The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-04-15
CHAT WITH TILLMAN.
THE JUNIOR SENATOR TALKS IN A
RATHER pEsULToRY FASHION.

He Believes 6r6bt MauV1ASy Va
ple Are Ready to Go With Him-Thinks
the Silver Men Will Control the Chicago
Convention.
COLUMBIA, April 7.-Senator Till
man arrived in the city today, and Il
staying with his kinsman, Mr.. J. W.
Bunch, who lives about mile out OF
town. To get whatever news there
was Senator Tillman was seen in his
suburban retreat. he was not exact
ly in the humor to have a stereotyped
interview. He chattsd on a variety OF
topics, jumping from one to the other.
He remarked that he expected to have,
an easy time of 1t in Washington, but
that he finds that he has more work
to do than he had trying to run the
dispensary.
Senator Tillman was asked what
was the purpose of his visit to Columa
bia at this time and he said he only
wanted to consult with his friends
about matters and let them understand
how things stood at the other end OF
the line. ... -.
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 yardsticM should
be put to any mans Democracy that
would Immediately drive him from
the party. The purpose OF the COM
mittee, 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 ques-
ton Of splitting comes up it will be
time enough to decide.
Senator Tillman was inclined to the
opinion that State and national affairs
oughtto be kept apart, and that South
Carolina could very well afford to act
slowly. The State has twice before
been alone in casting its electoral vote.
BE said that, while there was 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 pe0s
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 a pre-emption ON
the Offices, and were afraid to leopard
ize their chances by bringing about .
fight. 49,,
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 men 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 It
will be because the politicians, who
will secure the places Of delegates,
will not represent Western Republican
sentiment. He cited several instances,
of how the machine" was trying to
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 tho 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 convention
they may temper the action of tho
body sufficiently to nominate q weak
candidate. or rather one who was not
an aggressive and pronounced free
silver man. If the Chicago ccnven-
ton nominated positive man on
free silver platform he felt that the st.
Louis Silver and Populist convention
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
ane in favor of McKinley's nomina-
ton, and that the only way he saw OF
defeating him was by consolidation
of the silver forces. Sentiment in Ia
vor of silver has, in his opinion, grown
greatly in the last few months. The
silver uen 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 would not talk
to me in December are about long side
of me now," he re marked.
Senator Tillman happened to have
several letters in his pocket from men
in different States in which his posi-
ton was approved. One OF the letters
was from a man in Iowa, who claimed
to be Republican and another was
from Texan, who said that for fifty
years he had been a Democrat, but
was ready to follow Tillman. Senator
Tillman said he had received a thous-
and letters within the last few weeks
from Republicans and twice as many
from Democrats endorsing his position
and begging him to help the fight
along for silver. They all promised
to 20 to any party that would give
them silver, and those letters were
only samples he thought of general
opinion. He is satisfied that the ma
iority OF the voters in either of the big
parties is ready to follow the silver
banner no matter what party happens
to be carrying it.
Senator Tllman is receiving many
invitations to make addresses. He has
made the following appointments for
April: Lexington, KY, April II; Dem
yer, Col, Is; Warrensburg, Mo-, IS;
lecture on problems of the Govern