The age-herald., 1901-05-31
TO RID THE PARTY
 OF ITS TRAITORS
Senator TiIIman Declares This to Have Been His Motive
 When He Resigned

Columbia, S. C., May sO.-(Special.)-- Senators McLaurin and TilIman both had something to say today. The former made an earnest protest to State Chairman Jones against holding the primary in Au- gust, saying he had resigned to take effect on September Is, expressly to avoid a summer campaign. The issue was with Tillman and he wanted to meet him alone.
 Senator Tillman gave out this evening an address to the people of South Carolina and announced his candidacy for re-elec- ton. The precipitation of campaign on the people would have been inexcusable, he said, but for the conditions which have come about. He recites that early in '9e his colleague parted company with his party, and ''persistently antagonized his own party in all his public utterances and acts. He disregarded the Kansas City platform and feels under no obligations to obey the will of the people"
 McLaurin, he says further, fifteen months in advance had begun an active campaign for reelection. He had the dispensing of Federal patronage placed at his disposal by the Republican Presi- dent and he had unlimited money fur nished by his Republican allies or Mo- Kinley Democratic followers in South Carolina, and his purpose was unop- posed to organize his political machine.
 At Gaffney I was confronted with the question of duty" Tillman says, and re- calls that he Is a national committeeman, was twice member of the National Com mittee on Platforms, and chairman of such committee in the State convention, and he had been directly and Indirectly assailed. He acted with impulse, but later he had time for consideration and felt that 1t was his duty to force the fighting and rid the party of all traitors
 Continuing Tillman declares: Forcing the campaign will give the commercial Democracy a much shorter time to pre- pare for battle. and they will have to fight under less favorable conditions. Many good men will be prevented from becoming Republicans by having argu- ments on both sides this year
 'I prefer the retirement of private life to the degraded elevation of a high posi- tion obtained by deceit and held against the wishes of the people.
 'The contest between the Democracy and the man who seeks to betray 1t will be fought without any local complications whatever. Voters will not be influenced in this contest by the desire to elect local favorites, and swapping will be prevented. The issues will be clear and cut Our party has the opportunity to rebuke and punish treachery at once as warning to those who may be wavering.
 "The Democratic uniform will be struck off those who have proven unworthy to wear it and they will be made to under stand the difference between honorable and dishonorable discharges.
 Tor myself and the sacrifice have made will say nothing. prefer to let the people of the State consider the mat ter for themselves and pass upon my con- duct as they may determine, whether 1t was right and proper or rash and Quixotic. When I cannot truthfully say that represent the majority of the peo- pie of South Carolina andsvote and speak as they desire, become as sounding brass and tinkling cymbal."-