The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-05-22

Gafncy. s. C.. Special.-lt is the
unexpected that happens so often in
South Carolina politics. which hap
pened here Saturday. 1t came like Il
thunderbolt out of a clear sky. SO un-
HSi;s%to. anal sudden was The whole
thing. When the two United State,
Senators agreed to meet in joint de-
bate Mclanrin to advocate his Com
mcrcial Democracy" and Tilman to
attack II. no one dreamed the two
United States Senators would before
nightfall have their designations III
transit to the governor.
Here up in Il nourisling corner nj
the State, has occurred the most sen
sational development Of politics since
1890. Two Senators have unrondi-
tionnlly resigned. I'iilman has just en-
tered upon six year term and Nc
Laurin has until March 4, 1903. to
serve without molestation, yet both
have resigned, effective September
10Th In order that they might 30 he
lore the people and test their siren 9Th
The understanding being that this
test shall decide whether the people
endorse Senator Mc.aurins Democ-
rhcy with it's expansion, ship subsidy
and "commercial' ideas or that OF
Senator l'illman. with what McLnurin
calls his Bryan Democracy Senator
Mcl>aurin sought IN narrow tho for, t.
contest to Tiliman and himself where
as Senator Tillnlan insisted on reslg
nation as originally proposed on the
ground that he could not dictate to
the Democratic committee us To who
; should be in the race or when 1t should
be. EOth seemed eager to sign the res
ignatlon and about O'clock the paper
continuing the dual resignation was
the campaign coming next summer 1t
will be held this year. and it means
that T'illman Will be in the race for
his siX year torn and McLaurn for
reelection OF for Tillmans term as
he sees fit, but most likely for TILL
mans term. Tillman in his speech had
hammered and hammered away at the
idea that McLaurin had betrayed the
true Democracy and that II he we're
+ not Republican he ought to be. for
ne had supported all their propositions
and doctrines. Tillman urged that the
decent thiny Tor McI4aurln to do--,hc
only proper thing. WAS for him to re-
sign his position and go before the,
people and II they endorsed him, be
returned, or stay at home II defeated
McLaurin had deserted the party pat
form and ought to resign at once. he
persisted. Senator Mcl.aurln III turn
inisted that he was Democrat and
that on national issues he was free to
act with independence and did SO.
1illman said lei NicLaurin resign and
~ before the Democratic primary
1his year and III go home and keep
my mouth shut and let the other fe.-
lows attend to him If you eject him i
take 1t as notice that You don't want
me. II he Is a Democrat then am
not" Then, Mci.aurin. turning on
I1llman. suggested that 11llman al
ways found bomb-proof, and then
Senator McI.aurin went ON to say:
"Oh yes, Tiliman says why don't ie
sign: IL I'm elected It Will mean the
there: he is smart. You never catch
him committing himself too far. He did
not say II I'm elected he would resign.
Oh! you will never hear OF Benjamin
1fllman resgning. Senator i1llman
jumped ul and said: Il will sayt it.and
do say it, Senator McLaurin:
Agreed" Tillman: I'll resign right
now If you will. and we will go before
the people" Mci.aurin: Agreed
Tillmnn: "Draw up the paper and we'll
sign 1t right now" McLaurin: That
suits me-" Later on In Tillmans five
minutes reply. he remarked that he
would not reply to McLaurins charge
that he was brutal in his treatment
and indecent In harassing him as he
did; they would both be before the
people soon and there would be no
need to discuss matters further here.
He vas ready for the agreement at
once. McIIaurin: $50 am l." 1t was
soon after that the agreement and res
ignation were signed
Senator Tillman went directly from
the court house to the law oifice or
Mr.. j. C. Otis and there dictated the
first formal resignation which he
signed. 1t reads as follows:
: Gaffney, $. g.. May 25. 1901.
His ExSsllency Gov. NJ. B. McSWeeney,
Columbia, s. e.
Strive hereby tender our resig-
nations as Senators from South Caro-
lima In the United States Senate. and
ask ao personal favor that you do
not appoint our successors. unless
there be On extra session or the Sem
Fsstte,, uIittff the Democfati0 State COM
mittea shall have ordered primary to
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