Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1905-09-27
A HOT TIME IN BATEsBUas.
Senator Tlliman Stirs the Wrath Of John 3.
TowIIi-TIIIman Says Ii Was Warm. -

Batesburg, September 23. When it
was made known that john l.. McLaurin
aud the Hon. b. r. Tillman would adj
dress the citizens, of this community it
caused q large crowd to assemble here
from Aiken, Saluda and Lexington
counties. The meeting was called to or
der by the Hon. w. II. Timmerman. The
crowd in the Opera House numbered
four hundred, Including quite number
of ladies.
The Hon. @. M. Effird, of Lexington.
dress. His principal theme was that pro-
bibition is wro. e in principle and in
theory.
The audience was then addressed by
the Hon. B. II. Tilln,an. HIS speech was
along the usual iine. He resented in
strong terms having been invited TO dis
cnss the dispcusary with John L.. Nc
Laurin. Hc seemed to take it as an in
suit
He said that the dispensary system, if
properly carried out, was the best solu-
tion Ot the whiske, question He asserted
that the law had been persistently and
flagrantly violated by the board. He as
serted that the present board had adver-
tised for bids for X, XIX and xxx, with
out specifying what these grades con-
sisted Of.
At this point John Bell Towill inter
rupted him by going in front of him and
telling him that his statement was abso-
lutely untrue and false. At this inter
ruption the house went wild, some hol-
lowing for Towill and some for Tillman.
For a while it looked as if there would
be personal combat between various
parties, but quiet was soon restored.
Tillman repeated his charge of the un-
holy alliance between the preachers, bar
keepers and blind tigers.
This charge was sJrenuously resented
by the Rev. NJ. ID. Padgett, of Saluda
county. This brought forth a spirited
debate between Tillman and Padgett.
Mr.. Padgett asked the Senator to please
let the preachers out.
The Senator sta' cd that he would be a
candidate next year for the United States
Senate, and he would then discuss the
dispensary question from every stump in
the State. He also stated that he was
ready and eager to go before the dispen-
sary investigation committee as WIT
| ness. lie had told two of that commit
| tee personally aud had written the chair
man of che committee his willingness to
appear before them in the capacity of a
witness.
AT the close of Senator Tillman's
speech the Hon. G. NJ. Efird arose and
paid high tribute to the honesty, char
acter and integrity of John Bell Towill,
| aud by that means endeavored to pour
oil on the troubled waters.
John Bell Towill declared most en-
phatically that he had pevor taken re-
bate and as to his character he would
leave that to the people who knew him.
He was willing to undergo the most
searching investigation.
In private conversation Tillman said
this WAS the warmest meeting he had
| been in since 1902. He also said he be-
| lieved John Bell Towill to be an honora-
BILE gentleman, and he did not in his re-
marks intend to cast any reflection on
his character.
This town is Overwhelmingly in favor
of doing away with the dispensary, and
the meeting, so far as influencing any
one one way or the other, amounted to
| very little.