Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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TILLMAN ANC BOTH Highly Sensational Terr Meeting a * FINAL APPEAL ' Meeting of the Man With With the New Demc Dramatic and Unexpec Gaffney, S. C., Special.?It is the tin expected that happens so orten in South Carolina politics, which happened here Saturday. It came like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky, so un expected and sudden was the whole thing. When the two United States Senators agreed to meet in joint debate, McLaurin to advocate his ' Commercial Democracy" and Tillman to attack it, no one dreamed the two United States Senators would before m nightfall have their resignations in * transit to the governor. ? Here ,up in a flourishing corner of the State, has occurred the most sensational development of politics since 1890. Two Senators have uncondi"* n~ :^ TV*Kqo inar pii. uonaiiy rwoigucu. ? iiiuiau tered upon a six year term and McLaurin has until March 4, lbOJ. to Serve without molestation, yet both have resigned, effective September 15th in order that they might go before the people and test their strength, the understanding being that this test shall decide whether the people endorse Senator McLaurin's Democracy with its expansion, ship subsidy and "commercial 'ideai or that or Senator Tillman, with what McLaurin calls his Bryan Democracy. Senator McLaurin sought to narrow the tierce contest to Tillman and himself, whereas Senator Tillman insisted on resig nation as originally proposed on the ground that he could not dictate to the Democratic committee as to who ahould be in the race or when it should be. Both seemed eager to sign the resignation and about 7 o'clock the paper containing the dual resignation was In the mail. It means that instead of the campaign coming next summer it will be held this year, and it means that Tillman will be in the race for his six year term and McLaurin for re-election or for Tillman's term as he sees fit, but most likely for Tillman's term. Tillman in his speech had hammered and hammered away at the idea that McLaurin had betrayed the true Democracy aud that if he were not a Republican he ought to be, for he had supported all their propositions and doctrines. Tillman urged that the decent thing for McLaurin to do?t::e onlv proper thing, was for him to resign his position and go before the people and if they endorsed him, be returned, or stay at home if defeated. McLaurin had deserted the party platform and ought to resign at once, he neraisted. Senator McLaurin in turn Ini6ted that he was a Democrat and that on national issues he was free to act with independence and did so. Tillman said "let McLaurln resign and 90 before the Democratic primary this year and I'll go home and keep my mouth shut and let the other fellows attend to him .If you elect him ,1 take it as notice that you don't want me. If he is a Democrat then 1 am pot." Then. McLaurin, turning on Tillman, suggested that Tillman always found a bomb-proof, and then Senator McLaurin went on to say: "Oh yes, Tillman says why don't 1 reel e-n? If I'm elected it will mean the people don't want him, but he stopped there; he is smart. You never catch him committing himself too far. He did not say if I'm elected he would resign. Oh! you will never hear of Benjamin lillman resigning. Senator Tillman Jumped up and said: "I will savt it.and do say it." Senator McLaurin: "Agreed." Tillman: "I'll resign right now if you will, and we will go before the people." McLaurin: "Agreed." Tillman: "Draw up the paper and we'll sign it right now." McLaurin: "That suits me." Later on in Tillman's five minutes' reply, he remarked that he would not reply to McLaurin's charge that he was brutal in his treatment $ and indecent in harassing him as he did: they would both be before the people soon and there would be r,o need to discuss matters further here. He was ready for the agreement at once. McLaurin: "So am J." It was soon after that the agreement and resignation were signed. Senator Tillman went directly from the court house to the law office of Mr. J. C. Otts and there dictated the first formal resignation which he signed. It reads r.s follows Gaffney. S. C\. May 25. 11)01. His Excellency Gov. M. D. McSweeney, * Columbia, S. C. Sir:?We hereby tender our resignations as Senators from South Carolina in the In i ted States Senate, and v; * I M'LAURIN QUIT SENATE. j nination of The Joint t (iaffney. TO THE PEOPLE I the Pitchfork and the Man ?cracy Takes a Decidedly Ted Turn. ask as a personal favor that you do not appoint our successors, unless there be an extra session of the Senate, until the Democratic State committee shall have ordered a primary to choose the men to be appointed, if you will kindly advise the State chairman of the Democratic party and ask prompt action in ordering such a primary and arranging tor a canvass by the candidates, we shall be under ob ligations. Yours respectfully. a K. TiLLMAN. U. S. S. .Mr. J. C. Otts was asset! to deliver this iu person and he was accompanied by Editor E. B. Hook oi the Augusta Chronicle and August Kohn. representin the State ami the News and Courier. Senator McLaurin was dressing at the home of Mr .A. N. Wood, ana invited the visitors to his room. The paper already signed by Tillman was handed him. It was aggceeable to him, from what he said, except he felt his health would not permit of a summer campaign and he did not think It would be right for hint to be double teamed and .have all the other candidates in the field against It int. He was unwell and his wife in the hospital and was fearful of the strain, he said, and he seemed to be quite faint and utterly exhausted .while talking. He suggested an amendment to the original proposition which was appended as a postscript, which read as follows: "The campaign is to he between B. K. Tillman and John L. Mcl^aurin for the long terra of office which the former resigns and to be held during the months of October and November. JOHN L. McLAURIN, U. S. Senator. This was signed and place left for Senator Tillman's signature, and Mr. Geo. II. Koester returned with the party to the law office as Senator McLauriifs representative. Senator Tillman simply had the record and no realms were assigned for tne cnangp He said lie had no right to dictate to the Demoeritic committee when it hhould order the primary or who should he allowed to run. as anybody could run for his place. The instrument was returned to Mcl^aurln to leave off the postscript or make a counter proposition, and shortly afterwards the following proposal came from Senator MeLaurln: To his Excellency, the Governor. Columbia, S. C. Sir:?We hereby tender our resig nations to take effect when the Deino! cratic State committee shall order a primary election, during the month of I November, to choose our successors. It having been mutually agreed that a |n|nt ^anvnes ?hail he made by us dur JUIUl . ?. ing the months of October and November. Senator Tillman returned the proposal on the same grounds as before, and then wrote and sent this letter to i Senator McLaurin: Hon. .Jno. 1.. Mcl^aurin. Dear Sir:?I have complied strictly with your taunting proposition that "Ben-j. The Tillmanite took good cai^e not to put himself in any jeopardy.' and when 1 responded "I wiil resign if I you will do so today." you said: "1 will ; do that." Afterwards, at the close, you ! repeated your willingness to carry out your agreement. Now you seek to dodge out of it by putting impossibly conditions. We cannot dictate to th. governor or "the Democratic executive;' committee. We can only do what we ; said we would and leave the rest to the authorities. Will you. or will you not stand by your pledge. B. rt. Tll.l.M YN. ' This letter was m*;u by hand and to it came the following reply: 1/r.r. n t? Tillman. Dear Sir:?I am more than willing to carry out the proposition which your letter indicates you were "taunt- j oil into accepting." Congress meets in December. I invite you to join me in a letter to Governor McSweeney tender- , ing him our resignations to take effect in ample time for our successors to be appointed. 1 prefer the canvass to take place during October and November as .on account of my physical condition. 1 could not stand it during the summer months. If you art? sincere in , your proposition unite with me in a I ietter to Col. Jones requesting him to | call the executive committee and arrange for the primary. Or. if you prefer. let us place our resignations in the hands oi t.lio governor unrondition- , ! ally to take effect September 15th. ' '1 1 have the honor to be yours respect- v.* fully, IV J NO. L. MrLAl'RIN. h< The focus had been reached and Senator Tillman dictated this formal n instrument, which he signed: i ^ Gaffney. May ^5. 1901. His Kxcelleney. Governor McSweeney, !' Columbia, S. C. ,r Sir:?We hereby tender our resignations as Senators for the State of r South Carolina in the United States Senate to take effect November 15th, next. Yours respectfully. With Senator Tillman's signature tliis paper was sent to Senator McLau- J')( rin. and in a few moments it was ()] signed and returned. There was no ;j letter of explanation, hut with the two v signatures it was posted, and although w strictly official business, 2 cents stamp {< was attached and the letter went to si Governor McSweeney. It will be left s< to the State Democratic committee n: when the primary will be held and si whether it will be open to all comers, ol Tillman says he wants just as many c! as want his full term to run against B him and one primary with strictly S Senatorial candidates will be ordered. t-1 But 01 the soMKini; whith leu up i ^ to the two important resignations. Of [ 11 course every one "\; eeted the hot , ^ stuff after the announcement that j the two .senatorial warriors were to j 111 get together an i evt n to the last, j ol many thought the senators would ;-tc not hitch. The speaking occurred in j h the court house, which seated about j ' 500 comfortably. There was no I n crowding and just about 500 were '* present A number of ladies were ti present but the crowd generally was is divided as between country and town P visitors. There was manifest feeling j 'i between the two senators who but a P' short time ago were such staunch R< triends. They did not exchange j b< greetings except in debate and it was S apparent that both tried hard to curb passion and tongue and neither in T terrupted the speaking during its a: progress. Though both are accus- is tomed to speaking they seemed severelv fearful of saying too ra much, apparently. It was a signal s] opening and sparring for position. h< and it is evident that day after day ft in the campaign to come, the gait will ai be swifter and swifter and reserve ; will fade meeting by meeting. Till- a] man seemed fresh and dapper while g( McLaurin spoke with such earnest- j r< ness and vigor that it seemed utterly I a to exhaust him, while Tillman ap- I S( peareii to warm up under the pros- | 5, pect of a fight as of yore They both tf talkeil overtime. McLaurin spoke for g one hour and forty-five minutes and ^ Tillman for about as long, and both n were willing to give each other all a< the time thev wanted. ra ? -' -.oll.j.l tn nrripr ! tr l in meeting ?n> < ?n>( v. l?y Chairman Kd. H. IVCanip. jr Senator Md-aurin started out by v< saying: "We are all Democrats." , cj but there are great questions on I which the division has come. The a time has been, he said, when he j h; would have given his life for Till- ai man and the difference arose because hi he now occupied the strong road Till- ft man had entered upon 1G years ago. ni Tillman had gone through his ston\ pi road and now he had entered such a ai stony path as Mr. DeCamp had de j tl scribed. He then outlined how he > O came to join the reform movement ir years ago and how sixteen years ago pi he entertained Tillman at his home. I and how he then backed up Tillman, j ai Tillman then stood for what he to- T day stands. Nothing has ever oc- qi curred in his whole life that gave ai him more pain than to separate from i w Tillman and some of his old friends. | O hut he felt he was right in his views, ti In 1S90 there was the cry "Hush " ! ni You will split the partv. and you will ; L remember how Tillman ridiculed the ( hi idea. Today he .-aid lie stood for sj freedom of thought and indepen- j tc dence. Who is now ?rving "Hush or j d? you will split the party?" The very hi same abuse heaped on Tillman that p is now on him. One year ago he did j <d not expect again to enter politics. ( ir and if he consulted his own prefer- ft ence be would not be in the cam- rt paign." The fact is. Tillman would ui fodav attempt the roll of the "boss" ai or dictator. He is the man who has g| forsaken the faith, adding: "I an\ ir ;t Tillmanife of the old stripe and he : Cl has forsaken the way and chosen the, hi easy path. Senator McLaurln then hi said he stood on his Greenville speech 1 s< and then referred to his speech here ' ni in 18*>7. when he explained his pod-1 a tlon in protecting monoztte. which is ' hi a local industry. The industry was g< dead until some one looked after it u in i?Q7 fhoro was no monozite bnsi- as ness here, not a dollar, and last year , n t he business amounted to $17,800, and lo this was the result of work and that tl was what he railed statesmanship, j hi business Democracy, or commercial , al Democracy. The result of the little w tax he put on monozite is that Baft- pi nev has done $20,000 worth of niomf- si zite business and a factory to use the In mineral is to- be put up here. They lr. charged that he voted for Republican < i mk asures and if he were not a Re- In publican he ought to be. It was a to hitter pill. In 1*92 the Alliance in-j ot structed its congressmen to indepen-; as deuce, and that was his position now pi on the matters complained of. In m 1*92 we attacked the platform and fo denounced Cleveland, the leader of bt the Democracy, and we protested cr against the Democracy as then man- li< aged. lie had no doubt Bryan was st honest but he was often mistaken, lie a switched off to argue for State banks. N Bryan on the State bank tight went ev directly against repealing the State lit bank tax. which was then one of the j pi cardinal principles of the party plat-1 lit form. Ho stood just as Bryan did in m proclaiming his independence and do- in ing what he thought best for his pen- ot F>Ie. Tillman attacked the platform nt and no one had more to do with j pt ill* [/;?'i.i". <!...;i i . 11 nia:i. in- iisiies ot expansion and the like ere uoi in the campaign lie made >r his election. No Democrat will, e predicted, ever be elected presi nt who will oppose expansion and jmmereial development. He aided illman in many ways to secure the langes in the platform but now saw is mistakes. Then he grew eloquent i pledging his sympathy with his t'ople ar.d how he stood by them in leir demands for white supremaey. is friend was a natural born dieitor. he is a horn boss, and it seems lat some of them hop around and ly: "Yes. massa." when ho cracks is whip. Now. in what hapruled? Yes. boys. I know how the rders went out and in that convenon lie supported Teller, who lias alays l.een a Republican. He was illing for almost any sort of crook > win except to insist upon white ipremarv. Now. he wanted to sav imething about what "boss rule" leant, and he knew whereof he ?oke. Then he pictured the terrors f reconstruction and how Teller, the 'tairnian of 'the electoral college of *>76. tried to saddle negro rule on outh Carolina. Tillman undertook to irry the delegation to Teller in 1890. eller in 1870 recommended and rged that the negroes must have teir rights and he believed he urged tat a negro was as good as a white lan. and I'll show you the "daddy" f the force hill! Tillman was willing ) put Teller in the White House, with Is views of our white people. "I think have a right to vote as I please on ational issues like expansion, foreign ars. etc., but on strictly party quesons, like the money question or race sues, it is right to stand on the party latform. on bank issues and the ke. Tillman liked to sit in a bombroof and always seemed to get in jch places Years ago he told the ays to vote against anything The tate and the News anil Courier reimmended. Why is this except that illman had forsaken his principles nd now favored ring rule and "boss;m?" McLaurin was to have opened >r half an hour to present any new latter in addition to his Greenville seech, hut he ran overtime and said p would consent to the same for his lend." McLaurin was applauded nd spke well. After the applause for Mcl-aurin ad Tillman. Chairman DeCamp preinted Senator Benj. R. Tillman, who ^marked in opening that this was very busy season and the most ?ri*ous part of the year to farmers, at many had left their homes to hear lis discussion and he was glad of it. enator McLaurin is laboring under lany delusions and you have heard le special pleading of his defection 3 a Democrat. The primary is 15 lonths away and yet McLaurin is aveling over the State and attaektg the Democracy with all the enom of a new convert and when I ime here to talk honestly he savs am n "boss" and that when I crack whip you all jump, and all that. He as told you I was his guest in l*9u ad the like, and I tell you here, he as told me I was the arbiter of his irtunes. by givng him a chance, and sw he tells you I stand for the supressidu of fren thought, free action, ad that I stand for "bossism" and lat I have been bamboozled l?v the onzales. I stand just where 1 did i 1 Sh.">. If the road is smooth you ftople have made it so. i Applause.) was invited here by true Democrats l.LLlon nd did nor crme nere iiuumucu. hero are over "">0 names to the re nest for me to come here and sppak. id he read the formal invitation. He as not here as a meddler or "boss." light he to have rejected the invitaon or done his duty? Like sensible ion. the regular candidates for Mcaurin's place are waiting for th.' and to start. In his Charlotte leech. I am attacked from beginning i end. In his letter in The Indepenpnt he says the Democratic partv as been mongrellzed Tillmanism and opulism and the like, and yet he aims to be an original Tillmanite. 1 his Greenville speech 1 ant re ?rred to a dozen times or more. H>> iferred to "tuttelege in demagogy" nder me. and put me up as a dent?ogue. and yet he says I have no rievance! You saw here this niornig how he attacked me and tried to tst suspicon on my Democracy. I ave never minced words and am ere to tell you the God's truth. I >nt him word last night that I saw d need for personalities, calling me boss and other hard things, and yet p started in on me today. 1 ant not ling to let you all forget certain lings of his utterances. He is here * the representative of "Commercial emoeracy." It seems we are no nger plain Democrats. He then read le party platform which McLaurin. p said, seemed to delight to sneer : and criticise. He left McLaurin itli the platform and the people. His iliev seems to lie "Get money, my i >n: get money honestly if you can. it get money and put in thv purse." has been my proud boast that no clien could le bought in this State / Wall street, and it remains for yo i ? iho mnnev of Hanna or ) ^av uat . hers, if to be used, can do. Now ; to "bossisni." Who wrote your last atforni but Col. Hoyt, and yet a few onths latt<*r he had to oppose hirr. >r governor. Tillmanism Is nothing it a fair fight. every man voting and ! Minting the votes. He does not be- j ?ve in any "best" people. This man j amis here and talks of my being in j "bomb proof." Ugh. It was foolish, j o representative of the people is, or in a "bomb proof." And yet he j is stood behind me in my "bomb i oof." ready, as ho says, to sacrifice | ,'e for moi When the platform proulgated what was Democracy, it ust be considered as settled. Ho ight to have resigned if he could >t stand for the Democracy of his trty, or have gone before the people for p.Giocilon. i: :i p. genuine , Democrat ami not a sham and a 1 humbug. I have gone further than. J my friend, or any former friend, f i have told the Republicans In the senate in their policy toward the ne; groes that they were arrant hypocTits I have talked boldly to them, yet I had the confidence and good will of all the senators who were gentlemen. He related the complimentary notice of himself by Senator Hoar, &\pLaurin changes his polities five times in 10 years and yet won't let Teller change om e in 30 years. He believed Teller a good candidate, hut the delegation would not go with him and that settled it. and so It was with Town*?. Bryan voted for Weaver nailer th ? advice of Cleveland as a party expedient. In this game of po!lti< s if you do not watch real ' lose you can ' play the rascal, arid if you do not X., j follow the leader of your people you I can come near being called a trailer. I Then Tillman spoke of the dangers ! of trying to cut down me cougivsI sional delegation This new commercial doctrine simply nnans we i are for sale? Bid up Hanna. Post| offices, jobs, any old thing, bid tip! j He says so. My doctrine lias been I if the stealing must be go on I I want my share for you. H?* talks of cutting loose from my coat tail I and he has the fellctation and joy of having a whole lot hanging on his coat tail. I got a few johs during the Spanish war. but I did not sell out for a mess of pottage. I did not abu e my party as he is doing. He says iie can't be defeated unless barred the primary. God bless him. he can't stand in the primary. 1 wan't him to preat h his doctrine to the people that he says jump when 1 pop the whip. See if you are sale for money and office. T want him to go before the people. I shall oppose any and every opj>osuion to kppp him out of the primary. If he I takes the oath, he is now under an implied oath. Has he broken it? Vou know. I^et him go before the people and use ail the influence lie can from the patronag- Let him get all the influence from the cotton mill presidents and stockholders and their northern bosses, but they cannot boss the operatives. Why did he not go to Kansas City and try to straighten out the party? He wanted .McLaurin to declare himself on the income rax; he and McLaurin took the same position as he did on Cleveland. He did not start or flinch in 1806 and represented the people in the fight on Cleveland. Tillman then relatec. the birth and organization or Bryan ltemocra<v 'io * never uttered a word against it and yet ~ K /-v c-n X'cj i# i a iif\t Wo U'fW *4,11 iS WUtt; ux: m;o h. io .. ? fied with what the people would do for i AleLaurin?they won't do "a thin*?" for [ him and ne will be left at home. He I harps on Democracy being a sectional party; were not our opponents more so? Are we to crawl in the mire of office hunting to get a few crumbs and get a few concessions? Are we to sell out for nothing? 1 want him to go over the State. Of course he can manufacture invitations. Any public mau can do so. as I did this one to suit ray. self. I refused the first and told them what kind of an invitation I warlted, and I got it. I'd rather lie defeated V a. thousand times than des?ri my true Democracy. He told them when he vojed for the fast mail subsidy, it was a steal, but he simply wanted a small piece of the steal for the south that paid such a large share of the taxes, i He reviewed how natch money the north was getting front the south for pensions, river and harbors ami the like. The south pays $250,000,001) and * " AAA aaa 'PU/\n \\/\ frv vLr getS oacx )iO,WU.WU. i uru lie up expansion briefly, and talking of MeLaunn s speeeif tain; "1 talk of his stolen speech. I can say I can prove that one of his speeches was taken in chunks from Dr. YanDvke. I 1 can say he stole it. and then he ta'its of my pitchfork. But God bless you, that fork sings its own tune, and is not stolen." Then he took up Md.au:in s advocacy <>f ship su&sidy. He talks of our prosperity. Why can't we build our ships? It is nothing but another steal?the rankest class legislation. It is just a grab of {180,00b.000. He talks about the mill trade in China. He took up the official figures and showed that the total exports were 1.370.ihK).0Oo and the total shipments to all foreign ports last year of cotton goods were $24,000,000. and the total shipments of all cotton goods to China was onl> $880,000. and yet for this we are to sell out! Two counties will rai.-e tills niurh crude stuff The e.nlon mills arc here to make money a id they made 100 per cent., and it is thought bad business if 3U per cent, is not made. They think they cau b::ss the mill vote. They tried that game before. They did not do it. When tho nrimarv comes off he will see what the man behind the looms will do. He will see and never forget it. Then he took up the prosperity of the State and insisted that nothing McK nlev did helped to build the mills in South Cai T > y be-.li.i und r ^ J Cleveland,' and lie did the south no 1 good. We get the China trade by srll- % ing liie best goods at the Invest p: re, and not because of any Republican pol. icies. We ourselves are responsible f r the State's prosperity, and no one else If he advocates and endorses all Mr. McKinley says and dors, as h say- o t.:ts\ nn (IOCS, lei ui:i! iu ... party, and if he were as honest as lie used to be I'll take him by the hand and say. "Johnnie, I wish you all the success in the world." The Kansas City platform is the only way we can test Democracy. The fight nm-t b' a the party. But Gocl knows i aiw~. s did and always will despise hyp.x-.itism. It hurt him to have MeLannn and his friends and his kinsmen think ill of him but he believed in fighting fairly and scpiarely. He proposed that McLauriu resign f t t- ?