Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-27
TILLMAN AND M'LAURIN
PRESS COMMENTS ON THE REsIGNA-
TIONS FROM THE SENATE.
An Anomalous Incident in American
Politics and Its Marked
Significance.


the musings, the stump SpedheI Will
stirring epigrams and his shopworn though
effective stories is not abroad in the land
of the Congaree to shout warnings and to
arouse the patriots. So some other cause
must be ascribed for this extraordinary po-
litical occurrence.
1t is to be found in industrial and CONNER
cial conditions and not in the political per-
sonalities of the two men.
The contest in South Carolina is not be-
tween Tilman and McLaurin personally,
but between them as representatives of the
prejudices of the past and the possibilities
of the present.
McLaurIn may not win-not in South
Carolina-but the progressive ideas for
which he is fighting will, in few years,
control the situation in the south, as GER
tainly as that sections development will
continue.
From the Baltimore American.
If these senators are anxious to ascertain
the sentiment of South Carolina voters
they may possibly learn it, but it is more
probable that they acted on hasty i'm
pulse and that both regret what they have
done 1t is by no means certain that Till
man will be victorious. He has many
strong competitors in the field, who are
quite as anxious as he is for the honors
and emoluments, and who have the great
advantage of not having deliberately cast
away popular prize after they had sought
it.
Senator McLaurin may derive consider
able aid from his rivals in the field. 1t
would have been wiser all things consid-
cred, for him to have held on to the Sena-
torship while continuing his work of re-
forming and undermining the democracy
of the south. A political movement of that
sort is naturally slow, and two years would
not have been too much time in which to
mature his scheme. Possibly he may not
realize the Importance to the south Of the
enlightened stand taken by him, or he may
believe that the dramatic episode at Gaff-
ney and the resultant contest will do more
to open the eye; of the people than two
years of missionary work.
In South Carolina, in many other
states the machine counts for much. In
every state where a class of voters is de-
prfved of the ballot the undesirable element
in politics arises to the top, and the ma
Jorlty of the people are compelled to ac-
qu1esce in order to preserve the status quo.
1t is on this account that Tlimans are pos
sible-in fact, are able to maintain them
selves ip powlr. McLaurin will have to
face the strength and influence of this ma
chine, and he Will be Shrewd man if he
does not become victim to it.
From the Baltimore Sun
Mr.. McLaurin is the exponent Of com
mercial democracy" species of democ-
racy which, in his case at least differs in
no degree or respect from republicanism.
Mr.. Truman, on the other hand with all
of his idiosyncrasies, is a fair representa-
son and Benton. There are many reasons
for the belief that the South Carolina SEN
ator is destined to rude awakening and
that his appeal to the people of the Pal
metto state Will not meet with the response
which he expects.
The contest which the resignation of Mr..
Tillman and Mr.. McLaurin has precipi-
tated in South Carolina will clear the Dolit-
ical atmosphere in the south. When 1t is
ended Mr.. McLaurin will doubtless be a
wiser man. The primary election in the
Palmetto state next November will have a
national significance and Importance The
result will go far to determine whether
the solid south is still true to the time
honored democratic faith or whether it
prefers the commercial democracy" of
men who are democrats in name only, but
otherwise are in sympathy with republican
policies.
From the Philadelphia Press.
The position Senator McLaurin has re-
Gently taken on public questions will lend
a national aspect to the result of South
Cardinals election. While not uniting
himself with the republican party Mr.. Nc
Laurin has expressed his disapproval Of the
narrow platform on which the democratic
party is conducted in the south. 1t would
be idle to deny that he has a formidable
opposition to meet. Prejudice and provin-
cialism still influence d large number of
voters in that state. Senator Tillman has
for ten years appealed to these motives and
succeeded in making himself absolute die
tatOr of the South Carolina democracy
His hold upon the same element which ele-
waited him to power is still strong, although
the primaries of last year gave some evil
dence of its waning. But whether it was a
permanent or only temporary setback
will be shown next November Senator
McLaurin will have the help Of the pro-
gressive element and the manufacturers
and Of those who have grown tired of Till
mans bossism and his offensive methods
But 1t is yet to be demonstrated how influ-
entail these factors are at the polls.
Senator Tiilman will appeal to the pas
sions and prejudices of the multitude SEN
ator McLaurin will appeal to peoples rea-
son. Senator McLaurin has taken a cour-
age0us course. His enemies declared that
he had been elected as a democrat and
that If he did not agree with the party any
longer he should resign. He has taken
them at their word and resigned and left
1t to the people of his state to say whether
he shall serve them any longer. If they
decide in his favor a new era will have
opened in the politics Of the south But If
the majority is against him, it will simply
prove that more time must be had for edu-
cation and for the elimination of prejudice
From the Philadelphia Times
The first and most promising effect of
this mutual play to the galleries is to throw
the field open to all comers McLaurln's
term Is soon to expire and he has been can
Vassing for reelection while Tillman
who was originally responsible for McLau-
rim, has been for anybody to beat him
Laurins place; it is thought that an equal
number will now enter the race against
Tiiiman. If both should be beaten few
tears would be shed in South Carolina and
none at all in the country at large
This Is case in which the diSinterested
spectator is not called upon to take sides
While the two men represent two opposing
modes of political thought and action
neither is a convincing representa- tive of
his own side and between them thew have
kept South Carolina in an uproar without
contributing anything of value to the solu
ton of public problems. Mr. McLaurtn
however, seems now in the way to do his
state real service He has got TilIman
to resign from the Senate. If he can helm
to get man Of better balance elected IN
his stead. even though he himself should
fail 1t will do more for the reform of Sonth
Carolina politics than all the federal otfices
ne has been able to secure for his friends
From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
The resignation of Senators Tillman ana
McLaurin of South Carolina recalls that
of Senator'S Conkling and Platt of New
YORK twenty years ago; but there is no
parallel In the circumstances.
McLaurin's new departure, while II Is
unlikely to yield him personal success
partly because of his radical change of sen.
timent and partly because of Tillman's
great hold promises to become tho ontar