The age-herald., 1901-02-06
An overcoatIess Statesman.


 An OvercoatIess Statesman.
 ITO live some seventy and odd years, four years of that period as soldier constantly in active service, accustomed every winter to snow and ice, and to die peacefully at last without ever having worn over coat is an unusual experience in any land not of tropical climate, yet it was the ex- perience of the Hon. George D. Tillman of South Carolina, who died last satur- day" said a Birmingham man who former ly knew MT. Tillman we'll
 with a snow-storm raging and the wind bitterly, bitingly cold, I used often to see Mir Tillman walking from his hotel in Washington to the capitol with no out side covering to his body except the ordin- ary jacket or sack coat of mems wear. He scorned overcoats and waterproofs, and l don't remember ever having seen him with an umbrella. I ventured one morning when the mercury was down nearly to zero to ask him as he entered the committee room of the House if he didn't feel the need of an overcoat.
 No sir he answered. I never wore an overcoat in my life and never desired one, although I fought four years in the field a Confederate soldier. An overeoat is a useless and annoying encumbrance. and l wouldn't wear one if you gave me every overcoat in Washington!
 And he spoke he was the picture of hale and hearty old manhood, though he was then, in the winter of 1SS3-S4, about sixty, believe. His hair and beard were as white as the snow which he defied, his face wonderfully rosy, and his eyes blue, his step elastic.
 Swore Violent Oaths.
 My first impression of George D. Tillman was that he was a man of terrible passions under control. He swore violent paths in conversation and was the sternest man I ever took the trouble to know, though he was at heart most kind and considerate. He was second on the House committee on pen sions, of which the lamented Goldsmith w. Hewitt of Birmingham was chairman, and I was secretary. In committee meetings he was fierce always, as he was everywhere else, but never rude and never really un- kind. Several weeks after the committee was organized and had been at work, Col onel Hewitt came to Birmingham to spend a week or two with his family, leaving MT. Tlllman acting chairman of the committee. With many misgivings I awaited the first meeting over which MT. Tiliman was to pre- side. His fierceness disturbed me, for I was very young and unaccustomed to anything in any degree dictatory. and was possibly a trife high tempered myself, being a mere boy. However, 1 sent out the usual notices of the meeting. to which 1 had signed MT. Tillman's name. Every member was pres ent except the honored chairman, the last to arrive being MT. Tillman himself. He rapped for order and fiercely directed me to call the roll and read the record. After the business of the day had been concluded, he asked me very abruptly what bills there were. I placed about hundred bills be- fore him, at which he swore. Then he said that the committee had remarkably good secretary, and with the consent of the mem bers he'd direct the secretary to divide the bills amongst the members sub commit tees as the secretary deemed best. It was done, and ever afterward the secretary and the Hon. George D. Tillman were the best Of friends, frequently sharing pie and milk together in the House restaurant.
 Thus, though l have not seen old George Tillman in fifteen years and he was old enough to be my grandfather, I counted him ever my good friend, and I sorrow that he is dead. He was one of the straightest men I ever knew. and was worthy of the best traditions of South Carolina. It may be easily understood that he was wholly diff ferent from his younger brother, Senator Ben Tillman"