The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-08-08
TILLMAN SPEAKS At
EDGEFIELD MEETING
SENATOR SPOKE FOR TWO
AND A HALF HOURS.
He Gingered Up Little and Talbert
Got Angry-Incident
Laughed OF.

Senator Tillman spoke for two
hours and a hali at a mass meeting
at Edgeheld on Saturday, at which
time the dispensary question was dis
cussed by a number OF prominent
gentlemen. There is a movement
on foot in Edgeheld county to vote
out the dispensary and it was decided
to have a public discussion OF the
question and to have speeches on
both sides. There was no excite
me1)1 except for few moments when
Col. ". J. Talbert interrupted Senator
Inlnnan, who, it is stated, kept his
wits about him and smiled the affair
away.
The following report OF Senator
Tillman's speech is taken from the
Columbia State:
Tillman's Speech.
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Fellow
Citizens: 1t is six years since I have
had the pleasure of addressing a pub
lie meeting in this my home county.
On that occasion the issue was the
same on which we have today.
The people have passed on this
question five or six times and settled
it by overwhelming majorities. That
year the aggregate vote for the two
candidates who were running Is dis
pensa1y candida IS was $4,000 more
$nan the prohibition candidate got,
but there are some people in South
Carolina who have never been will
ing to submit to the rule OF the ma
jority. They think they know more,
that they are better than the masses
of the people, that they have the right
to dictate to them what they shall do.
So here we have again this same old
bone contention brought forward for
politicians to gnaw On. But why en-
ter upon a discussion of this subject.
| propose in response to your invi-
tation to discuss the principles under
lying il, and the wisdom or unwisdom
of the policy which is proposed; but
before I do that | want to have a
word personally with you.
Fifteen years ago by the sufrages
OF my fellow citizens | was taken
from my farm ten miles below Edge
field and sent to Columbia to dis
charge the duties OF chief executive
After four years absence. with only
an occasional visit here. | was elect
ed 70 the United States senate and
for nearly II years have been filling
as best | could the responsible duties
OF tiat position. These two great
Offices, the greatest in your gift, you
have conferred upon me, have been
sources of great qualification to me.
but my countrynen they have also
caused me to be an exile from home,
they have carried me from among
you, you whom l love better than any
people on earth. l am strar -r in
my own land, and but for old
men whose heads are gray or oald l
know scarcely 20 men in this au-
djence. You all know NE; some feel
agg1:eved if don't step forward and
call you by name and shake your
hand, but l have met so many people
in SO many states that faces pass be-
fore me like panorama, and / can
not longer recognize men. 1t is not
because I feel any higher than you,
for l am still plain Ben Tillman. 7
have always regarded myself your
servant and not your master.
The Price Of Silence"
| am here today TO discuss this
question. Some have said it was I'M
proper and out of place for a United
States senator to ,neddle with local
affairs. These men have felt aggriev-
ed because will not consent 10 shut
nv mouth. and close my eyes 20 the
condition in which | am as much
interested as you are, and chey have