The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-04-12
JOINT D,SrTSSION.
Our Statesmen Fie','s in the Attorney
Generals Office.
Columbia State.

Generals ufhce.
Columbia State.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 5.-The
bearing given the Ocala Congressman by
Postmaster General Bissell to-day was
mighty interesting proceeding. 1t was
held in the post office department at 8 p.
nj. and lasted until $50. There werc
present Senators Butler and Irby, Repre-
sentatives She'll, Strait, Latimer and Tai
bert and ex-Representatives Johnstone
and Hemphin. Senator 1rby having
taken his private stenographer along,
Senator Butler engaged one also.
Irby and Talbert were loud and deti,
ant; Shell rather shy; Butler, Hemphili
and Johnstone, cool and keen.
Senator Irby started out by saying that
while his side was armed only with facts
he had the authority Of gentleman for
saving that Senator Butler had come stick
in hand and pistol in pocket.
Senator Butler challenged the name OF
his informant.
Irby said it was J. II. Tillman.
Senator Butler said it was false; he had
never carried pistol in his life; he was
amazed that this colleague should repeat
80 ridiculous statement in this presence.
Iatimer spoke first. He claimed he
had always been, and would always be, a
Democrat; that while he had opposed
Cleyeland's nomination, he had acqules-
ced Loyalty and helped elect him.
Mr.. Hemphill said the question was
whether Democratic patronage would be
given to aid in opposition to Democratic
principles. He had the right, as private
citizen, to make recommendations for
office, and would continue to exercise 1t.
The majority against him in the primary
had only been 173, and he represented
more Democrats than Strait. He was
surprised to see these gentlemen here.
If he had, like them, claimed that Cleve-
land was not q Democrat, he would not,
like them, be found asking favors OF
him.
Strait said that any assertion that he
was not Democrat was untrue.
Mr.. Johnstone made mastery sum
mary Of Latimer's record in opposition to
Democratic principles, and asked qnes-
ton after question touching his presence
at the st. Louis convention, ETC., which
Latimer didn't answer. He propounded
these final questions with great impress
siveness, telling Latimer not to qulbble
or evade: =.
First-"Do you hold the Democratic
platform adopted at Chicago to be supe-
flor in the binding force upon you to
the platform or principles of any other
party organization or body?
No answer.
second-;sDo you approve OF, and are
you in opposition to the platform Of the
Third Party adopted at Omaha2 2"
No answer.
Senator Iby asked Mr.. Johnstone if
he hadn't voted for L,atimer. Johnstone
said he had, as pledged in tho primary.
A similar question was subsequently
asked of Hemphill as to Strait, and sim
liar was made.
Mr.. Talbert made stump speech full
of sound and fury, signifying nothing,
and pounded the table until the noise
resounded through the corridors. He
insisted that this was humiliating spec
tacle; that he had always been Jeffer-
sonian Democrat, Opposed to corpora
tions of all kinds and all classes" and
and were in tho same position, which he
claimed was Democratic.
! Mr.. Shell said he was not called on to
defend his Democracy, as there was no
question Of II. Still he cherished Alliance
principles as equal to any other. He had
attended Alliance conferences in Wash
ington with Johnstone IN the last Con-
gress, and could say that no NAH con-
tributed more to the success of the Alli-
ance demands than did his friend john
stone.
Latimer claim cd last fall that tombstone
had taken home from Washington letters
from Livingston.
Irby, interpolsting-"And Watson and
Macune."
Johnstone- didn't do anything Of
the gort."
Latimer-"And from Tillman, Everett
and Noses"
Shell said Johnstone had rspudiated
the sub-treasury bill.
Irby asked if he hadn't supported the
sub-treasury scheme.
Shell said he had favored the financial
aimG of the Alliance.
Johnstone emphatically denied that be
had supported the sub-treasury. He had
made his fight against it In 1890 and last
year.
Shell admitted that Johnstone had said
he didn't agree to the fiat money and nn-
sound money doctrines OF the Alliance
Postmaster General Bissell asked Irby
if he wished to say anything,
Irby said he would wait until Butler
had spoken.
Butler said unless it was distinctly un-
derstood that his colleague was running
this conference he would not be dictated
to by him. When he was to speak, he
would speak, and not until then. II
Irby desired to speak, let him do so, on
his own responsibility, and not attempt
to dictate to him.
Irby denied that he sought to dictate.
If Senator Butler stood neutral between
the ''rsforin" and "anLi-reform" factions
in South Carolina, and wished to remain
in that position, then he cheerfully &C.
corded him the right. He had not been
so regarded up to this time.
Butler ironically thanked him for his
kind permission.
Irby spoke with passion and 80 vehem-
emily that he could be heard In the corri-
dor. He said he stood there as the State
Democratic chairman and was surprised,
mortified, humiliated and chagrined, in
common with all good people and true
Democrats Of South Carolina, at this in
uuisition into the Democracy of these
representatives. He argued that tho trio
were true Democrats, who had submitted
to The action Of the national convention.
They had defeated these men who were
now here trying to injure them in their
party and put stigma upon them.
Hemphill tried to interrupt him, but
Irby shouted his refusal to be interrupt
ed, saying Hemphill was not represen-
tative of Carolina Democracy. When
the Third Party showed its head in South
Carolina + fought it as zealously and hon
estly as any man in the United States.
Hemphill and Johnstone hadn't been for
Cleveland until he was elected and there
was chance to secure crumbs Of office.
Johnstone tried to reply, but Irby re-
fused to yield. Irby said he waa respon-
s;ble outside for anything he said.
Irby went on to say that Johnstone
and Hemphill had folded their hands in
1890, during the Haskell movement, but
now came here to impeach the Demo ocracy
of the men who had beaten them fairly as
Democrats, and who were al true Demo-
Gratis as any in South Carolina.
Senator Butler said they had heard
enough oratory and he didn't think it
r L. L.