The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-27
RESIGNED SENATORS
Curious Condition of Affairs in the
Palmetto State.
TILLMAN AND McLAURIN OUT
Gov. McSweeney Lacks the Nerve to
Act as Political Policy
Dictates.
Msw Yo.k Sun sssoSas Service.

Charleston, S. c., May 27.-The joint
resignation from United States Senators
TiIman and McLaurin. which will become
effective Sept. 10, reached Governor Nc
Sweeney's office to-day. In the resigna-
tion the fighting colleagues have asked for
a special election for this year when the
Organism of Tillman and the republican
doctrine of McLaurin can be put to the
test When this election will be held has
not been determined.
The announcement of the sensational
denouement at Gaffney yesterday has al
ready caused a reaction to set in and SEN
timent is overwhelmingly against the
move by the senators. Just al this time
the state is in the midst Of a political up
heayal. McLaurin las returned here from
Washington to lay the foundation Of
white republican party and Tillman IS
bent on whipping him at the start. Behlnd
the joint resignation is the bitter personal
feeling between the senator's and the pub
lie, while not accepting Tillman's state
ment that he took the step for the good Of
his party, declares that it was for per-
sonal spite and to show his power over
McLaurin. The fact that the designations
are unconditional makes Governor Nc
Sweeney the master of a situation that he
could not have obtained in any other way.
The decided opposition that has already
sprung forth against the rivals has in
duced democratic leaders, to urge the gov
ernor to use his power and appoint sue
cessors to fill the unexpired terms. This
Is a move which would be startling for its
boIdness, but one which Governor Nc
Sweeney has not the nerve or the pluck
to make. He will make the appointments
subject to the special election to be held
this year, and in the meantime the anti
Tillman element will gather its forces to
defeat the nomination Of MeLaurin's enc
my At the same time a bitter fight will
be waged against McLaurin, and the lone
hope OF straight out democrats is to send
both politicians to oblivion.
Because Of the personal enmity between
the senators the public has refused to
look on the action Saturday in the way
that Tillman and McLaurin would like.
For the avowed purpose of dragging Nc
Laurin into joint debate Tillman dogged
his footsteps to Gaffney, and there, in the
midst OF excitement and in the heat Of
passion, taunted his colleague to resign.
McLaurin has only two years to serve,
while Tillman has six. Remembering this,
McLaurin snarled at Tillman that he could
afford to make such demands, being bomb
proof with his long term. The hot words
that followed led to the signing of the
resignation.
If anything has developed from the
meeting it is sympathy for McLaurin. He
IS almost face to face with a physical col
lapse and his friends fear that he could
never survive a laborious campaign this
year. McLaurin admits as much but makes
the manly statement that he owes it to
his people and he Will stand before them
on his record against that of his rival.
The custom in South Carolina Is to elect
United States senators in the primary, the
legislature having only to confirm the
result Last year Tillman ran without
opposition. He made the request, how
ever, that those who were opposed to his
doctrines should scratch his name from
the ticket, and out of less than one hun
dred thousand votes cast his name was
scratched from fully thirty thousand This
was accepted as an evidence of his un-
popularity against his former brilliant vic
tories at the polls and the fact seems to be
admitted that he will lose by his bullying
threats against McLaurin yesterday. His
practical admittance that he controls the
state as he did eight years ago is re-
sented bitterly and the opposition has
seized upon it for all it is worth.
On the other hand. while McLaurln has
gained strength from his broader views on
national affairs, he has lost caste with the
populistic element in the democratic ranks