The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-04-14
HE STILL FAvoRs BoLrING.
Tillman on the Powers OF the Execu-
tive Committee-HisV Views on State
and National Questions.

tive Committee-His Views on Stat
and National Questions.
Senator 1illman made a visit t.
Columbia when the State executiv,
committee was in session, and prior t,
its action he talked with the reporters
He was not exactly in the humor t,
have stereotyped interview. HI
chatted on variety of topics, jumping
from one to the other. He remarke &c
that he expected to have an easy time
OF IL in Washington, but finds that he
has moro work to do than when he was
In the Governors office. The News and
Courier reports him as follows:
Senator Tillman was asked what was
the purpose Of his visit to Columbia at
this time, and he said he only wanted
to consult with his friends about mat
| ters and let them understand how
| things stood at the other end of the
line. He was not a member of the
State executive committee, and would
| OF course, not presume to give any
advice, but merely wanted to talk over
matters with his friends.
What he would like to see, he said =,
was for the people of South Carolina
to keep together. He wanted to keep
the State Democracy from splitting to
pieces, and especially SO at this time,
and further that no yardstick should be
put to any mans Democracy that
would immedirtely drive him from the
party. The purpose of tho committee,
he thought, ought not to be to disrupt,
but to hold the machinery and voters
together and keep all of those in line
who are anxious to drift away, and
then If later on the question Of split
ting comes up it will be time enough
to decide.
Senator Tillman was inclined to the
opinion that State and national affairs
ought to be kept apart, ard that South
Carolina could very we'll afford to act
slowly. The State has twice before
been alone in casting its electoral vote.
He said that, while there was a good
deal of talk about the position he had
taken and how it would result, from
what he could learn those who were
opposing his position were mostly
politicians who had placed their pegs
in certain line and did not wish to
have to rearrange them. Those who
were afraid of his plan seemed to think
that they had q presumption on the
offices, and were afraid to jeopardize
their chances by bringing about IL
fight.
When asked Senator Tillman what
were the indications from the Wash
ington end of the line, as he viewed
them, he said that the indications
were that the silver mcn would control
the Democratic Convention in Chicago.
and the probabilities were that if
there is no bolt by the silver men from
the Republican Convention in St. Louis
1T will be because the politicians, who
will secure the places of delegates,
will not represent Western Republican
sentiment. He cited several instances
90 h nj
keep down a revolution in the Repub-
lican camp by the silver forces, but
silver Republican Senators and others
seem to be in the fight to the finish
and will only be kept quiet because of
the work of the machine" if at all
Senator Tillman went on to say that
while he thought the silver delegates
would be in the majority in the Ma
tional Convention, he did not know
what course the other delegates would
take. BY remaining in the Conven-
tlon they may temper the action of the
body sufficiently to nominate weak
candidate, or rather one who was not
an aggressive and pronounced free
silver man. If the Chicago Conven-
tion nominated positive man on a
free silver platform ho felt that the
St. Louis Silver and Populist Conven-
tion would support such nominee.
Then Senator Tillman was asked
what he thought OF the Democratic
chances any way, and he replied by
saying that the chances were ten to
one in favor of McKinley's nomination,
and that tho only way he saw of de-
feating him was by consolidation of
the silver forces. Sentiment in favor
silver has, in his opinion, grown
greatly in the last few months. The
silver men are getting ready to be
more aggressive and determined and
outspoken and they are going to leave
either the Democratic or Republican
party, If silver is not given the proper
showing. why men who would not
talk to me in December are about
long sido OF me now," he remarked
Senator Tillman happened to have
several letters in his pocket from men
in different States in which his posi-
tion was approved. One of the letters
was from man in Iowa, who claimed
to be Republican and another was
from Texan who said for ifty years
hc had been q Democrat, but was ready
to follow Tillman. Senator Tillman
said he had received thousand let
ters within the last few weeks from
Republicans and twice as many from
Democrats endorsing his position and
begging him to help the fight along
loF sllVcr. lneV all promised TO go
to any party that would give them
silver, and those letters we're only
samples he thought OF general opinion.
He is satisfied that the majority of the
voters in either of the big parties is
ready to follow the silver banner no
matter what party happens to be car
rying it.
Senator Tillman is receiving many
invitations to make addresses. He has
made the following appointments for
April: Lexington, Ky, April IL DEN
| yer, Col, 10 Il; Warrensburg, Mo, Is {:
| lecture on problems of the Government
| for the Confederate Monumental AS
sociation, at ST. Louis, 20, Owensboro,
Ky, %. He says he does not care to
make dates any further in advance.
He was asked whether he expected to
make any speeches in South Carolina
and he said that depended on circum.
stances, and he might, If he were able
and there were occasion, come here
after his Western trip.
4 A o.. .