Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-05-29


Of all the machine, while I am even
without personal acquaintance with a
half dozen clerks of court in South Car
olina. Since I was sent to Washington
I have been trying to look after your
interests there. / am liberal in my
views except as to Negro suffrage, up
on which am unwilling to tolerate any
difference Of opinion. My friend here,
Is a natural born boss and dictator. ]
know his methods, and I understand
how some Of the boys step about and
answer Yes, massa," when he cracks
his whip. Tillman Is willing to resort
to any expedient to win, even to put
ting a Republican in the White House.
Do you know what happened in 1896,
how he sent orders for the boys to sup
port Henry M. Teller in the convention
Of that year. and do you know who Tel
Ter was? I'll tell you something about
him from the record I have here before
me.
Senator McLaurin read from the rec
ord of the committee upon the presiden-
tial election of 1876, showing that 1t was
Teller who submitted the minority re-
port recommending the theft Of the
electoral votes Of Mississippi and South
Carolina. The report maintained that
the Negroes Of the South were as niuch
entitled to all the privileges of citizen
ship as were the whites, and later on
Teller was one Of the most aggressive
advocates Of the Force bill, having
been the real daddy Of that Infamous
document. And this is the man to
whom Senator Tillman pledged the
electoral vote Of South Carolina!
Senator McLaurin said that few
days ago he had read In the newspa-
pers Of a conference in Nebraska be-
tween Democrats" and "Populists," on
the question Of continuing the fusion
arrangement that existed between the
two parties, and there was a PROPOSE
ton to disband the Populist party.
Governor Poynter, however, took the
position that in case the Democratic
party should cease to be Populistic in
all but name, the Populists would be
put to the necessity Of reorganizing,
and for that reason the organization
VIM. J. Bryan was present at this con-
ference, and by his silence acquiesced
in Governor Poynter's characterization
Of the Democratic party.
Referring to the fact that The State
and News and Courier are both sup
porting Tillman, Senator McLaurin
recalled the advice that his opponent
had given the boys years ago to the
effect, THAT If you ever find these pa
pers approving my course, you will
know that I am wrong. So long as
they oppose me you will know that I am
right" Senator McLaurin held that
the advice was good then and that 1t
was correct now. Tillman has changed;
but The State and News and Courier
have not. They stand now where they
stood then, for ring rule and bossism.
In concluding his opening Senator
McLaurin applied to Senator Tillman
an anecdote Of an old Negro who had
been through the war, as the body SER
want Of colonel who afterward became
judge. The Negro was before his for
mer master for stealing, and was SEN
fenced to three years in the penitenti-
ary. He could not understand 1t. In
other words he was astonished. What
do you mean, massa? When I was In
the war wifi you and you sent me out
after other peoples things, you called 1t
foraging. What for you now call 1t
stealing?" When Tillman was trav-
cling over the rough. stumpy road, he
called free thought, free speech and in
dependence Of action, patriotic courage
and craftsmanship. Now that he is q
UOSS dHu ulCldlOIp UNEASY
about agitation that may result in the
disturbance Of power. he calls the prin-
ciples for which he formerly stood
treachery.
Senator McLaurin took his seat amid
liberal applause from all parts Of the
house. That the senator had made a
good impression was clear. 1t was OBJ
vious to those who observed him too
that he had severely taxed himself in
the effort. He was perspiring profuse-
ly, and he seemed very much fatigued;
but there was no apparent sign Of ex-
citement. On the contrary, he appeared
as calm, deliberate and unconcerned as
If the issue Of the occasion were utter
ly devoid Of personal moment. He evil
IDENTIFY felt, however, as did those all
around him, that he had made strong
impression on his hearers. and that
even many Of those who may have
come to jeer or witness row, were be-
ginning to realize that matters Of more
than ordinary Importance were at
stake.
Senator Tfllman.
Senator Tillman sat directly behind
Senator McLaurin during the latter's
opening, listening intently to every
word that was said, and offering no in
terruption. His expression was one Of
fixed seriousness that showed no
changes even when Senator McLauin
walked to within few feet Of him and
emphasized his scathing accusations by
shaking his finger in his face. Upon
being introduced by Chairman DeCamp
he walked to the front and began his
speech in characteristic style. AL
though the reporter for THE ENQUIRER
made full notes Of the senator's speech,
for convenience 1t Is here given as
synopsized by Mr.. August Kohn for
The News and Courier and Columbia
State.
Senator Tillman remarked in the
opening that this was very busy sea-
son and the most serious part of the
year to farmers, but many had left
he was glad of it. Senator McLaurin Is
laborng under many delusions and you
have heard the special pleading Of his
detection as a Democrat. The primary
Is Is months away and yet McLaurin is
travelling over the state and attacking
the Democracy with all the venom Of
q new convert, and when I came here to
talk honestly he says I am a boss"
and that when I crack a whip you all
jump and all that. He has told you I
was his guest in 1890 and the like, and
I tell you here, he has told me was
the arbiter of his fortunes, by giving
him a chance. and now he tells you
stand for the suppression Of free
thought, free action, and that I stand
for "bossism" and that I have been
bamboozled by the Gonzales. I stand
Just where did in 1895. If the road Is
smooth you people have made 1t so.
1 was invited here by true
Democrats and did not come here un-