The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-26
AS SEEN IN WASHINGTON.
The South Carolina Situation Ex-
cites Lively Interest There.


Washington, D. c., May Ex-senator
Thlman has resigned his seat in the Sen
ate for the purpose of forcing Senator
McLaurin to meet him on the stump. That
is the view which South Carolinians in
Washington take of the announcement
that both senators have resigned.
They are at a loss to understand, how
ever, what object Senator McLaurin could
have had in resigning. Whatever may
be the explana ton of the course of the
junior senator, it is no doubt that these
designations are the prelude of the most
sensational political fight that has ever
occurred in the Palmetto state, a night
in which personalities will be indulged IN
with the utmost freedom. Ever since
Senator McLaurin broke over the party
lines in the Senate and refused to follow
the Democratic party in opposing the
peace treaty and the Hanna ship subsidy
bill, Senator Tillman has been anxious to
break lance with his independent young
colleague.
Senator McLaurin in his recent speeches
in North and South Carolina, has resent
ed the attempt of Senator Tillman and
other leading Democrats of the state to
criticise his independent attitude, and has
indulged in reflections upon Senator Till
man and those who differ with him, which
incensed Senator Tillman so much that he
issued a formal challenge to Senator Nc
Laurin 20 go upon the stump and jointly
debate the questions al issue before the
voters of the state Senator McLaurin
declined to accept Senator Tilmans ohal-
lenge on the ground that the latter was
not a candidate for reelection to the Sen
ate. McLaurin indicated that he would
cheerfully debate the issues of the cam
paign with any of the avowed candidates
for the position he now holds.
Senator Tillman had just been reelected
for a second term in the Senate. his eeo-
ton being practically unanimous. His
resignation is doubtless for the purpose
of placing him on an equal footing with
the other rivals of Senator McLaurin
and thus forcing the latter to meet him
upon the hustings.
Congressman Latimer's View.
Representative Latimer of South Car
olina, who has served three times in the
House of Representative and who is an
avowed candidate for the Senate to sue
ceed McLaurin, was here to-day, but at
the hour of leaving for his Southern home
he had not heard of the designations of
the two senators from MS state. Mr. Lat
timer is the ablest and most successful
lieutenant Tilman has in the state, and
it is generally understood that Tillman
desires to have Latimer selected to sue
| ceed McLaurin. Latimer has recently
subjected himself to criticism at home by
successfully mingling with the money
devils" in New York 10 the extent of
about 100000 net profits in copper mining
stocks.
In discussing the political situation in
South Carolina to-day, Mr.. Latimer sad
he had been so busy recently looking af-
ter his private interests that he had not
read Senator McLaurins recent speech
delivered at Green4lle He said McLau-
rim had a small following among the
manufacturing interest in the state, but
when the election for Senator comes off,
he will not have a corporals guard be-
hind him lie declares that MclAurin
while proclaiming that he is Democrat
is preaching Republican doctrine and ad-
vocating Republican policies thus trying
to ride two horses at the same time.
Mr.. Latimer says that the Democratic
voters of South Carolina fully understand
McLaurins masquerading. and when the
senatorial election comes off It will not be
known that he is running.