The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-03-20
THE ISSUE AS IRBY SEES IT.
Shall Irby Have Second Term in the
Senate or Not

the causes and the effects OF the split
between Senator Irby and Senator-clcct
Tillman. Senator Irby may try to
disguise the fact as much as he pleases,
but the general impression prevails
here that Tillman is not working in
double harness with him any longer.
AS near as | have been able to get at
the meat Of this peculiar contention
the trouble arises over the next United
States Scnatorship.
Senator Irby wants second term in
the Senate, and he' wants it badly.
He not only wants it, but he demands
it as matter of right. In recent
conversation with him on The subject
he said that he intended to make
fight for reelection in spite of any
opposition that might arise. He con-
tended that it is the custom to give
Senator who attends to his business
acccptably second term. He feels
that he has done all that could have
been expected Of him since he entered
the Senate, and he will, therefore, ask
the people of South Carolina to give
him another term after 1897, when his
present term expires.
The friends of Senator-clect Tillman
say that he does not want 1rby to have
a second term and he will do nothing
to assist him in that direction. Who
Tillman has selected as his favorite to
succeed Senator IrbyEwill appear later,
but just now very little is being said
on the subject. 1t is claimed that
Irby was but an accident in the first
instance, and, therefore, he should be
satisfied with six years in the Senate
as the immediate successor OF Wade
Hampton. That may sound all very
we'll for those who have not tasted Of
the Senatorial sweets. Senator 1rby
may not have been an active partici-
pant in the great debates that have
taken place in the Senate during the
last two or three years, but he has put
in four years of comparative luxury,
with private secretary, private
committee room and all of the trim
mings that go with Senatorship. He
cannot be blamed for wanting more Of
it. They all do. The more they get
the more they want.
The only interview that Senator-elect
Tillman and Governor Evans had with
Senator Irby during the recent visit
of the Senator-clect and the Governor
to this city must have been very in
tercsting. 1t took place in Senator
Irby's committee room. Senator lrby
was spread out in luxurious rcclin-
ing chair, with his wool hat canted
over to one side-hc generally wears
his hat in his committee room and also
at his private apartments. lie is get
ting bald rapidly in consequence.
Senator-elect Tillman and Governor
Evans entered the room and proceed
ed to relate to the Senator the terms
of the recent compromise, with the ac-
companying details. 1t seems that
that was the first intimation that
Senator Irby had received on the sub
iect. He is naturally sensitive man,
and Le at once appreciated the fact
that he had been totally ignored in the
transaction. 1t was terrible blow to
his pride, but he struggled to control
his feelings and appear Indifferent as
far as he was personally concerned,
but expressed great anxiety as to the
effect it might have on the Reform
Movement in the State. He went so
far, it is said 'as to chide Tillman with
a lack of tact and political sagacity,
and charged that the editor OF the
Nc,cs and Courier had "dehorned'
him. The authorized interview with
Senator Irby improperly used the word
deceived" for dehorned." The
latter word is the one Senator Irby
claims as his own, for he was going on to
tell Tillman of the amputation OF sew
eral parts of his political anatomy by
the Conservative leaders. It was any
thing but merry party. The next
day Messrs. Tillman and Evans pro-
ceeded further North to Baltimore,
Philadelphia and New York.
The night after their departure
Senator Irby went into executive
session" with himself, and considered
all that he had heard from Messrs.
Tillman and Evans in connection with
other rumors and actual occurrences
that have been floating around in
South Carolina politics for several
months past. The result Of his delib-
erations was the authorized interview
which he gave out to the press associ-
atoms. He realized that a determined
effort is being made to turn his
political picture to the WALL" and ne
objects to such proceeding for the
reason above stated. When Senator
elect Tillman returned to Washington,
on his way home from New York, 1t
was understood that Tillman and Irby
were to have another consultation.
Tillman dined with Representatives.
Talbert and Strait, but a few doors
from the residence Of Senator lrby,
but they never met again in this city.
Mutual friends stated that Tillman
and Irby had engagements to meet
each other at various places within
"a hours, but they managed to keep
out of each others way like two pro-
fcssional prize fighters Of the present;
day engaged in making "a draw OF 1t.
The most remarkable thing about
the pending controversy is the vide
difference Of opinion as to which side
cot the better of the compromise.
Representatives Shell, Izlar, Butler
and others contend that the Tillman.
ties "pulled the wool over the eyes OF
the Anti-Tillmanites. F." On the other
hand Senator Irby and a few of his
friends insist that the Conservatives
out-generaled the Reformers and OBJ
tained from them concessions that
they should not have had. Represen-
tatives Latimer, Talbert and Strait
are disposed to be non-commistal on
the subject, but they are loyal to Iill-
man under all circumstances. Alto
pether it is most interesting and the
South Carolinians at this end of the
line cannot understand why there
should be such bitter contest over
constitutional Convention. They are
inclined to believe that the real issue
is "who shall succeed 1rby in the
Senate in 1897 ?''-News and Courier.
I'm To-