The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-06-06
WILL SETTLE DIFFERENCES ON
STUMP.
Senators Tillman and MCLaurln
Resign.

South Cardinals two United States
Senators have mailed their designations
to the Governor to take effect Septem-
ber Is.
The designations are the results of a
split between the followers of Senator
Tillman and those of Senator McLaurir.
Tillman charged that McLaurin deserted
the Democracy and should resign an
office to which that party had exalted
him.
McLaurin agreed to tender his resig.
nation if Tillman would do likewise, and
go before the people Of the state, pre-
sent their arguments and leave it to
their constituents to pass judgment.
Tillman accepted the challenge and the
designations were drawn up as follows
and mailed.
GRAFFNEY, S. c., May 25, l9Ol.-To
His Excellency, M. b. McSweeney, Col.
umbia, S. e.: Sir:-We hereby tender
our designations as Senator'S for the
State of South Carolina, in the United
States Senate, to take effect on Septem.
ber Is next. Yours respectfully,
(signed) BENJAMIN r. TILLMAN,
JOHN l.. McLAURlN.
There was no letter of explanation ac-
companying the document.
When the two United States Senators
agreed to meet in joint debate, Mr.. Nc
Laurin, to advocate his Commercial
democracy" and Mr.. Tllman. to attack
it, no one dreamed that the two Senators
would before nightfall have their resig-
nations in transit to the Governor. Yet
both have resigned, making their retire.
ment effective on September Is next. in
order that they may 60 before the peo
pie and test their strength.
The understanding is that this test
shall decide whether the people indorse
Senator McLaurin's Democracy, with its
expansion, ship-subsidy and commercial
ideas, or that of Senator Tillman, with
what MIR. McIaurin calls his Bryan
democracy,
Senator McLaurin sought to narrow
the fierce contest to Mr.. Tillman and
himself, but Senator Tillman insisted on
a bare resignation, as originally propos.
ed, on the ground that he could not
dictate as to who would be in the race
or when it should be. Both seemed
eager to sign the resignation, and about
2 O'Clock the paper containing the dual
resignation was in the mail.
This means that instead of the cam.
paign coming next summer it with be
this year and that Mr.. Tillman will be
in the race for his six.year, term, while
Mr.. McLaurin will stand for reelection
or for Mr.. Tillman's term, as he sees fit.
SAYS MCLAURIN is REPUBLICAN,.
Mr.. Tillman, in his speech, hammered
away at the idea that Mr., McI.aurin had
betrayed the true democracy, and that
if he were not a republican he ought to
be, for he had supported all the repub.
lican propositions and doctrines.s Mr..
Tillman urged that the decent thing for
Mr.. McLaurin to do, and the only
proper thing, was to resign and 60 before
the people, and if they indorse him, to
be returned or stay at home, if defeated.
"Let McLaran resign" said MIR. Till.
man, "and 90 before the democratic
primary this year, and I'll 20 home and
keep my mouth shut, and let the other
fellows attend to him. II you elect him
I will take it as notice that you don't
want me.''
McLAuR4N's BLUFF CALLED.
Senator McLaurin insisted that he
was democrat, and that on national