The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-04-20
SENATOR TlLLMAA's VIEWS.
South Carolina Democrats not
Committed to Hearst.
The Senior Senator Thinks That This
State Will Send an Uninstructed
Delegation to The St Louis
Convention.


ment, send an uninstructed delegation
to the st. Louis Convention" said
Senator Tillman. 81 have not talked
politics for the past eight weeks, /"
continued Senator Tillman, "but | am
pretty we'll assured that Democrats OF
South Carolina are not committed to
Mr. Hearst or any other candidate.
In my Judgment we will send an unin-
structed delegation to smell arounnd
for the strongest and best available
candidate, who is not dominated by
either the Cleveland or the Bryan ele-
ment in the party. All we want to
know about man is whether he is
straight Democrat and has always
voted the party ticket.
Understand, I am speaking for my
self alone,'' added Senator Tillman.
For have not been able to follow
the political situation during the past
eight weeks
"How does South Carolina regard
Judge Parker as an available candidate
for President?'' asked the reporter.
Judge Parker is not Objectionable
to me, so'far as am personally con-
cerned'' replied Senator Tillman.
ANY CLEAN, CONSERVATIVE
MAN.
ssMy views regarding our party's
noninee have not changed during my
forced absence from the Senate. Eight
weeks ago. before was taken Ill and
compelled to undergo series of opera
tions in my throat, / then stated that
would be in favor of any clean. con-
servative man upon whom al: the fac
tions in the party might unite. We
have got to put aside Clevelandism
and Organism, for it is impossible to
produce satisfactory mixture Of these
two conflicting elements.
SCI am not worrying my head secur-
ing declaration from Judge Parker as
to his position on political issues. 1t
is perhaps fortunate that be is with
out record on she issues which have
heretofore divided the Democratic
party and it is perhaps fortunate for
the party, and also an element OF
strength to Judge Parker, that he is
not required to do any at this stage of
the proceedings
"The managers of Mr.. Hearst insist
on placing South Carolina in the
Hearst co:umn,'' remarked the re-
porter.
81 cannot prevent Mr.. Hearst's
managers from making claim to South
Carolina, but I am in a measure
familiar with the sentiment Of our
people regarding candidate, and We
expect to go to the Convention and
vote for the man We think has chance
of winning. In my Judgment our
present prospects are bright and l be-
lieve that If we can unite our efforts
in behalf of safe, practical candidate,
who is not directly identified with
either the Cleveland or the Bryan
wings Of the party, We can elect him. "
This is the first political statement
made by Senator Tillman since his
dangerous illness. He returned to
Washington from his home in. Edge
field and was given cordial greeting
in the Senate this morning by his asso-
ciates on both sides of the chamber.
IN POLITICAL HARNESS AGAIN.
Senator Tillman has entirely re-
covered from his recent illness, and is'
ready and anxious to get in political
harness again. Several weeks of abso-
lutte rest and relaxation from the cares
and responsibilities Of public Office has
had good effect upon him generally.
His reception by his Senatorial col
leagues today and the letters and tele-
grams of interested sympathy he re-
ceived during his absence from the
Senate were very gratifying to Senator
Tillman.
THE DELEGATIONS VIEWS.
In this connection it is said that all
of the South Carolina delegation in
Congress, with possibly one exception,
favor the nomination of Judge Parker.
Sepator Latimer, while not COM
mitted to any candidate, is fayorably
inclined to Judge Parker under exist
ing conditions. So are Representatives
Legare, Finley, Scarborough, Lever
and Johnson. Representative Aiken
has thus far refrained from expressing
personal preference, but at the pro-
per time be will join the other mem
bersy,of the delegation in cordially
supporting the nominee of his party.
The report that the South Carolina
delegation has been captured for Mr..
Hearst probably originated from the
fact that some of the over-zealous and
perhaps indiscreet missionaries OF MI.
Hearst sent to South Carolina over
estimated the effect of their individual
work.
WHERE IS THAT "FIRST CLUB?''
One instance is cited where an
attempt was made to intimidate one
OF the members of Congress by
threatening him with trouble in his
next election unless he used his in
huence to carry his district for
Hearst delegation to the State Con-
vention, which meets in the middle of
May AS a result the Congressman
threatened promptly declared for Judge
Parker and organized the first Parker
Club in South Carolina.-R NJ. L.
in News and Courier.