Evening star., 1901-07-27
Mr.. M'LAURIN'S CASE
Tillman's Step Will Cause Reaction
in Feeling.
PEOPLE TIRED OF POLITICAL FIGHTING
Only Effect of Democratic Com
mittee's Action.
SEVERAL BOOMS EXPECTED

| General surprise and some regret is ex-
| pressed among politicians interested In
| South Carolina affairs over the course Of
Senator Tillman in causing the radical
action of the state committee In Senator
McLaurin's case. The immediate result,
1t is thought, will be the reopening Of an
acute political situation in South Carolina
| that by general consent was closed for the
present.
1t is prophesied also that Senator Till
| mans step will cause a reaction in feel
| ing that will operate to Senator McLaurin's
| benefit and will serve certainly to accen-
tuate the hostility to Tillman, steadily
growing in the state, although still far
from being sufficient to affect his leader
ship.
Governors Course Approved.
When the governor of the state refused
to accept the designations Of the two SEN
ators that had been rendered hastily and
in fit of political pique at each other. his
course was generally commended The peo-
pie were heartily tired of political squab-
bling The state had been racked for years
with it. and both the Tillmanites and the
anti-Tillmanites were ready for truce. in
which crops could be gathered, business
| transacted and some attention given 10
the wonderful industrial progress Of the
community.
1t was a complete surprise, therefore,
when Senator Tillman sprang this sensa-
tion. The politicians are at some loss TO
fathom his object. He Is regarded as
wary and skillful manager and the act
seems tC have been deliberate.
Senator McLaurins position was fairly
secure. The legislature that elected him
had declined to take hostile cognfZance OF
his well-known views or criticise his vote
in Congress. The governor of the state had
refused to accept his resignation, thereby
p11-fpp hat in al
course of Senator McLaurin had not placed
him beyond the pale of the party. Except
therefore, from the viewpoint alone of Sen
ator Tillman, his colleague was to all IN
tents and purposes the representative of
the people who had elected him.
No Power to Read Him Out of Party.
1t is pointed out that it is not in Senator
Tillman's power, nor the prerogative of the
state committee, to read Senator McLaurin
out of the democracy. 1t assuredly is I'M
possible for either to read him out of the
Senate OF the United States. 1t Is not
thought for a moment that Senator Nc
Laurin will yield to the wish of partisan
state committee and give up the seat In
which he was placed by the votes of the
people.
Therefore. the only effect Of the commit
tees action in the opinion OF persons inter-
campaign for senatorship year two
earlier than was intended. It is evident
now that the fight on Senator McLaurns
reelection Is to be pushed by Senator Till
man Immediately, who will attack him all
alcng the line and early and late.
This means inevitably the springing Of a
number Of senatorial booms within the next
month or two. Several gentlemen promi-
nent in the Tillman wing of the democracy
will come forward with announcements OF
their candidacy. These will appeal to the
voters along regulation Tillman lines, and
unless "Uncle Ben is backing some par
ticular favorite, which is considered doubt
full, he can lean back and let them fight 1t
out.
The Anti-TiIIman Faction.
But there is another element to be con-
sidered in the contest. The conservative,
anti-Tillman faction will have candidates
and will begin q campaign having for its
hope the ultimate, though confessedly re-
mote rehabilitation of the democracy Of
the state upon anti-populist principles. Sew
eral candidates whose democracy is un-
questioned, but whose views lean toward or
coincide with those expressed by Senator
McLaurin, may be expected to appear early
in the fight.
Their aim will be to play for the support
of the adherents of Senator McLaurin, II
1t should appear that his reelection Is
hopeless and to gather also all the conser-
vative democrats Of the states who could
not support Senator McLaurfn because
they think whether justly or not, that he
is allied with the republican party in the
Senate.
McLaurfn Will Decline.
It is expected that Senator McLaurin will
take notice of the action Of the state COM
mittee and will make a reply declining to
accede to the suggestion that he should
resign, setting forth again his views and
appealing to the anti-populist element Of
the democracy to stand by him. no.
table democratic rally is to be held In the
town Of Union, early in August, one Of
those midsummer political gatherings GUS
tomary in South Carolina, and the politi-
clans are looking for some interesting de-
velopments then.
Naval Orders.