Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-05-29

want nllE, Out liz SCOppeu Iueie'
He did not say if I am elected
and the people endorse my lemoc.
racy he will resign. You never
catch Benjamin the Tillmanite
committing himself TOO far. You
notice he wants me to resign, but
he don't say If I'm endorsed be will
resign"
Tillman-"I will say it'
McLaurin-"See to it that be
stands by it."
Tillman-''I will resign now il
you will, and we will go before the
people and let them pass on oul
democracy"
McLaurin-"Agreed."
Tillman-"Oraw up the resig-
nations then and we will sign
them and forward them at once t.
the governor"
McLaurin-"Agreed."
McLaurin then resumed the
thread of his argument as to the
democracy Of his course and the
crowd regarded the passage be-
t~een them on the subject of res
ignations as a little game of bluff,
which would never be referred to
seriously ageiu, but in Tillman's
five minute rejoiner to McLaurin's
speech he concluded by saying
II will say no more at tins time
as we are to come before you again
so soo1 asking your suffrages when
we have laid down our ccmmir-
sions in accordance with our
agreement. After !he meeting is
adjourned we will draw up our
designations and forward them at
once to the governor"
McLqurin-"All right. That
suits me-"
AS the meeting broke up friends
of Tiilman who were eager to force
the res gnation issue upon Nc
Laurin crowded around him ard
said write that resignation right
now and sign it aid send 1t to
MoLaurin to sign. Repairiag t.
the law Office of J. c. Otis, Sera-
tor Tillman wrote as follows:
"Gaffney, S. c., May 2jth, His
Excellency. Governor NJ. B. Nc.
Sweeney, Columbia, S. C--Sir:
We hereby tender our resignations
from South Carolina in the Uni,
ted States senate, and ask as a
personal favor that you do not ap-
point our successors unless there
be an extra session Of the senate
until the democratic state COM
mittee shall have ordered a prima.
ry. to choose the men to be ap-
pointed. Ifyou will kindly ad-
wise the state chairman of the
democratic party and ask prompt
action in ordering such primary
and arranging for canvass hy
the candidate we shall be under
obligations. Yours respectfully,
B r Tillman.
When this was sent for his sig
nature Senator McLaurin incor-
porated the following.
"The campaign is TO be between
B R Gilman and John l. McLau-
rim rthe lorg term Office which
the former resigns and to be held
during the months of October and
November.
John l. McLaurin.
To this Senator Tillman replied
sharply as follows:
Hon. John McLaurin-Dear Sir /:
I have complied strictly with your
taunting proposition that "Benja-
min, the Tillmanite," took good
care not to put himself in any
jeopardy and when L responded,
'I will resign if you will do SO to-
day, you said, 4 will do that Af-
terwards at the close you repeated
your willingness to carry out
your agreement. You seek to
dodge out of 1t by putting impos-
sible conditions. We cannot die
tate to the governor Oh the demo-
cratic executive committee. We
can only do what we said we could
and leave the rest to the authori-
ties. Will or will you not stand
by your pledge?
3 r Tillman.
Hon B r Tillman, Dear Sir: I
am more than willing to carry out
the proposition which your letter
indicates you were "tauuted into
accepting. Congress meets in De-
cember, I invite you to join me in
a letter to Governor McSweeney,
rendering him our designations,
to take effect IN ample time for
our successor 10 be appointed. l
prefer ths canvass to take place
during October as on account of
my physical condition, [ cannot
stand during the summer months.
If you are sincere in your propo-
sition write me in a letter to Col
Jones, requesting him to call the
executive committee and arrange
for the primary or if you pre-.
fer, let US place our designations
in the hands of the governor un-
conditionally, to take effect Sep.
tember 18th, 1901. I have the
honor 10 be.
Respectfully,
John L McLaurin.
Advertised Letters.