The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-05-29

thunderbolt out oil clear SKY, so uneA APee.eo
and sudden was the whole thing. When tne
two United States senators agreed 10 meet III
Joint debate, McLaurin to advocate MS COM
mercial Democracy and Illlinan 10 aStncS H,a,as
n. no one dreamed the two United States
senators would before nightfall nave tneil
designations in transit to the governor.
Here, up in The flourishing corner OF tne n
State, has occurred the most sensational de-
yeIopment of politics since lS90. Two seua-
tors have Internationally resigned. Illinan
has just entered upon six year Term anu pitS.
out molestation, YET both have reslgned, ei.
fective September 18th IN order Ina. ,;y tney
might SO before the people anu '.se ,Sa, iris Ihis
strength, the understanding being Inat ,orss .ris
test shall decide whether the people endorse
Senator McLaurln's Democracy win lts eX, |
tba saP 6t senatoy Tman with what
McLaurin calls his Bryan Democracy. SeHa en |
tor McLaurin sought to narrow the MERGE con
teat 10 Tillman and himself, whereas senator
TiIjman insisted on resignation as originally
proposed on the ground that ne coula hot
dictate TO the Democratic conn mlttee az W
he Roth seemed eager to sign the resigna-
tion and about o'clock the paper containing
the dual resignation WAS In the mali. IL
means that instead of the campaign coming
next Summer, it will be held this year, and II
means that Tillman will be In the race Tor MS
six year term and McLaurin for re-eiection or
for Tillman's term us he sees mt, but most
Ikeiy for Tillman's term. Tillman In bis
speech had hammered and hammered away
at the idea that McLaurin had oetrayea Res Ene
publican he ought TO be, for he had supporleu
ali their propositions and doctrines. Illinan ~
urged that the decent thing for McLau.tn ~ W
do-the only proper thing, was lor nun onte 10 ne
sign his position and go before the people
and II they endorsed him. be returned OF or
STAY at home If defeated. McLaurin haa ae
at once. he persisted. Senator McLaurln IN
turn Insisted that he was q Democrat any
that on national issues he WAS iree 10 aEs isi
independence and did so. Illlman sal3 leI
McI,anrin resign and 60 before the Demo,
cratic primary this year and IN 60 nome ana
keep my mouth shut and let the 0tneE ieiI1Ss ~ ss
attend to him, If you elect him, lake IL az
Democrat then am not" Then, McLaurin,
sIwavs found q bomb. proof. and then Senator
Mciaurin went on to say: "Oh yes, Tillman
says why don't 1 resign II Pm elected II
will mean the people don't want him, NJ ous ~, ,nS ne
stopped there he is smart. You never catcn
him com miltiug himself too far. he 1id no, not
say II I'm elected he would resign. on you
na @ nsses ssestor nsaT TiIman ii Jumped up and said
~ will say it, and do say IT," Senator Nc
Laurin: Agreed, Tillman @ "Pal IL resign ra,9Ia
right now 4 Sf9a T ana AgTeed we II Tl@sn
kDraw up the paper and we'll sign 1t rignt
now" McLaurin: THAT suits me" Later
marked that be would not reply 10 NC
laurins charge that he was brutal IN MS
Treatment and indecent In harassing him as
pie soon and there would be no need TO dis
enss matters further here. He was ready for
the agreement at once. McLaurin: $50 atn
J." II was soon after tnat the aRreeneht anu
resignation we're signed. . . 49,.
Senator Tillman went directly rom tne
court house to the law office Of Mr.. j. Z; OTIS
and there dictated the hrst tormal ies'ena'
''0n "D''' 40 CARNEY. S. c, May 25, 1901:
His Excellency Gov. NJ. b. Mcsweeney'
Sir: We hereby tender our resignatinns as
senators from South Carolina IN the united
States senate, end ask as Ia personal iaSor
that YOU do not appoint our successors, unless
there be an extra session OF the senate, untli
the Democratic State committee snail nave
ordered primary to choose tne men 10 Se
appointed. II you will kindly advise the
State chairman OF the Democratic party and
ask prompt action in ordering such pri-
mary and arranging for a canvass oy Inc can'
didates we shall be under obligations.
B. R. Tillman. U. S. S.
Mr.. ]. c. Otis was asked 10 deliver THIS IN II
person and he was accompanied by EDITOR T..
B. Hook OF the Augusta Chronicle ana
August Kohn. representing The State ana
The News and Courier. senator McLaurip Mia
was dressing at the home OF Mr. A. n. WOOD,
and invited the visitors to his room. Ine
paper already signed by Tillman was handed
him. 1t was agreeable to him, from What ne
said except he felt bis health would not per-
NIT of a summer campaign and he did not
think it would be right for him TO De double
teamed and have all the other Candidates IN IN
his wife in the hospital and was fearful OF the
strain. he said, and be seemed TO be quite
faint and utterly exhausted Wniie aisig Iaiiking;
He suggested an amendment to the original
proposition which was appended as post
script which read as follows: w
"The campaign Ia to be between B. H. TIL.
man and John L. McLaurin for the long term
Of Office which the former resigns and to be
held during the months OF OCTOBER ana
-''' "John L. McIaurin,
U. s. Senator"
This was signed and place left for Senator
returned with the party TO the law office as
Senator McLaurin's representative. Senator
Tillman simply had the record and no rea,
sons were assigned for the change. He SAID
he had no right to dictate to the Democratic
committee when 1t should order the primary
or who should be allowed to run, as anybody
returned to McLaurin to leave OF the post
script or make counter proposition, and
shortly afterwards the following proposal
came from senator McLaurin:
To his Excelenoy, the Governor Coiumpla'
Sir: We hereby tender our designations to
take effect when the Democratic State com
mittee shall order primary election, during
the month of Novem ber, 10 choose our sue,
aavnS sbs be- by us
ing the months of October and November:
Senator Tillman returned the proposal on
the same grounds as before, and then wrote
and sent this letter TO Senator McLaurin:
Hon. John l.. McLaurin.
Dear Sir: L have complied strictly with
your tauntipg proposition that "Benj, The
Tilmapite, took good care not TO put himself
in any jeopardy" and when | responded VI
will resign If you will do SO today" you said,
you repeated your willingness to carry out
your agreement. Now you seek TO dodge out
OF 1t by putting impossible conditions. We
cannot dictate TO the governor or the Demo
cratic executive committee. We can only do
what we said we would and leave the rest 10
stsnd sns S9 Sds4 pease W y00 XII
This letter was sent by hand and TO it came
the following reply:
Hon. B. K. Tillman.
Dear sir: am more than willing TO carry
out the propositio On which your letter indi.
Gates you were "taunted into accepting"
Congress meets In December. invite you TO
ioin me in a letter TO Governor McSweeney
rendering him our designations to take effect
in ample time for our successors to be ap-
pointed. prefer the canvass to take place
during October and November as, on account
of my physical condition. could not stand IT
during the summer months. If you are sim
cere In your proposition, unite with me In
letter to Col. Jones, requesting MIN 10 call tne
executive committee and arrange for the pri-
mary. Or, If you prefer. let us place our re-
signations In the hands of the governor un-
conditionally TO take effect Sept. l5th.
have the honor to be yours respectfully.
Jno. l.. McLaurin.
THE FINAL LETTER.
The focus had been reached and Senator
Tillman dictated this formal intrument
which he sighed: - anna
His Excellency, Governor McSweeney Co
Sir: We hereby tender our designations as
senators for the State of South Carolina In
the United States senate TO take effect Nov.
18th next. Yours respectfully
With Senator Tiliman's signature this pa
per was sent to Senator McLaurin, and 10 q
few moments IL was sighed and returned.