The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-28
THE TILLMAN-McLAURIN CAMPAIGN

De LDe SUBJECT VI d Sicot HSoi u N-SNN~
sion there is no doubt.
e-e---
THE TILLMA CAMPAIGN
There is no doubt about the kind OF a
campaign Senators Tillman and Mc'Laurln
will conduct in South Carolina for the
long term senatorship. 1t was made clear
at the meeting at Gaffney last Saturday.
The aim will be to make the crowd howl
with delight" At the Gaffney meeting
there was no attempt to discuss the is
sues which Senator McLaurins departure
from the platform of his party presents.
Senator Tillman set the pace. Senator
McL.aurin did not want to enter into per-
sonalities. Indeed he did not want to
have a joint meeting with Senator Till
man, because he knew that debate OF
the questions on which they differ was not
possible with him, but he was forced into
it by the insinuation thrown out by Sen
ator Tilman that he was afraid to take
part in a joint discussion. Senator Till
man opened the debate and devoted pretty
much all of his time 40 showing that Nc
Laurin was full-hedged Republican, and
to belittling him by insisting that Nc
Laurin in speech he had delivered, had
stolen a large part of it from a sermon
of which the Rev. DR.. VanDyke was the
author.
Senator McLaurin replied in kind. He
undertook to show that Senator Tfllman
took the liberty of doing as he pleased
in political matters, but would not accord
the same privilege to other Democrats of
the state. In explaining what he meant
by this he said that Senator Tillman had
favored the nomination of Senator Teller
Republican, as the Democratic nominee
for President and Mr.. Towne, another Re-
publican, as the Democratic nominee for
Vice President. The speeches of the two
senators were made up of such PERSONAL
tiles and the crowd was highly delighted,
according to the reports And SO it will
be throughout the campaign for the senior
senatorship-it being agreed that both
Tillman and McLaurin shall contest for
that place.
Unless the unexpected happens it is easy
to fortell what the outcome of the cam
paign will be. Tillman has the party ma
chinery and the politicians. He is looked
upon as by far the stronger man. 1t is
not likely therefore that any considerable
| number of Democrats will desert him for
Senator McLaurin. But. how would it be
If a strong and acceptable man, not close
ly Unidentified with either the Tillman or
the McLaurin faction, should come for
ward as a candidate for the place? Would
he not stand chance-a pretty good
chancellor getting it?
There are signs that a large element
of the people of South Carolina are tired
of Senator Tillman. He is too domineer-
ing too dictatorial, and his methods and
manners are repugnant to them. They
would like nothing better than TO see him
returned to private life.
Startling things happen In politics every
ONCE in while. The resignation of the
two Senators was unexpected and start
| ling. The defeat of both of them for re-
election would be just as startling The
| resignation of the New York Senator's
Conkling and Platt-in 1881 was sudden
and startling. Conkling thought he had
Just as strong hold on his party in New
York as Tillman thinks he has on the
| Democratic party OF DOuNu Ndtoilihs toNt
it turned out that his hold was not as
strong as he thought 1t was. The leaders
! and the rank and file of his party said
that IL he and Senator PLATE thought so
little of the great offices to which the
people had elected them as to resign them,
il would be just as well to let them re-
main al home.
They were not reelected. They did not
get tho vindication they sought They
were made TO understand that they did
not own the state of New York-that they
could not use the great offices of the state
as IL they were their personal property to
crafty their whims and notions in their
personal controversies. And, so It may be
In South Caroline. The people may say
to those two senators, who so hastily re-
signed the great offices rather than take
a dare from each other, that they did not
show sufficient appreciation of the honor
which had been conferred upon them, and
that therefore they will not offer II to
them again. IL that course should be
taken there would be no great amount
OF sorrow In South Carolina.
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