The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-06-16
PLEADING FOR HAMPTON.

PLEADING FOR HAMPTON.
Tilmsn, McLaurip, Latimer and Stokes
Working for the Old Hero.
The Washirgto correspondent of
the News and Courier says Gen. Wade
Hampton is to retain the Office OF COM
missioner of railroads until be recov
ers his health, notwithstanding the
political pressure of Gen. Longstreet
and his friends to secure his removal.
Just before the President left the
White House Thursday to start for
Nashville he received a visit from Sena-
tors Tillman and McLsurin. and Rep
} resentatives Latimer and Stokes. of
the South Carolina delegation. They
called to urge the President to retain
Gen. Hampton in office.
Owing to the political complications
in South Carolina it happens that
every member of the delegation was
politically and personally hostile to
Gen. Hampton. They are not even
on speaking terms with the great cav
airy general of the late Confederacy
1t therefore occasoned considerable
surprise and comment in the South
Carolina colony when it became
known that Senator Tillman had
headed a delegation to go to the White
House in behalf of his old political
enemy, Gen. Hampton. Senator Till
man and McLaurin informed the Pre-
sident that they called in the interest
of Gen. Hampton, without his knowl-
edge, without solicitation from any of
his friends. They appreciate the fact
that Gen. Hampton is old and feeble,
and that he is an historical figure in
the State of South Carolina. In the
circumstances they felt justified in re"
questing the President to reappoint
him, if possible, or to retain him in
service until he RECEIVERS from his pres.
ent indisposition.
President Mckinley received the
South Carolina Congressman with his
usual courtesy, and heard all they
had to say about Gen. Hampton. In
reply, he said he could not promise to
reappoint Gen. Hampton at this time,
although it might have been possible
had the request been made in the same
way at an early period in the present
Administration. he assured the dele.
CATION that he had no intention of re.
moving Gen. Hampton at present, but
proposed to continue his services I'M
til he has ample opportunity to recover
his badly shattered health. The Presi-
dent said he understood that Gen.
Hampton contemplated taking a long
trip to California and other parts Of
the country, with the hope of benefit
ing his health. In the meantime no
change in the railroad commissioner
ship will be made. The President
further expressed the hope that this
assurance would relieve the General
ana his friends from further anxiety
on the subject, and assist in restoring
him to health.
This is very discouraging informa-
ton to Gen. Longstreet, of Georgia,
who is also old and infirm, VINO is said
to have a positive promise of the place
as soon as Gen. Homptcn retires.
There are several other aspirants for
the place, but the friends of Longstreet
insist that he has first claim upon the
Presidents consideration, as soon as q
vacancy is created. Gen. Longstreet
will have to wait until Gen. Wade
Hampton RECEIVERS from his present
indisposition before there will be a
changs in the Office of commissioner OF
railroads.
To South Carolinians and to politi-
cans generally, who are familiar with
the relations that existed for years be,
tween Gen. Hampton and the faction
represented by the callers to day, the
visit is of deep interest. In 1890, when
Senator Tillman vas elected Governor
of South Carolina, after one of the
most bitter campaigns ever known in
the South, an intensely hostile feeling
between Governor Tiliman and Gen.
Hampton, then Senator, was aroused,
resulting in the defeat of Senator
Hampton for reelection, and the cleo
ton, by Tillman's efforts, of Senator
J. L NJ. Irby. The Hostility between
Gen. Hampton and Governor Till
man was further increased by the bit.
ter attacks which Governor Tillman
and his faction made upon Ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland at the Chicago Con-
vention of 1892, Gen. Hampton be-
ing a warm supporter of President
Cleveland. There has never been a
reconciliation of any kind between
Tillman and Gen. Hampton, and the
visit to the President today was a
graceful act upon the part of the
South Carolinians.
Senator Tillman and President Nc
Kinley are on wonderfully good