The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-06-05
WHAT TILLMAN SAYS
Of Mclaurin's Open Letter to
Col. Willie Jones.
TERMsIT"s "sUcAlNsOLEMcE''


Says He and McLautin Have
No More TO Do w tn the
Senasorshjp Than If
Thsy Were Dead.
While in Columbis Wednesday Sena-
tor Tillnan gave out an interview in re-
gard tc Senator McLaurin's protest
against campaign in the month Of
August.
he said: II have read Senator Nc
Laurin's letter to Col. Willie Jones,
chairman Of the State Democratic ex.
ecutiVe committee, and it is simply in
comprehensive to me that Senator Nc
Laurin should display such insolence.
He appears to consider the senator
ship as being his private property in
stead Of grest trust put into his
hands By the people for a special pur-
pose. He undertakes to impose condi-
tions CT make suggestions and requests
that are Of purely personal character,
intended to serve his convenience. The
people to whom the Offices belong are
absolutely ignored as they have been by
him for two years or more.
1T is well understood that there is
only one season Of the year when our
people have sufficient leisure for poll
tics, and therefore it has been the Gus
tom to have the canvass begin quite
early in the summer, the election held
and matters settled before the busy
cotton picking season begins.
"Mr. McLsurin would have ali this
changed. The people must be put to
the trouble Of attending their atfsirs to
suit him.
From my standpoint the two va
oancies which will exist caused by our
resignation, are the same a. though
both Of Us had died.
''Our designations have been tender
ed and the two vacancies are to be filed
By the people at their convenience and
as they see proper.
'Mr. McLsurin boasted at Greenville
that his health is excellent and that he
is ready for the fray. There has been
only one little passage at arms, yet he
pleads for winter campaign as the
fatigues Of summer work are too great
for him.
ut is not, Of course, for me to say
what should be done or to make sug.
| gestions. I preemptorily declined to
do so at Gafney and do not propose to
do this nov. The Democratic commit
tee will act, when it meets, for the best
interest Of the party and for the sonve.
nience Of the psople and whatever will
be done in ordering the campaign will
be satisfactory to me"
The senator then took up Mr.. McLaur
ms intimation to Col. Jones that the
race should be confined to himself and
Tillman. Tbs latter was displeased-
evidently. He said:
That is another idea which illus
tr,tes Mr.. McLaurin's conception Of
his own power and greatness and his
view Of the Office as personal posses
sion. I consider that my resignation
puts nae on level with every other
citiEsn, and have no rights in regard
to the senatorships until the people
shall give them to me. Any man who
chooses has perfect right to enter the
race for either term, and I shall vel
come as many antagonists as see st
to contend for the place l have volun-
tarily vacated"
That vas about all that Senator Till
man had intended to say, and he turn.
ed to Col. Willie Jones, who had
called, and asked If there was anything
in Mr.. McLaurin's letter which had nos
been touched upon. Col. Jones sug-
gested that Mr.. McLaurin had pro-
posed, in the matter of a vacancy in
the short term, for the legislature to
elect. Tillmsn jumped up impstiently
and exclaimed, What right has he to
ask any favers of the Democratic par
ty which he has betrayed and desert
ed?"
When asked what he thought Of the
failure to the legislature to critieise
McLaurin's conduct, Tillman replied
that he could see how the legislature
would naturally avoid suoh action as
unnecessary. That is Of the past, and
Of no conse quence now. "a new situa-
tion has bsen brought about BY
stroke Of lightning"
He then renewed his assertions that
when be went to Gafney he had nc
intention Of precipitating such sn
issue.
"But I ssw that this man would be
going over the State doing untold in
jury. He would go up and down the
State with his patronage bag and
crowd Of venal fellows at his heels
would be grabbing ateyery opportunity.
He would bring about and organization
which might sttract campaign fund
and would get few thousand fellows
into trouble. When he taunted ne, it
flashed across me- how I could put an
end to.this, or as I told somebody to-
day, saw where I could get him in
to 3 boat and throw him out. I may
get thrown out tool am not moon
struck"
Tillmsn then spoke Of an incident at
the Gafney meeting. Il watched the
crowd. I got my optic on it, as they
say. McIsurin never got much ap-
plause except from the fellows be had
brought over from Lsurens and Spar
tanburg. But he made one pitifu! ap..
peal. Thst ! bullied him. That l had
treated him brutally in coming when
I knew his sensitive nature. 1t was
the most eloquent thing in McLaurins
whole speech, and was received with