The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-06-12
FIGHT IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Both Tillman and MeLaurin Resign
From the Senate.
Action is the Outcome of a Wazm Joint
Debate in Which Charges and
Countercharges Were Made.

Columbia, s. Gas the outcome OF
q spirited debate between United
States Senators 3. r. Tillman and
John L. McLaurin at Gafney both OF
them have put their designations Id
the hands Of Governor McSweeney,
to take effect September Is. They
have resigned with the understanding
that they are to go before the people
Of the State in joint canvass and the
sentiment Of the people is to be ex'
pressed in the vote in q Democratic
primary to be held in November.
The meeting at Gaffney was ar.
ranged for McLaurin by some Of his
friends and others who wished to
hear his views on the great National
questions. Senator Tillman was later
invited by the County Executive Com
mittee to speak. He had been hank.
ering" he said to get at McLaurin, and
1t was through his individual efforts
that the joint debate was arranged.
Tillman excused his participation In
the meeting when he was not O cam
didate by saying that he was recog'
nized as q leader in this State, and he
considered it his duty to appear be-
fore the people and warn them when
traitors and hypocrites appeared be-
fore them.
IF McLaurin was a Democrat, he
said, he was not and the only decent
thing for McLaurin to do when he
could not stand on the platform en-
which he was elected was to resign.
The Senator said McLaurin had stolen
the sermon of the Rev. DR.. Van Dyke
Of New York City. He attacked Nc
Laurin's political record ever since
he had been in the Senate.
McLaurin came back at Tillman
with unexpected fire. he had wished,
he said, to keep the campaign on a
high plane, but 1t was evident ne
would not be allowed to do so. Till
man accused him Of stealing SER
mon. If there was truth in the many
charges floating around South Caro-
lima, he added, Tillman had stolen
much more valuable things. Tillman,
he said, was a nilly; but he had sized
him up years ago and knew how to
meet him. Tillman's conduct was
brutal and his manner Of forcing him.
self on this meeting was indecent.
The insinuation that he (McLaurin)
was handling any Of Mark Hanna's
money, he continued, was falsehood,
and unworthy Of Senator and gen.
tleman. Mr.. McLaurin asked: "Why
does not Tillman offer to resign If I'm
elected? He says If I'm elected. the
people will repudiate him. No! You'll
not find Benjamin resigning. He Is
not that sort"
Tillman, who was sitting near,
sprang up and said: "I'll resign right
now, If you will, and we will go be-
fore the people together" Senator
McLaurin said he was willing.
Senator Tillman said, Draw up the
papers and we will sign right now"
agreed" shouted McLaurin.
The Senators almost Immediately re-
tired from the stand. Tillman went
to a lawyers Office and drew up O res
ignation in joint form, and asking the
Governor not to appoint their success
ors until the people could vote In a
primary and recommend the men to
fill the Office. He signed this and sent
it by a friend and half dozen CORE
spondents to Senator McLaurin's
house. The junior Senator amended
it by adding, "The campaign Is to be
between B. R. Tillman and John L.
McLaurin for the long term of Office
which the former resigns and to be
held during the months Of October and
November"
Mr.. Tillman rejected this because 1t
was debating to the committee, and
there were no conditions In the agree
ment at the meeting. There was coun-
ter correspondence, Mr.. Tillman final
ly writing that he had called Mr.. Nc
Laurin's bluff, and that now the junior
Senator wanted to back out.
"Will you or will you not stand by
the pledge you made on the stand" he
wrote.
Mr.. McLaurin gave as his reason for
wishing that the campaign should take
place in the fall that his health would
not permit a summer canvass Of the
State. It was finally agreed that both
should resign, to take effect Septem-
ber Is.
Tillman was last summer reelected
to the United States Senate for six
years, and McLaurin has yet two years
to serve. Should Tlllman be sustained
McLaurin's seat will be vacant; If Nc.
Laurin Is successful he will succeed
to Tillman's long term.