The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-05-28
M'LAURIN AND TILLMAN.


M'LAURIN AND TILLMAN.
The action of Senators McLaurin
and Tillman in resigning and going
before the people of their state for
endorsement of their respective po-
sitions in regard to national affairs
is suggestive of the English method
of appeal to the country. While it is
something unusual in this country,
the action taken by the two men is
evidence of their sincerity of purpose
and manifest desire to represent the
majority of their constituency. Each
represents a sentiment to which the
other is opposed, and each advocates
a cause to which the other cannot
subscribe. Both are leaders of ele-
ments at variance with one another
and it is to determine which is the
preponderating element in the state
that they have resolved to submit to
the decision Of the people.
1CpA CoOAIo tAO p1O5ACoo
i've business element of the south and
is a practical exponent of what has
come to be termed the new south.
He stands for expansion, for protec-
ton to American industry and the
extension of American trade to the
furthermost parts of the earth. He
has seer the benefits that have &C.
crued to the country under republican
administrations and is honest enough
to admit their existence. Under re-
publican administrations he has seen
the commerce and manufacturing in
dustries of the south expand and grow
until they now rank among the ma
tons greatest and has come to under
stand the %fallacies of the party to
which he owed his election. Being
honest and DESTROYS of serving his
state and country to the best of his
ability, he could not consistently sup
port the doctrines advocated by his
party and for that reason was often
found acting in accord with the re-
he has been severely censured in GER
tain quarters and accused of being a
traitor to his party. Believing that
he acted for the best, not only as far
as his OWN state vas concerned, but
for the best of the entire nation, he
is willing to go before the people of
his state and ask their endorsement,
having confidence in their intelligence
and loyalty and believing that he will
be sustained. In explanation of his
course and in justifying himself he
made the following summary of the
situation now existing in the south
and his ideas as to the proper method
which the south should pursue in fur
therance of the improved conditions
which now exist there:
If we would make the most of our
opportunities, we must %renounce sec.
tional %prejudices and support nation
al policies looking to the creation of
foreign markets, the expansion of
trade and the upbuilding of a common
country.
Il make the assertion that the
south has more to gain than any
other section of the country from
the foreign policy now pursued by the
administration"
This fully explains his position and
is along the lines he pursued while
in the senate. He showed himself tc
be a patriot and not a partisan. Till
man, on the other hand, is nothing
but a partisan and considers party
above all else. He has shown him
self to be opposed to every act of the
administration, regardless of the con
sequences of such opposition and re
CARELESS of the possible results O
the policies for which the administra
ton stands. The mere fact that i
was something advocated by the re
publicans was to his mind suficien
cause for opposition and he was eve
ready to use his pitchiork. He stand
for every policy and tradition of, tn
old bourbon democracy, leavened witt
the jimcracks of Bryan's populism
and is SO welded to old forms an,
prejudices that he cannot get beyon'
the political vision of a ouarter nj
century ago. He is a reactionist VIII,
would rather see the old hand loon
in operation than the modern machin,
impelled by steam and would rattle