Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-13
The Globe-Democrat.


. COLUMBIA. S. c. March 3.-South Car
olinians of the upper class seem to resent
even more keenly than the fisticuff in the
senate the terms of Senator Tillman's
apology. They consider the senator's dec
larations that his term Of four years as
governor of the state just previous TO go
ing to the senate had to some extent un-
fitted him for properly wearing the dignity
supposed to enfold a United States senator
was a distinct insult to the state. Here
many look upon the governors office as
more important and having more dignity
attached to II than any other except pres
ident Newspapers and individuals are now
charging Senator Tillman with having
dismantled the governors office OF It's dig
nitv when he went into it. The immediate
predecessor of Tillman in that office was
John Peter Richardson, typical South
Carolina gentleman of the ''old school,
His father and grandfather had been gov.
ernors before him and the office had been
held by five of his family. Kindness and
courtesy were prominent characteristics
with Governor Richardson, but the dignity
of the office was felt in the very air.
Within the last week northern newspa-
pers have alluded to Senator Tillman as
a South Carolina bourbon and McLaurln
as the representative of the young, pro-
gressive class. AS ! matter OF fact I'LL
man went into office with the cry OF
Down with the bourbons' on his lips.
With that cry he rallied those ne term
ed 1.-THE common people" around him, de-
clared he was one of them and against
everything that had the faint of aristoc-
racy 1t took five years for him to Work
up the popuiace to that pitch, but sue
cess. overwhelming success, followed II
has also been printed that Tillman served
for several months in the Confederate
army and lost his eye in the war. That Is
entirely 7Sthout foundation. He never en-
tered the AMY, ar, so far as can be as
certained, lost his eye diving IN mill
pond and striking snag.
McLaurin is decidedly more Of a "bour-
bon" measured by those qualifications TO
which that term is applied in this section.
He is of old family, has pride in his race
received a college education and mas tastes
for things Tillman affects to despise.
When Tillman entered the governors Of
Ace he made a change in the atmosphere.
He worked hard. He did all of his CORE
spondence. The private secretary OF the
governor became no more than an Office
bov He coufed letters and answered the
door That was the time of harvest Tor
the reporters. The governor prepared
things for them. They would sit around
his office half the day, and following his
example, would put their feet on his desk
The governor "cussed' there as freely as
ever. 1t was understood the reporters were
not to say anything to his disadvantage,
and only use news as he gave It. one
disregarded this unwritten law once ana
was barred the presence. The training the
governor gave himself was that OF DEM
ocratic-autocrat, If such is possible.
The last occasion on which Tillma-7 had
the epithets INDUCED in by McLaur.n ap-
piled to his face was at Marion, 5. C., dur
ing the campaign of 1890, when Tillman
ran for governor. fractional bitterness was
al its height. 1t seemed that a bloody
riot would break out at almost every
meeting. Every man went to those meet
ings with at least one pistol on his person;
some carried FIVE. Mr.. Shirley Houghson,
who was then studying for the ministry
and who has long since been ordained,
was then acquiring useful knowledge or
human nature and the evil one by act
ing as campaign correspondent for
Charleston paper. Mr.. Houghson was the
mildest hammered little gentleman mag
Unable, very quiet and very careful.
1t was the habit then to charge newspa-
pers with trying to deceive the people.