The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-09-27
A Hot Time in Baiesburg.

Batesburg, September 23.-When it
was made known that John J.. Me.
Laurin and the Hon. b. X. Tillman
would address the citizens OF this COM
munlty it caused large crowd to as
eemble here from Aiken. Saluda and
Lexington counties. The meeting
was called to order by the Hon. w. ii.
Zimmerman. The crowd in the
Opera House numbered about four
hundred, including quite q number of
ladies.
Il letter was read from the Hon.
John l.. McLaurin addressed to M.
Is. Edwards, Mayor, regretting his in
ability to attend the meeting.
The hon. G.. M. Efrd. of Lexington,
was called on and made the openinr
address. His principal theme was that
prohibition Is wrong in principle and
in theory.
The audience was then addressed by
the Hon. b. II. Tillman. His speech
was along the usual line. He resented
lE strong terms having been invited to
discuss the dlspeBsary with John l..
hcLanrln. He seemed to take 1t as an
insult. '''
He said that the dispensary system,
If properly carried out, was the best
solution OF the whiskey question. He
asserted that the law had been persis-
tchtly and iiagrantiy violated by the
board. He asserted that the piesent
nonrd had adVcrtlsed for bids for Y,
An and INK, without specifying
what these grades consisted Of.
AT this point John Bell Towill in
terrupted lin by going in front OF him
and telling him that his statement was
absolutely untrue and false. At this
interruption the house went wild, some
hollowing for Towill and some for
Illlman. For awhile it looked as if
there would be Il personal combat be-
tween various parties, but quiet was
soon restored.
Tillman repeated his charge of the
nniioly alliance between the preachers,
barkeepers and blind tigers.
by the Rev M. u. Padgett, Of Salu-
da County. This brought forth
spirited debate between Tillmsn and
Padgett.
Mr.. Padgett asked the Senator to
please let .he preachers out.
The Senator stated that he would be
q 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-
60 before the dispensary investiga-
tl0n committee as witness. He had
toid two or that committee person
ally and had written the chairman of
the committee his Willingness to ap-
pear before them in the capacity Of a
witness. .. i -
At the close of Senator TilIman:s
speech the Hon. &. NJ. Etird arose and
paid high tribute to the honesty.
character and integrity of John Bell
Towill, and by that means endeav-
ored to pour oil on the. troubled wa
ters. E4.'1 =
John Bell Towill declared most en-
phatically that he had never taken n
rebate and as to his character he
would Leave that to the people who
knew him. He was willing to un-
dergo the most searching investiga-
tiOn. i,tsfI a - Sc d
1n private conversation Tillman
said this was the warmest meeting ne
had been in since 1909. He also said
he believed John Bell Towill to be an;
honorable gentleman, and he did not
ln his remarks intend to cast any re-
Election on his character - .lj
This town is overwhelmingly in
favor OF doing away with the dispen-s
sary, and the meeting; SO far as in,
Huencing anyone one way or the other,
amounted to very littie.-Speciai to
Charleston Sunday News. D 4.