Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1901-05-29
FIGHT IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Both Iillman and McLaurin RESIGN
From the Senate.
Action ia the Outcome OF n Warn, .yo,,.
Debate I'm which Charges aud
Countercharces Were Made

Columbia, =. CAS- the outcome Of
spirited debate between United
States Senators Il. H. Tilman and
John l.. McLaurin at Gaffney both of
them have put their designations in
the hands of Governor McSweeney.
to take effect September 10. They
nave resigned with the understanding
,hat they are TO go before the people
OF the State III joint canvass and the
sentiment of the people Is To bc eX-
pressed in the vote in Il Democratic
primary to be held in November.
Ehe meeting ut Gaifncy was ar
ranged for McLaurin hy some of his
friends and others who wished to
near his views on the great National
questions. Senator Tillman was later
invited hy the County Executive Com
mittec to speak. He had been hank
cring' he said 10 get at McI.aurin. and
1t was through his individual efforts
That the joint debate was arranged.
Illiman excused his participation in
the meeting when he was not Il cam
dldat" by saying that he was rccuc-
niZed rs Il leader in this State. and he
considered it his duty To appear be.
fore the people and warn theIr when
traitors and hypucritos appeared hc.
fore them.
If Mcl.aurin was a Democrat. lie
said. he WAS not. ana the only dccrn,
thing for Mcl.aurin To 10 when he
could not stand on the platform on
which lie was elected was To resign.
The senator said Mci.aurin had stolen
the sermon OF the Rev. DR. Van Dyke
oi New ork City. Ii" attacked Nc
i.aur'nS political record ever since
hc mad been il the Senate.
McLaurin came back at Tillman
with unexpected fire. He had wished.
he said. to keep the Campaign on Il
hi%h plane. bu; ii was evident he
would not hr allowed to do SO. TIL
man accused him OF stealing ser
mon. If there was truth in the many
charges f0atin;, around South Caro-
lima. he added Tilman had stolen
much more valuable things Tillman.
he said. was Il nilly; but he had sized
nm up years ago and knew how to
meet him. Tillman'S conduct was
brutal ana has manner of forcing him
self on this meeting was indecent.
Ihr inSinuation that he McLaurim
was handling any Of Mark Hanna's
money. he continued. was ralSehood.
and unworthy of II Senator and n gen
tleman. Mr.. McIaurin asked: WHY
does not Tillman offer to resign If I'm
elected? He says If I'm elected. the
people will rcpudiatc him. No, You'u
not find Benjamin rcsiCning He is
not that sort"
Tillnan. who was sitting near.
sprang up and said: I'll resign right
now, Ii you Will and we VIII 20 be-
Tore 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
10 Il lawyers office and drew up Il res
lGhatlon In Joint form. and asking the
H"Vcrnor not to appoint their success
1rS until the people could vote in II
primary and recommend the men to
MI the office. He signed this and sent
1t by atfricnd and half Il dozen corre-
SpondentS 10 Senator McI.aurin's
house. The junior Senator amended
1t by adding. The camuai.n is To he
between Il. Il. TiIlman ana John l..
Mcl-aur,n for the long term of ailice
which the former resigns and 70 be
cld durin" the months a. October and
November"
MIR. Iillman r"jec.cd this because it
was ulctating TO The committee. and
"Ni' u" '"Hu'''plS IN ln" agree
hent mt 'hc meeting. There was coun-
Ter correspondence Mr. Tnlman final.
" writing thar he had called Mr.. Nc
i-aurin bluff, and that now The junior
senator wanted to back out
W al You or Will YOU not stand by
thc pledge YOU made on the stand:" he
wrote
Mr: Mci-aurin gave rs his reason for
WShliS mat the campaign should take
place in the fall that his health womb
not permit summer canvass OF The
stat" 1t was finally agreed that both
Should resign. 10 take effect Scptcm
brr -.
Ililman was last summer reelected
10 the United States Senate for six
Years ana McIaurn has yet two years
10 SerNe should Tillman bc sustained
McLaurln'S seat Will he vacant. If No.
l.aurin is successful he viii >,,cccnd
to Tillman's long term