Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-01-16
TlLLMAN At OMAHA.
The Senator Gives His Own Story Of the
Jackson Day Banquet.

The papers have had a great deal to
say about Senator Tillman's recent WIS.,
it to Omaha, and his alleged quarrel
with Mr.. Bryan. The Washington cor
respondent of The News and Courier
sends his paper the following under
date Of last Thursday:
Senator Tillman has returned to
Washington from attendance at the
Jefferson club banquet held in Omaha,
Neb., last Monday night. In view or
the conflicting statements sent out rel
ative to the strained relations between
Senator Tillman and the Democratic
leader, William Jennings Bryan, the
South Carolina senator, with character
istic frankness, disposed Of the reports
in this way: II have filed no plea for
political separation from Mr.. Bryan"
said the senator when interviewed on
the subject this afternoon at the Capt.
tol. my relations with Mr.. Bryan are
not strained in the least and I had a
very plain talk with him on the politi-
cal situation. I told him, as told the
people at the Jefferson banquet, that 1t
Is too early to commit myself to any
candidate or any specific platform
which might be binding in 1904 don't
think I was misunderstood on that SUBJ
ject, for I have way Of trying to ex-
press myself clearly when 1 have any
thing to say. I don't believe the gentle
men at the banquet in Omaha misun-
derstood me and I don't believe Mr..
Bryan misunderstood me. In fact, ne
seemed to be impressed with my views
on the subject from the fact that when
he reached Chicago he stated there that
he intended to take his place as pri-
vate in the Democratic ranks and fight
for the principles Of the party as long
as he lives.
II cannot" said the senator, "be re-
sponsible for the imaginary statements
which newspaper reporters make con-
cerning my attitude toward Mr.. Bryan
in the future. I do not regret going to
Omaha, as some Of the newspapers
have stated. On the contrary I am
glad I went, as I had royal good
time. I could not have received a
greater ovation than that which was
given me at the banquet at Omaha.
gave them my ideas of Democracy
right from the shoulder, and they
whooped it up for me in great shape. 1
set them crazy when I pitched into
Cleveland. I wish you could have
heard them shout when l tore him to
pieces. and the rest Of the gang who
Worship at the Cleveland shrine, who
want to reorganize the Democratic par
ty, but who go to the polls on election
days and vote the Republican ticket.
did not pose as leader Of the Demo-
cratic party, but told them that I did
represent the sentiments Of the Demo-
cratic party Of South Carolina. I told
them l had been elected to the COVER
norship, once to the United States SEN
ate and had been endorsed for re-elec-
ton for another term in the senate
without opposition, and my commission
would be due in a few weeks. Repre-
senting the Democracy Of South caro-
lima told them that it would be pre-
mature for the Democratic party TO
commit itself to any man or PLATFORM
at this stage Of the game, but 1 assured
them that I would rather go down 10
defeat again 1our years neHce lia O.
cept the leadership Of or surrender my
principles to such party ana 10 such
a leadership as that Cleveland crowd.
"You should nave seen that crowd
shout and yell when I uttered these
sentiments" continued the senator en-
Enthusiastically. Why" he added, they
jumped up and shouted and yelled like
wild Indians. Then some fellow pro-
posed that the whole company join In
singing Dixie in my honor. They got
stuck on the words-as a matter or 1act
they didn't know them-so they COM
promised by singing America