The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-06-06

server of the extraordinary scene in G;
had The pleasure Of being present
ut the debate in Gaifney, $. g., be-
;ween United States Senators Iillmar
md McLaurin of South Carolina, and
IF witnessing the sensational episode
which resulted in their joint rcsigna.
ion. 1t was Il performance without Il
precedent so far as l know, and one
hat could hardly have occurred any
where else but III South Carolina. IL
means the bringing on of Il bitter and
.ensational campaign this summer, and
me that will be very trying on Senator
McLaurin's physical ability, if not on
Ills senslbilitics. He is evidently not
:. we'll man, though he has great
nerve force. a thrce-hours' debate
that leaves Senator Tillmau perspiriny,
BUT ruddy and eager for more, leaves
senator McLaurin nervous, unstruny,
.emporarily collapsed. Tillman fights
because he loves it. lie re oiccs in
hc storm of battle, in the bluslng of
his victim. Just as Il prize fighter likes
70 see the blood squirt from the face of
his antagonist, so Ben Tillman likes to
GO a sensitive opponent grow pale or
itush, and iigurativcly wrthe under
his bitter innuendo and abuse. Nc
I.aurln is of tincl fibre. He does not
'Dve to fight, but he does not shun it,.
lie does not fear to strike Il stingny
blow, but he does it of necessity, rath-
'r than because he takes pleasure in it,
brought face to face with duty he
would back his position with his life,
md never quail for an instant, but he
would Go it under tremendous nervous
tension, and when the strife was over
ne would suffer temporary collapse
not actual prostration, but lassilude
and exhaustion. The end of scnsa-
ional canvass, full of personalities and
excitement, would hnd McLaurn
-;reatly exhausted, depleted III weight
nd strength, if not actually sick; while
Gilman would be strong as an OK, and
lit for another month of the same sort.
Both men are absolutely fearless, but
hey differ greatly in fibre and tempcra-
ment.
McLaurin is handsome man of fine
stature, and an easy and at times, CT
iective speaker. He makes no effort
ut flights Of eioqucncc, but is earnest
md occasionally fcrvid in speech.
There seems TO be something lacking
III the strength Of his face, and so in
his speaking he seems just to fall short
Of the power that moves men, and
carries conviction. lie talks we'll, and
mounts to certain height of vigor and
carnestness, but lacks that ringing
zone or personal magnetism that makes
Il l., tl
IN audience off It's feet. lie is more
"rnate than Tillman, but less forccful.
lie is more gracious, but less winning.
lie is more argumentatiyc, but less
convincing. lie is more courteous,
but does not get as strong hold on
casual acquaintances or partisan
friends. He is manly and fearless, but
lacks that personal quality that at
taches men to his cause, and proclaims
the leader.
There is strong belief prevalent
that the whole thing Is bluff and play
for position, and that the designations
will be declined by the Governor, or
through some other means will not be-
come effective. do not think there
is any ground for this. However un-
premedtatedly or hippantly the game
may have been entered upon, it be-
came serious enough before the finish
and Senator Tlllman was determined
to force Senator Mel .aurin to resign or
TO squarely back down after having
agreed TO do 81 before the audience.
In the matter of the resignation Till
man was the aggressor all the way
through. He began by declaring that
in the game Of politics a man could
come mighty near being a rascal; and
when a representative refused to stanC
by the policies of the party that elected
him he might be called traitor
Then he declared that the manly course
for McLaurin TO pursue would be t(
resign and 60 before the people for re
election, thus giving them an oppor
tunity to endorse his course by re
electing him, or to repudiatc him i
they believed his course was undcmO
cratic. Then turning to the audience
"I will understand that you don't wan
me if you re-clcct McIaurin, for If h.
is a Democrat am not.'
Inc PURPOSE VI L lllllliali was Clcatl
TO draw the sharpcst possible contras
between his own position and that O
McLaurin--by assertion, if moi b.
argument. Confident in his ow
popularity and strength with the pee
pie, he sought to throw it il, the seal
against McIaurin. If he had nc
shown by argument that McI.aurin
position was undemocratic, he wantc
them to understand that he 50 consider
cd it, and further that any endorse
ment of McLaurin would be a rcpudi;
ton Of Tillman. I" If McI.anrin
right, Tillman is wrong" You mu:
choose between us. South Carolin
ought to have either two Dcmocra
like Tillman, or two Republicans lii
McLaurin. If you want either one {
us YOU don't want the other. M