw the opportunity to precipitate a battle at once rather than wait fifteen months and I offered to resiga if he wculd, and the result you know. I acted from impulse it is true, but 1 have always acted upon impulse and as a public man I can affirm with the sacredness of an oath that all my impulses have been to serve the best interests of the people itho have honored me. I had every opportunity to weigh the conse quences of my action and to get out ol it without discredit, but I felt then and still feel that my -uty was to force the fightiur atd rid the par-y of all tre iors. The situation a I undzrstand it, i; this. The people who are inter ess d in haviug two senst ors at Wash ivon to do thir will nd stan:d by tr.eir principcs will ave an cpporru city ol bio In - a honcrably reprerc-tcd Tis Pe.s not been the case. ci;rirg the i-st two yeats, and as Mr McL,;irin remas; :i the ienate it could gctbe the ca e. A3 to th e 'urden of e eon est. The citizet:s f a gien counv wili lose tun two ca-is, to briy abz; this much desind renult, o e d-ay to Cnd the camp. m'-eng ad -c other to go to thE pimunrv. Xhi e I wili I ae the fateuo and expen:e of a Srste canva s which I could ezsily ae ay df d The contest betwe the Democracy and the r an who eceks to betray it will he fought wi.hout any local com plication what cver. Yters will not beit.fiunctd in this contest by the de sire to clet I. cal favoii:es and thus 1: swapping wil! be prevcn'ed. The iszu-s I will be ckcar cut. The cr/anization of the "Con-ml cal Demnocracy," another nmC For 'lcK.nl-y Dmccracy, will bave to be consumoted in a much shorter time and under much less fa vcrab'e cenditoes. Oar prarty has the opptriunity to rebuke and punish treuhery at once as warning to those who may be wavering. Many good men wi'l he irv-nted fr.m becoming Re puble:Cs in fat, though not in name by bavicg the fisues exjlained lefore they have aligned themselves under the new bann'r. The Democratic uniform will be struck off of tho:.e who have rroven unworthy to wear it and they - will be made to urderstand the differ enee between honorable and dishonor able di charges. Civil virtue, the sa eted rlations which shouald exist be twe.n the representative and his con stituency. will be more clearly under- d stcoi and all true D.'mocrats must re jeice at the result. For myself and the sacrifice I have made I will say nothir g I prfer to let the pecple of the State consider the matter for themselves ata pass upon my conduct as they may de tecrmine, whether it was right and pro r per or rash at d quixotic. I have ser ved them to the oest of my ability with zeal and honesty sires I have been their servant and shall continue to do so if they catinue to honor and trust me. When I cannot truthfally say that I represent the msj~rity of the people of b South Carolina and vote and speak as a they desire, I become, "as sounding t brass and a tinkling cymbal." And 3 prefer ti e retirement of private life to the degraded elevation of a high posi- g tion obtained by deceit and held against c: the wishes of the people. I put my case n in your hands ar d will explain and vin- 8] dieate my case more fully in the coming 1i primary canvass. B B. R Tillman. a b NO FAR VEIIS DREAM. h al Mr. Bauer Tells How the Rain Affected s< Crops Lsst Week. c The rains last week were heavy. 0 There is no discounting that fact. I',ere were many evidences. But here comes Mr. Bauer, the local weather bureau director, who piles on the agony with dreadful statistic!. Mr. Bauer g says in his weekly report: Excessive rains over the entire State characterized the beginning of the week, and general rains prevailed at 'ts close. The amounts for the week t ranged from nearly two to nearly ten inches, the former in the southwestern counties and the lattr in Spartanburg t ad York counties, with an average rainfall of 4.68 incbes for the State. Bottoms were floeded and the cropst that were on them were destroyed hisides and terraced lands were badly damaged, cir.ded arnd gulted, and the Ycu4i COtten and corn washed up. The Brxaa and Qrtat Pee lh~e Rivers in places rose tgner than for many years But aside froma the physiral injury to lands arnd crops by tthe excessive rains, the moisture was needed, a:A all crops were greatly, benefited. Hai oooured at man.y points, but only in portions 1 >f Abbeville, EJ~efield, Saluda, Sum Iter and Wailiamocrg counties did it ssriously damage crops. The ground ,5 was too wet to plow during the greater b part of the week, and fiels are becom- t ing grassy. I Cotton is now quite generally up to goed stands, and chopping out is being prosecuted wh. rever tis work has not been finished, but cultivation is needed. The rains caused a marked improve ment where the stands were not de stroyed, and poor stands are now con fined to early cotton that was not re planted. In Oconee stands are dying. - &a island cotton looks better, but v: blight has appeared on it. a UCrn on uplands [as a healthy color, a' is growing, and stands are fairly good, P but practically all bottom land corn was destroyed and must be replanted. h Bud worms arc doing damsge in places. L Tobacco loots well in a few localities b only, and its general condition is poor. - * More is being set out, as the ground is w now in good condition for growth. h The acreage of June rice will be re-d duced, owing to the high water cover- - ing lands that would have been sown to e' rice; otherwise the crop has improved. .t Wheat continues very promising, ex cept that rust has developed in New- 5 berry, Oconee and Union counties- d some wheat will soon be ripe enough to b harvest. Oats were benefited by the 1i rains, but much bottom land oats was totally destroyed. and some of rank t] growth was lodgedi. Oats are fast ripen- d ing, and some have already been har- I vested. Spring sown oats are poor, Minor crops, truck, pastures, fruits, f gardens and berries were all greatly n benefited by the rains, and although c late look promising, except melons, r which are poor. Apples and peaches P are dropping, and prospective yields b are thereby greatly reduced. All crops now need iunshine and cultivation,. Wants to Down Tillman. 8 A dispatch from Washington says Senatcr McLaurin in speaking ;ith t. friet ds there with reference to the re signation of himself and Senator T.ll- s man, he expresses the confident belief ~ that Tillman would be destroyed. On 11 the suggestion being made that the peo- U ple of South Carolina might resent their 0 resignation by serding two new men in ~ 1their places, I e is quoted as saying that n he would not regret his own retirement V from the senate if by the sacrince of ~ the two years remaining of his term he 1 could finally dispose of Tillman. His e general expression was one of great eon- I fidence and satisfaction in the situa- ~ tionb 'LAURIN'S REPLY itatements Made Necessary b) Tillmans Charges. 4E CHARCES FALSEHOODE against the Senioir na . Ap. peal to the P'opis to Help Relegate Ben to Farm A Special to the State frem Benr-t ts ille Thursday gives Senator Mc ,aurin's reply to Senator Tillman's ad. ress to the people of the State for pab [cation. 'o My Fellow Citizens: The.address of Senator Tillman tc on rendered it necessary tiat I 2hould ay something in explanstion of my iotives and actions. I sinceuily regret hat you are to be subjected to the ex ense and excitOmenE Of a senatorial rimary this year, but I feel that I am ot responsible. Had it not been foi er.ator Tillman's intrusion upon the raffney meeting there would have been o necessity for it. A joint debate was recipitated by him contrary to my rishes and of the gentlemen who in ited sne. He forced himself upon the 1eeting by his own admission. N4 ther honorable course was left to me ut to accept his proposition or Iay iyself open to the chaarge of coward se. It is too late n-w to consider hether it was wise or unwise and e people must judge bet%7een us. I esire to announce my candidacy in pposition to the senior senator for ie unexpired long term, and will dis nss with him in a fair and reputable ranT.er the national ispues of the day ad leave it to you to ia - ge vto can ie more "honestly and honorably" !present you in the United Stat nate. In 1897 1 was elected to t nate as a Democrat ani I am still a lemocrat In everything I have said and done have had the good of my people at cart, to them I am ready to render an count of my stewardship, but not to ie senior senator; perhaps in this lies Ly chief sin. In my recent speech at Greenville I tive the people the reason for my offi ial action since 1899. It is uscless for Le to reiterate what I said in that ,eech, as it has been extensively pub shed and I presume generally read. Tere it not for charges made in the idress of the senior senator, it would 3 unnecessary for me to say more. :it I cannot allow him to assail me 2d my Democracy without saying >izething in my vindication. He iarges that, after the adjournment of ngress in March last, with the aid I my friends, I commenced in the tate an active propaganda of my new Dctrines, "wh:eb are claincd to be emocratic but are nothing but R3. ublicanism in disguise." He arro ites to himself the power to decide for ie people as to the righteousrnes of ty course and views, and is not will ig for them to hear and juge for remselves. His indecent intrusion pon the Gaffney meeting ilustrate is metheds of "bossism" and his de re to "rule or ruin." After my re rin home in April last I rc ceived in tations from citizens of Greenvil~e, ork, Cherokee, Newberry and Spar nburg counties to address the peopie athe national issut s of the day. As re r public servant, I could not duare rd their imperative esa, red I ae rpted the invitations. Had I not done t, my political opponent would hav iarged that I conld not meet my con ituents face to face atnd explsin my litical action. It was no. mvy par >se in oecpting these invitations ty auguate my campaign for reelection ore than ayear in advance of the imary, but to attempt to enlighten te people and remove false intpres ons produced upon the public mind i the senior senator and his sympa izers. I had been persistently ma gned and misrepresented and the only eans afforded me for my vindication as to get the ear of the people. This as my only object in making speeches here I was invited to go, arnd had it >t been for shese invitations I should rye remained silent. Have we reached the point where a amber of private citizens cannot in te one of their representatives to Idress them, without including the nior senator or first obtaining his ~rmission? The senior senator, it ems, willed that I should not be card at that time and determined that should wait for his bidding to go, afore the people. The senator also arges that I am a Republican and as organizing a Republican party re, If he believed this charge, why d he consent to run with me in a emocratic primary ? I denounce the isrgs as an infamous falsehood and e senior aenator knows what he snys untrue. In his recklessness, the nior senator further charges that the ispensing of the public patronage has :en placcd at my disposal and "un mited money" is furnished me by the epublicans to aid in the scheme of re organization of a new party. I snounce this as a malicious falsehood. a my Greenville speech I explained hy I had been consulted about the rderal patronage and at Geffney I de ounced, in his presence, both of these barges as wilfully false and yet he iterates them in his address. His arpose in repeating what he knows to e slanders must be evident to all. The senior senator undertakes in his ldress to throw the whole responsi ility of the preser.a situation in the tare upon me. After defining my ~emocracy and branding me as a aitor to the party, he meekly says at he and his iDemocracy were as iled by me, and it was incumbent pon him to crush me and my influenc3 ithis State. The senior senator has ndertaken a herocaleau task, for "truth rushed to earth will rise again." The anator forgets that he insidiously and aliciously as ailed me last summer, bhen I was unable to defend myself, nd after my Charlotte sheech, in an terview, made false and slanderous harges against me. I did in n y CThar >tte and Greenville speeches e:iticize is Populistic IDemocracy, and I have thing to retract. He impugns the motvcs of ott!irs, lut whan a reply is made Le cries cut that he has been at tac~e in an unjustifiable manner. The ptorlle shall judge cf our Democracy aid not the senior senator. It is evi dnt that the senior senator fears that he canto dfeat me on a fair field with n> ye rs. Else why is he assailing me in his address and threatening to put Out -:.ther candidates? What was said on he stard at Giffney and the aor re-1Lnder between us will convince - - i man that cur resvgna tion was with the understarding that the race va- ;o be between us only and thecam;aign was not to take place until the f di. Thn senior Scnstor said on the stand that be woid unite with me in a le - ter to Gov. Mcweeney requesiing him to withhold retion uttil a decision by the primary Tbe.ed3rrsm is character ist:cal of the man and his political mcthods I; is addicted to making rceklass and false charges ag-.inst others t whicii he ncver substantiates. An hen- t est man is always chary in charging , others wish dishonesty. The thief , vften criel' 'Stop thie." le is an ambi t"ous boss and habitual disturber of the political peace and harmony of South Csrojina. Last summer, for the sake of peace he was given to opposition, and as so-on as the doors were c'osed C and all entries barred, he made a s!an derous attack upon the Bible and the 2 miristry of this State. Feilow Citi- I zens there will never be anything like t .ity or quietude among cur people until he is relegated to Irivate life. His incendiary appeals to class hatred and prejudice, suahas he made at Gaffney to I Lho factory operatives, and his dictato rial spirit and utterances, will keep up dissensions, divisions and discord in r the Sato. With the aid of the people I I will make a heroic effort during this , campaign to break down "bossism" a with its train of politicil evils and I a invite all good citizens to assist me to inaugarite an era of free thought, free ; speech and independenei of action on t the part of the people o: South Caro- : lina, T he senior Senatcr, in the quiet- t uda of a farmer's life in Elgefield s , c.uld be viewed as a pitchfork gmy and a blessing to the State. I id) John L wndes MeLaurin. r Brutality in Ar.derson. A aispatch from Atiderson to The State says a mcst shceking case of hu man biutality has come to light in the Anderson cotton mill viilage, this city. t R. Brown Burriss is a young white man. Two years ago he married a pretty young woman and they have a fine healthy boy, 7 months of age. Mrs. s Burriss supports the - family by her a work in the cotton mill. Barries says he is not in good health, and stays at home and is the nurse. The child ? seemed to irritate the unnatural father. Fr:quently he pinched the helpless in- 8 fant to stop its crying and more than 0 once thrust it roughly n the kitchen Eafe, where the baby sobbed until ex hausted by its crying. The poo:e mother's heart was torn by this brutal t' treatment of herechild, but was power- " less to prevent cruelty of the husband. u Ta Last week the cliwaX came. The baby a cred longer and louder than ufual one evening and finally the infuriated ' father clutched the child brutally by o the arm. and threw the crying boy up Z on the fLior. The poor mother lifted , the baby from the floor and discovered d that the left arm wais broken between t the shoulder and elbow. When he h saw what he had done, fright took pos session of him and he professed deep P remorse. The affair was reported to 4 the police and the Chief arrested Bur: riss upon a charge of disorderly con duct, but was released on bond. The ~ mayor is undccided as to what dispo- a sitio~n to mike of the case. He wilil citler try tu case in the mayor's cour i or turn Btir.ss over to the sheriff. The 0. affii h--s c~eated a great deal of talk b -scd the opi.aion s.:ems to pr;.vail that ri Bnris cut. to be har dled in the superi or court on n charge of assault and bat - ry of a high and aggrevated nature. T c c:;se w~s to be heard today but Brh rjas s.nt a dioctor's certificate that he ~ ns not able to be present. He ma-. 0 rcceive a coa&t Lf tar and feathers yet. Backs McLaurin. A dispairen to the Charlotte Observer P: says two hundred and fifty citizens of s] Bennettus iile, Senator Mc Laurin's tI home, marched to the senator's resi dence, called him from his bed and the t< object of the visit was announced by T. 01 W. Bouchier, Eig., in a beautiful el speech. The senator stood on his front e~ porch and in pathetic and patriotic f' strains of eloquence spoke of his un- ci bounded appreciation of this eviderce ti of theo endorsement of his home people. 54 ?he senator said he was in the fight Ou to stay, and that there were signs of a dciging by Tillman, but that he in- Ii tencied to hold him to the agreemernt. of The senator said that he only wanted 1S Tilian in this race, and that he would give the people a clesn, decent, high- ti toned campaign, or, if Tillman preferr- - ed, he could throw as much mud sTill- - man warnted. Senator McLaurin said re that the senate was too Email for both h Timan and himself, and that he want ed to meet Senator Tillman in every county in South Carolina. Such men as Capt. P L. Breeden, C. E. Exum, H. W. Carroll and many such prominent business men led the crowd. Bennetts-0 ville will he almost solid for McLaurin, and the citizens, through Mr Bouchier, pledged Senator McLaurin their sup- vi port. ____________ Shall. Be a Hen No More. 3 The eagle will hereafter be the model a and emblem of the Woman -Suffragists. Alice Stone Blaekwell, of B-,ston, t4 daughter of the wcman's rights leader, a Lucy Stone, in an address to her associ ates in Chicago T.hursday during a re- S ception to delegates en route to Minne- I apolis, said: "Hereafter the American b woman must ccasc to be a hen which 0 could do no better than cackle and a sratch. She must ceass to be a mere nightingale, that can only feed her P young and warble. She must be the eagle mother and her slogan must be t 'Woo betide the male chicken hawks , which swoop upon her offspring.' " t: A Case of Malice.n Glason & Co's jewelry store on 125th 8 street New York, was wrecked by dina- au mite Wednesday morning, and the fi whole front of the store was blown in e by the explosion of a nitro-glycerine d cartridge. The police say the explo--: sion was a clear case of malice. Glea- :t son & Co. had some trouble with their p neigihbori recently which would indi- a cate in the opinion of the police, that i the plac wa blown up for revene. a G0VERNOR REFUSES ro Accept the Resiznations of Senator Tillnr an and McLaurin. 4AMPAl0N N3T DESIRABLE. -9 Says it The~y Shcuid Resign Unconditionally H4 Would Ap point Their Successors Immediately The following is taken from the State if Sa'urday. Gtv. McSweeney has returned the esignations of the senators. This ac ion created as m-coh of a sensation as he Gaff ey episode itself. There were number of lettes awaiting the gover or's arrival from Chickamauga, and very one which touched upon the enatorial rumpts begged him to take ome action to prevent a campaign this ummer. The governor stated that he a himself opposed to a campaign in an if year. To a representative of The State he aid: These gintlemer, I see by the tewspapers are unable to agree upon he terms of the resignation. One ants a campaign in August and the ther considers that the canvass can ot be held before the 15th of Septem er. The people of the State have ap ealed to me to return the resignations, nd I have done so. If they want to esign the cfices, let them say so and 2ake the resignations effective im aediately. I would appoint their accessors in less than two minutes and half." The governor stated that all sort of roposition had been made, but he hought this the best course. He had een approached to tender his resigna ion as governor in order to become enator himself and to let Lieut. Gov. as. H. Tillman become governor, and e had also been urged to accept the asignation, the vaanncies to be supplied .pon the result of the Democratic pri lary. THE LETTER. Fvllowing is the governor's letter, a py of which was sent to each sena )r: Gentlemen: Your letter tendering our resignation as Unitd States 3nators from South Carolina was re ived on the eve of my departure to hickamauga to take part in the cere onies incident to the unveiling of the onument which South Carolina has st erected to her brave and heroic >ldiers who lost their lives in defence I a principle on this historic battle ld. Hence imy delay in acknowledg git, I respectfully return your resigna ons that you may have more time for rious consideration of the effects pon the people of this State of this stion on your part. The commission hich you hold is the highest compli Lent and testimonial which the people I this State can pay to one of its citi mns. It is possible that you have Lken this step hastily in the heat of abate and without due reflection of ie consequences to the people who ave so signally honored you. It was only last year that our peo le had the excitement and turmoil in dent to a campaign and in another sar we will be in the midst of further itical strife. The people are entitled Sone year of~ perce and freedom id from iolitical battles and bitterness. he indications are that a campaign ich. as would be precipitate i by vacan es in Lhese two exalte. positions would 3a very a~rimonzcus one arid personal t :er than a <Lscussion of issues, and om such a canvass our people should aspared. In fact it wouli be calamity the State to be torn asunder by a sated canvass in this "off y ecr" in poli e. There can be no possible good to >me of it. The people of the State are getting ether and working for the advance ent and unbnilding of thie material esperity of the commonwealth, and I old regret any thing that would re rd this progresm. Itis not my purpose in thus writing prevent the fullest and freest die ission of all public questions and the lucation of the peopie along all politi l lines. O.i the c ontrary, I heartily bver that and believe it can be best ac >mplished without the bitterness and te personalities w hich would be in parable from a campaign during the >ming summer. Under our party rules campaign will be neessary wilhin a tile more than a year, and ample time m be had for a full discussion of the sues now before the people. Holding these views and looking to (3 interest of the people of this State -their peace, prosperity and happiness -I respectfully decline to accept your ignations and beg to return them erewith. [ have the honor to be, etc. THE SENATOES NOTIFIED f Governor's Refusal to Acept the Resignation's Tendered Him. A special to the State from Bennette Llle save: There was general satisfac on expressed here Friday afternoon hen the news of Gov. McSweeney's tion was received. Your correspondent immediately visi d Senator McLmsrin at hij residence id the following is his statement: "The unexpected action of Gov. Me eeney leaves me completely at sea. was reketantly forced into the fight ut when I saw the insulting remark ESenator Tillman, 'If McLaurin is raid to meet me,' etc , I made up my uind, if possible, to break off every rong of that old pitchfork and wear ir out with the handle before I was rough. "The contemplation of my resigns on is no new thing with me. I value y honor and integrity as a man far tore than I do a seat in the United tates Senate. I wished to resign last inter when I was so cruelly assailed yr the taunts and sneers that met my forts to benefit South Carolina nearly rove me distracted. [ will withdraw iy resignation if Gov. Mc8 feeney has aquested it, because I appreciate the atriotic motives that inspire him and m iligto unite with him in shield ag the people of this State from strife nd itterness. "I had been rf joicing at the coming oppirtunity to viadicate myself. I iiv tend to speak on such invitations as I did at Gaffney when possible, and I will not consent to any interference by Senator Tillman or anybcdy else. I desire, where the people wish it, tc speak and render an account of my stewardship. The people have a right to this and it is but just to me. Aftei making my speech at Newberry I will take Mrs. McLaurin north for treat ment and will not make any more ar rsngements to speak until after we re turn. I hope row I will -be let alone and t ere will be no farther newspaper notoriety as it is nauseating to me." WHAT TILLMAN SAYS. A special to The State from Trentn, says: Senator Tillman would have Lothing to say in the early evening in regard to the governor's action, but late Friday night, in response to numcrous iLquires he issued the following state ment: "Have received no letter from Gov. McSweeney and therefore do not know upon what grounds or by whit au. thority he acts. His power is purely ministerial and his declination to ac cept can have no effect from a legal standpoint. Unless I am mistaken the governor's function in euch cases is simply to notify the president of the senate en one hand and the State legis lature on the other that vacancy ex ists. He can advise withdrawal or resignation, but nothing more. - 'B. R Tiliman." KLAURIN OBJECTS. Says His Health Will Not Permit a Summer Canvass. Senator MoLaurin, as indicated in an interview published in The State, pro tests against a canvass of the State in August. He has written to Col. Wilie Jones, chairmin, asking that the State executive committee arrange for the campaign to be held at some other time. In his letter to Col. Jones, Mr. Mo Laurin states that he wants the issue between himself and Tillman. He says: Dear Col. Jones: I note in today's paper that you speak of the campaign between myself and Senator Tillman beginning about August 1st. This is entirely out of the question so far as I am concerned. I made it point to date the resignation September 15th, be cause I knew that it was absolutely impossible for me to canvass the State until the weather became cooler. I re signed in good faith to submit the question to the voters of South Caro lina. I want fair treatment and an opportunity to'present my case to the people. Senator Tillman intruded him. self into this fight. I amready to fight to a finish, but want no "draw" or "fouling." My suggestion would be, as congress does not meet until December 4th, that the committee request Gov McSweeney to withold action until the result of the primary is announced, and then appoint the man receiving the highest number of votes. Let the legislature elect my successor as it is only for a short time, or let you gentle men who desire to contest arrange your canvass entirely apart from mine and Tillman's. I would also suggest that you per mit he and I to arrange the schedule for our meettings. It is my desire to conduct a clean, decent canvass, free from personalities, if permiitted to do so; but I am ready to take what comes. [ wish it distinctly understood, how ever, that I cannot enterkain the idea of canvassing in August, and that one man at a time is all I care to fight. I had enough of the four to one business in 1897 1 appeal to you as man and chairman of the party for fair play. Thie reason I suggest withholding ac ion on our resignation until after the primary is that there are many post dffices and other matters of intercst to the State, among which I might men ien the Charleston exposition, which demand the attention of a senator. To iake away fro'mthie State this protection for even six weeks may cause trouble. I do not care personaily, however, what s done ahouit this, but think it my duty Lo mention it. Yours re spectfully, John L. McLaurin. COL JONES' ANSWER. Col. Wilie Jones, cbairman of the State Democratic Executive committee, esterday addressed the following to Senator McLaurin in reply to the latter's rotest against a canvass of the State in the month of August: Dear.Sir: Upon my return home Wed esday from Chickamsg;a I read your pen letter addressed toa me in The Evening Record, and I will now answer t. I simply stated that I thought that he canvass would commence in Au ust next because at that time the crops re laid by and the farmers nre at lei ure, and the merchants have little to o, and I thought that it was the best ime for the people to hear public speak ng. It has alway. been customary since we have had the primaries to have the anvass during August. This is a mat er entirely for the committee to decide. Ireally have no authority to do anything n this matter except to csll the commit ee together. This I will do in a short tme. Y ou can rest assurred of one thing, nd that is that the State Democratic xecutive ommittee will be absolutely fair in all that it has to do. I have ever been associated in my life with a body of men who desired to act more fairly, and did act fairer, than this ommittee has always done. It is com posed of some of the best men of our State, and they will give everbody ab solute .instice. The Privilege Tax. 'The privilege tax recipts this year show that more guano was washed into the sea by the May freshet than in any previous year since the State has been exacting this royalty for the in spection of fertilizers. This tax is 25 cnts a ton, avowedly to pay fer the hemiecal examination of the fertilizers to protect the farmers from adulterated fertilizars. By this means is accumnulat ed a sum which very nearly pays thq unning expenses of Clemson college where the stuff is analyzed. The total amount received from this source sines the first of the year is $77,528.43, against $75,214 for the whole of last year and $65,497 for 1898. The re eipts for the remainder, of the year will be small, yet the figures show that the sales this year will be nearly 10, 000 tons in excess of last year. THE VETERANS IN GREY. Convention Called to Order With : Historic Gavel. Tuesday of last week was a gala dai in Memphis. Oa every hand wer aged veterans, many from every Stat in the South. Tae city was profusel3 decor.ted and banners and figs, flyini from one erd of th? city to the other There were thousands of Confederat veterans present. Thousands more are arriving by every train and soon th< city will be filled with veterans and visitors. General George W. G3rdon, of Mem phis, Tuesday morning esled to orde: the annual convention of the Unite Confederate veterans with a gavel mad from a tree which ehaded the tavorit seat of Jcfferson D.6vis at Beauvoir Mica. The Rev. J. William Jones, o Richmond, Va., offered a touching prayer, while the veterans stood bare headed. General Gordon then introduc ed Governor MoMillian, of Tennessee. Governor McMilian gave a mos1 hear y welcome to the visitors. H complimented the men of the Soutl on their glorious record in the war ani deplored the fact that so many ha passed away. Mayor Williams of Mem phis was next introduced. He ex tended to the visitors a mest cordis welcome. Mayor Williams' address o welcome was in part as follows: "Mr. Chairman and Confederate Vet erans: "Just forty years ago, you lefi your peaceful homes and went out t< submit to the arbitrament of the swori great constitutional questions, whiol statesmanship had been unable to post pone or decide. Imbued with the dee' conviction that you were in the right you fought with a courage and heroism which has been equalled in no countra and in no age. For four long yeari you marched and fought over hill an' valley and field, leaving your blood an' your comradas strewn behind you, til overwhelmed by numbers the S.ars ami Bars went down in glorious defeat. "When the dust of battle had clear ed away and the cause for which yoi fought dies and your homes your rank decimated, your fields desolated, you beloved south turned and shattered b the scourge of war, but with true he roism you set your hand to the worl of reconstruction. You gathered to gether your families, you rebuilt you homes, you cleaned the rust from you axe and plow and began again the de velopment and cultivation of your na tive land. "Veterans, it is fitting that yoi should reunite in the city of Memphis, The men of Memphis fought and die on the fields of Shilch and Franklir and Murphreesboro and Chickamaugi and wherever the fight was hot and the work hard. It is fitting that you shouli meet in Memphis, because here was the home of that great soldier and cavalry man whose daring deeds and daring ii war have won the admiration of mili tary critics in Europe and in Americo -Nathan Bedford Forrest." The most interesting address of the day was made by the famous Scutheri veteran and ivator General John B. Gordon. General Gordon said in part: "Governor, Mr. Mayor, Bishop Gailoi and Representatives of Memphis: For the third time it is my duty and high privilegee to respond to Tennes see'o welcome to the United Confed erate Veterans. For the third time since our organization this State em braces with maternal arms these im mortal remnants of South's matchlesi armies, first, she welcomed us at Chat .anooga, then at Nashville, now at Memphis, and what place could be more fi:ted for such a gathering thazi this city, by the great river which was once the highway for ironclads, whose waters were churned by torpedoes in a seething cauldron and whose bluffs were ramparts of defense for a strug gaing people. "Four thousand years ago the anci ent Memphis, built upon the banks of the Nile, was the home of the Gods, the seat of ?nstern learning and wor ship the proudest metropolis of the Great Egyptian delta. In this Memphis is no ancient seat of sceptered men archsa, but it was for a long time the home of Jefferson Davis, who, even in his deepest sumiliation and woeful ex perience towered in moral grandeur to far noble stature than the Egyptian mec es or Persian monarchs or Greek or Roman~ invader ever attained in all their glitter of royal equipage and ephemeral glory. Here in this Memphis no Alexander the Great ever worshipped in life or taid in state when dead, but here lived here fought, here died and here rests the honored ashes of Nathan Bedford lForrest the equal in native untutored genions of the greatest cavalrymen of any age. "We are glad therefore to meet in Memphis. It is appropriate because of its graphical position and by the stead fast adherence of its people to the im mortal memories of the past, it is in the very heart of the lest but forever loved Confederacy. It is appropriate because it is built upon the bank of the great river which binds together with its liquid links the distant sec tions of our great common country, f or this city of Memphis is one of the fountain heads of that stream of Amer ican brotherhaod and unity which flows with ever increasing volume through all liberty loving American hearts." __________ Committed for Arson. A dispatch to The State from Flor ence says R H. Wilkes was beund over to court Wednesday evening charged with arson. The preliminar~y occupied the entire day. Carl Morgan was the main witness atd was the only witness called. Mnch of the evidence was sen sational and may implicate others is both the attempt and burning of the Chase building. The case excited in tense interest, the court room being filled during the hearing before Mragis trate Lloyd. J. P. McNeil conducted the prosecution and Shipp, Spears and Ragsdale the defense. The evidence brought out was strong. Thirty-one Found Dead. A sensation was caused at Birming ham, London, on Thursday by the dis covery of 31 bodies of infants in a cellar beneath an undertaker's estab lishment. The bodies were in various stages of decomposition- and huddled together in sosp boxes. The establish ment was conducted by a widow who Friday was charged with causing the infants' deaths. The prisoner was re manded WHAT TILLMAN SAYS Of McLaurin's Open Letter to Col. Wilie Jones. TERMS IT "SUCH INSOLENCE" 3 Says He and McLautin Have No More to Do W th the Senatorship Than If They Were Dead. While in Columbia Wednesday Sons tor Tillman gave out an interview in re gird tc Senator McLaurin's protest against a campaign in the month of August. He ssid: "I have read Senator Me Liurin's letter to Col. Wilie Jones, chairman of the State Demecratic ex eautive committee, and it is simply in comprehensible to me that Senator Me Laurin should display such insolence. I "He appears to consider the senator . ship as being his private property in stead of a great trust put into his i hands by the people for a special pur pase. He undertakes to impose condi tions or make suggestions and requests . that are of a purely personal character, intended to serve his convenience. The people to whom the offices belong are absolutely ignored as they have been by him for two years or more. "It is well understood that there is only one season of the year when our people have sufficient leisure for poli tics, and therefore it has been the ens tom to have the canvass begin quite early in the summsr, the election held L and matters settled before the busy cotton picking season begins. "Mr. McLaurin would have all this changed. The people must be put to the trouble of attending their affairs to suit him. "From my standpoint the two va s cancies which will exist caued by our r resignation, are the same as though both of us had died. "Our resignations have been tender ed and the two vacan-ies are to be filled by the people at their convenience and as they see proper. r "Mr. McLsurin boasted at Greenville that his health is excellent and that he is ready for the fray. There has been only one little passage at arms, yet he L pleads for a winter campaign as the fatigues of summer work are too great forhim. "It is not, of course, for me to say what shoild be done or to make sug gestions. I preemptorily declined - to do so at Gaffney and do not propose to do this now. The Democratic commit tee will act, when it meets, for the best interest of the party and for the eonve nience of the people and whatever will be done in ordering the campaign will be satisfactory to me." The senator then took up Mr. McLaur in's intimation to Col. Jones that the raae should be confined to himself and Tillman. The latter was displeased evidently. He said: That is another idea which illus trstes Mr. McLaurin's conception of his own power and greatness and his view of the offco as apersonal posse. sion. I consider that my resignation puts me on a level with every other citiss, and Ihave no rights in regard to the senatorshipe until the people shall give them to me. Any man who chooses has a perfect right to enter the race for either term, and Ishall wel come as many antagonists as see it to contend for the place I have volun tarily vacated." That was about all that Senator Till man had intended to say, and he turn ed to Col. Wilie Jones, who had called, and asked if there was anything in Mr. MoLaurin's letter which had not been touceied upon. Col. Jones sug gested that Mr. McLaurin had pro posed, in the matter of a vacancy in the short term, for the legislature to elect. Timan jumped up impatiently and exclaimed, "What right has he to ask any f avers of the Democratic par ty which he has betrayed and desert ed?" When asked what he thought of the failure to the legislature' to criticise McLaurin's conduct, Tillman replied that he could see how the legislature would naturally avoid such action as unnecessary. That is of the past, and of no consecquence now. "A new situa tion has been brought about by a stroke of lightning." He then renewed his assertions that when he went to Gaffney he had no intention of precipitating such an issue. "But I saw that this man would be going over the State doing untold in jury. He would go up and down the state with his patronage bag and a crowd of venal fellows at his heels would be grabbing atevery opporttinity. He would bring about and organization which might attract a campaign fund and would get a few thousand fellows into trouble. When he taunted me, it fiashed across me how I could put an end to-this, or as I told somebody to day, I saw where I could get him in toea boat and throw him out. I may get thrown out too-I am not moon struck." Tillman then spoke of an incident at the Gaffney meeting. "I watched the crowd. I got my optic on it, as they say. McLaurin never got much ap plause except from the fellows he had brought over from Laurens and Spar tanburg. But he made one pitiful ap peal. That I bullied him. That I had treated him brutally in coming when I knew his sensitive nature. It was the most eloquent thing in McLaurin's whole speech, and was received with general applause, the only time he did get any. And then he turned right around and declared that I was a hec toring, bullying demogogue, yet there was one man who was not afraid of me Oh it was pitiful. One minute crying to them to pulme off, the next boast ing of his strength." Bank Dynamited. The Mechanics' Banking company's branch bank at Bradnor, Ohio, was blown up by dynamite Wednesday morning by burglars. The safe was de molished, the building wrecked and the whole town aroused by the explosion, but before any one could get to the scene the burglars had fled with $10, |000 in ash.