The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-02-01
THE GONZALES TRAGEDY.

Lieutenant Governor James H. Tnlman
IS son of the late Congressman George
D. Tillmau of South Carolina and a
nephew of Senator 3. r. Tillman. The
acrid feeling between him and Mr.. Con
Zales, which eliminated in the tragedy,
dates back 10 Grover CIeveIand's second
administration, when Mr.. Gonzales was
seeking an appointment as consul at a
South American port. says a Charleston
special in the New York World At that
time Tillman was the Washington CORE
spOudent Of an afternoon paper in this
state, and in an article concerning the
candidacy Of Gonzales he made state
ments which offended the latter
Gonzales publicly denounced the story
a lie" The two men met in a hotel
in Washington a day or two later and
averted
This incident engendered bad blood. and
when Tillman several years afterward an
piled for membership in a social club in
Columbia the. black ball of Gonzales
proved fatal TO his aspirations There
upon TilIman commissioned a friend to
call on Gonzales and ask him if he would
accept a challenge to fight a duel. The
editor terSeIy replied:
'-Tel him to send it if ne warts TO
know what III do"
But Tillman never did. When the Span
lsh-Anerican war began. Tillman. then
practicing law in Edgefield. s. c.. was
made a lieutenant colonel of the First
encamped at Jacksonville Stories Of
Humans drinking were circulated and
the editorial columns OF Mr.. Gonzales
newspaper.
TiIlman was at odds with his colonel.
Joseph X. Aston. and induced the man,
bers of his regiment to sign petition re-
questing the secretary of war to have the
regiment mustered out of service While
the matter was being considered at Wash
ington, Colonel Aston died and Tillman
succeeded him ThereurOn he made
strenuous efforts 70 have the petition
which he had circulated Withdrawn and
the regiment retained in service. He was
not successful His action in this episode
was construed as confirmation of the
charge that his hatred for Colonel Aston
and his desire TO humiliate him was tho
motive for tomentng dissatisfaction
among the men ard melting them to ap-
peal to the authorities in Washington 10
have the regiment mustered out.
A few weeks prior TO this TiIlman ere
ated sensation in Columbia by appear
ing Unexpectedly in that town. and in a
Wild harangue TO the members Of the
Second South Carolina regiment en-
camped there. urged them TO disregard
the wishes of their officers and petition
the war department to disband the regi-
ment- Tillman would have been arrested
by Lieutenant Colonel Thomson who was
in command Of the regiment. had TilIman
not left the city as soon as he learned
that the officers We're looking for him
The story of the trouble printed in the
newspapers OF the state indicated that
/ Tillman was intoxicated at the time and
J in no condition to be held accountable for
/ his actions. wherefore Colonel Thomson
matter.
/ When Tillman was elected lieutenant
governor Of South Carolina Gonzales said
/ editorially that the majority of voters
/ did not know his CTillman's) character
/ Thereafter Gonzales made It his duty TO
enllghten them
| What is commonly referred to as the
| sword incident IS an unhappy chapter
! in TiIlman's career He raised bv sub
I scriDtiOn fund to buy sword for Ma
/ Jor Micah jenkins, a South CarOlinian and
/ a gallant officer of the Rough Riders,
=rTr1m
4 sent the sword to Major Jenkins when he
/ should visit the exposition here last
/ spring The president accepted the invi-
! tatiOn-
/ A few weeks later the president with
/ drew an invitation extended to Senator
/ ~ dinner at the White House. because
I the senate had suspended him temDOrar-
( ily to decide what punishment should be
melted out to MIN Tor engaging in a fish
! cuff in the senate chamber with Senator
I AIcLaurin-
The Lieutenant governor regarded this
/ action Of the president as an insult TO MS
: Uncle Ben. and straightway wired the
! chief executive that he would also with
draw the invitation which ne had sent TO
him to present sword to Major Jen-
/ kinS. This insulting message to the pres
ident raised a tremendous row The ex-
position company formally repudlaUed the
I utterances Of Lieutenant Governor Till
man embodied in the telegram. and Gov
ernOr insolvency wired the president that
I TIlman was alone responsible for his IN
manly action Tillman was roundlv de-
nOUnced in the newspapers of the state.
( and a movement was begun to procure
( funds 20 buy another sword for Major
Jenkins and have the president present it.
! as originally planned.
Editor Gonzales took a conspicuous part
I in this. the beginning Of the undoine of
TiIlman. The funds were easily obtained.
{ a handsome sword was bought and the
president, who had ignored the lieutenant
governor message, graciOUSlY consented
TO present il 70 Major Jenkins If TILL
man felt the singing rebuke thus admin
istered to him. he concealed il jauntiiy
enough
( The mercfless indictment of Lieutenant
! Governor T1llman by Editor Gonzales in
the State newspaper during the campaign
that summer unqueStOnably defeated him
in the race for the gubeTnatOrial chair
He was branded as a liar and dOc5l-
mentary evidence was submitted to prove
1t. Tillman never made an effective re-
ply Throughout the campaign the State
frequently referred 20 TIflman as 2
/ .'scOundrel' 'blackguaId' ''drunkard'
ard criminal candidate" The State wa:
supported in its fierce and pitiless at.
, tacks on Tillman by ten out of the clever
daily newspapers in the state and eVers
weekly newspa per of influence.
Tate Appearances are ont always tC