Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1905-09-27
HAD A STORMY time
Scenes Of Wild Disorder at Speaking
at Batesburg
TILLMAN AND 7oWILL HITcHED
Senator Tillman Hurled Lies at News
papers and Prohibitionists in His
Speech at Batesburg Saturday.

Speech at BateSburg SATURDAY.
E,:,tcsburs, Speciel.--The most eS-
citing political meeting IN South Car
olina since the stirring days Of 1892
SO was held here Saturday.
Senator + R. Tillman and Col. John
Bell Towill, member of tie State
board Of directors, clashed in debate
and for several minutes the scene in
the opera house, which was filed to
ovcrAowing, was one Of indescribable
confusion.
According to the published adj
ve:tisement for bids for liquor" said
Senator Tillman, emo bids for less
than $50 for X will be considered. y
Advancing from his seat in the au-
dicnce Col. Towill, in voice filled
with excitement and emotion, said;
".Senator Tillman, that is false; yorl
know that is not so!'' Great applause
followed this statement, mingled with
shouts for Tillman and Towill. Dur
ing the cheering ard confusion Till
man turned to those seated on the
platform and said: "Where is the
mayor, where IS the mayor?" Quick
ly facing the audience which was uron
its feet and apparently struggling
toward the stage he stood as if a mar
bla statue. Cries Of "sit down; be
quiet; go back to your seats, were
! uttered by those, on the platform and
some Of the auditors.
Hardly had quiet been restored
e5whcn;tll aged Rev Mr.. D. NJ. Padgett
sof fSaluda arose and interrogated
Tillman IS to his attacks upon the
preachers which resulted in another
stormy scene and The nose made it
impossible to record the warm COLO
guy whicl, cnsued.
Senator Tillman bitterly assailed
The newspapers, naming The News
and Courier but The State i'll particu-
lar, for their attacks upon him.
"That hell hound in Columbia, who
is editor Of The State, has told ell
oueh lies on me to build a railroad of
crossties to hell" declared Tillran in
one of his heated moments.
'Fi:man paid his respects to For
MIR Senator John L. McLaurin, say
ing that he considered it an insult to
be invited TO speak with him.
The statement that tie signature
Of John Bell Towill on the petition
which invited him here was underscor-
cd foletold that the meeting would
be an unusal one.
After the preliminaries Senator
Ti!lman was introduced
~ made up my mind before speak
inc at Marion that these speeches are
useless" said the senator in opening
his remarks, "but it will be different
next summer
He said he was here OIL the invita-
ton of the mayor and 60 or 10 other
citizens to discuss the liquor question.
The invitation also stated that Nc
Laurin had been invited. He noticed
that the invitation contained ono
name which was underscored; it was
that Of John Bell Towill, whom all
present knew. 1t seemed to him then,
said he, that this was challenge to
come to his home and say what he
had said elsewhere. ''It appeared also
that in the invitation to address you
to man with whom [ had had an
unpleasantness there was implied chal-
lenge that I would not be here and
would be accused of being afraid TO
meet him. I never say anything that
/ would not say to a mans teeth. It
is citizens right to ask anybody to
speak. l have no reason to feel but
that all have respect and good feeling
for me, hut I object to being placed
on the same plane with a man who has
betrayed his trust as a Democrat, a
rsan who in Washington is no longer
regarded as a Democrat, 7 grew a lit
tie small and indignant. "
He said he had obeyed orders as a
public servant and had maintained
the trust imposed in him and resented
the implication by which he had been
placed on level with man who had
betrayed his trust. He had said to
his teeth what he thought about his
(McLaulin actions.
:fThis is a Democratic question we
arc to settle" he said with some
warmth, declaring that hewould not
debate the dispensary with Republi-
cans. I am Democrat and it is a
part Of my business as national COM
mitteeman to keep the party in line in
South Carolina. resented the invita-
ton because McLaurin is not my
equal. Hc is not m.y equal as Demo,
crat, whatever else he may be. Gap,
plause.)
Hero the Senator took up the dis.
pensary. He said but for the good
women the men would have lost the
seed corn of genuine religion. Don'1
believe in voting out the dispensary
said he,sthat you will get nd OF Il
auor.
s said that only one.third Of th'