The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-03-28

the whole tenor of his life as well. for
be intended becoming a lawyer, but
gave this up and went to farming.
Contrary to the general impression.
Senator Tillman comes Of a distin.
guished family. His father was a
planter and slaveowner. Several of
bis relatives were killed in the war
between the states. One Of his broth
ers was shot in a duel. Another broth
er was a congressman for several terms.
Another false impression concerning
Tillman is that he is an uneducated
man. True, his education in schools
ended early, but he had the best Of
teachers. A sister Of President Arthur
was nce his governess. He has been
an 0mnivor0us reader, especially in
history and poetry. The leading poets
he can quote by the hour. He also
loves music and is himself a good
baritone singer. When at home he
takes great delight with his flowers,
Of which he has a large garden. He at
tends to them himself, knows them all
by name and is never happier than
when engaged in their cultivation.
Loved and Respected. by Negroes.
These are indices to the softer side
Of his nature. Another is found in the
fact that, while no southerner has spo-
ken on the ace question with more
vehemence and bitterness than Till
man, at home he Is loved and respected
by the negroes. This is also true Of the
colored people of Washington. One Of
the most feeling tributes he ever paid
was to an old colored servant named
Joe Gibson. In fact, one of the great
est speeches ever delivered in the SEN
ate on the race question was by Sena-
tor Tillman. This time, at least, he
was temperate in his statements and
won universal applause by the master
" way in which he presented the
southern view. Old Joe has given his
opinion Of his employer In these words:
"The colored folks haven't got any
better friend than Senator Tillman ii
they will only stay where they belong
and do their work. 1t hurts me to see
people telling lies about him and i'm
posing on him."
Tillman did not enter politics until
late in the eighties, and then his only
object was to cur an agricultural
training school for boys. In this he
succeeded, founding a successful in
dustrial institution at Calhoun's old
home, Fort Hill. Later he also founded
| a school for girls, which is now one Of
the leading one Of the sort In all the
south. He had no aspirations to run
for Office. but found other things he
thought needed reform and In 1890 was
made the farmers candidate for gov
ernOr. The succeeding campaign vas
n of the hottest ver known In the
state. Tillman was nominated by IN
overwhelming majority and elected.
He had even a larger majority two
years later. During his term as gov
ernor he inaugurated the famous dis
pensary system, by which the state
took charge Of the liquor traffic. At
M time this caused a riot, and the
militia were called out. Some of the
soldiers mutinied, and Tillman con-
temptuOusly dismissed them from the
0CA lNCs communicating lllCku uulluDON
soldiers"
At the end Of his second term rs gov.
ernOr he vas Il candidate for senator
against Ben Butler and was over.
whelmingly elected. Six years later he
received as large n majority for a sec.
0nd term and this year will doubtless
be u candidate for reelection. 1t was
duriuw hio H,.ct C0u1i1oov, fov tho cor.
ate that he threatened to use n pitch.
fork on the fiat ribs" of President
Cleveland. thus gaining the appellatior
Of pitcllfork Ben. During his first year
In the senate he made a characteristic
speech, wherein he made Il further ut
tack on Cleveland, referred to John G
Carlisle us that Judas from Ken
lucky" and denounced some Of his as
sOciates in congress as tools Of the
money power. When his colleague
McLaurln. supported the Mckinley nd
ministration Tillman accused him OF
having been influenced by patronage
McI.aurin gave the lie, and Tillmal
struck him in the face in open senate
For this affair both men were sus
pended from the roll, but were after
ward rcinstated on apology bein.
made. At about this time Tillmnn clal
lenged McLaurin to resign and so be
fore the people, AS Il result the resig
nations OF both senators went to tn.
governor. who refused to accept them
Later Tillman renewed the challeng.
In the senate. but Mel .aurin made III
response,
A Magnetic Talker.
When Ben Tillman first tried to max,
a speech It was Il failure. Later eff
forts had no better result. Discouraged
he sought his wife, who told him tina
Of course he could ~succeed-to speak a
he talked and to think OF her. He fol
lowed the advice, and his next effor
became famous. He hardly eve writes
his speeches and even casts aside hi,
notes. He is magnetic and sways Al
audience in spite Of itself. His voice
IL very strong and, while sometimes
harsh iS Orvau-1iEo IN ito uOIulOtIO,