The Washington times., 1906-09-09
JOHN SHARP WILLIAMS,

the most pugnacious OF public men.
by birth. inclination. and occupation
farmer, Is back 20 his own.
Thoush unsuspccted by the public
TlIman IS something Of joker on oc-
casion. his humor being OF the sort
called "dry." During the considera-
Uion or the railway rate bill by the
Senate last June a Southerner rushed
into the Senator's apartment at his
hotel and cried:
81 understand the Senate means to
abolish the jim Crow cars and make
us ride IN the same cars with the mig
gers"
Tillman allowed that there might be
some such movement
And they say" continued the ex-
cited man. that they're going 20 put
In that old stin, Chandler, as com
missioner 20 enforce this law"
'Weu." said THIman. pointing 10 a
quiet gentleman at his side, there Is
the ex-senator now. suppos, you ask
him"
Every day during the session. at
about 3 in the afternoon. a gentle
m0therly woman steps OF a car at
the Capitol and waits in this commit
tee room for "Beunie.' as she calls
him. Husband and wife invariably
walk To their hotel. near the Treasury,
over a mile away. They discuss the
days events In the Senate. She re-
JoiCes i'm his victories and EympH-
thizes in his discoura gements. When
he Is unoert.iu and perplexed she
makes suEges lions. lie has deep re-
spect for her feminine intuition, and
though, as Mrs. Tillman naivcly re-
marks. "he usually has his own way
anyhow" ne always takes her fully
into his confidence.
The home life Of the Tnlmans while
they are in Washington is quiet and
retired. The hotel at which they live
with occasionally one or more Of the
children is a modest one. They at
tend only the few functions that Off
claI etiquette positively requires When
the Senator feels well and has time
they sometimes see a good play
Mostly. however, their evenings are
spent in their apartments. where.
after dinner, the Senator is accessible
10 al COmers. 1t is then that Senator
Bailey. former Senator Chandler, and
other congenlal spirits fOregather
with Tinman and lay plans for dis
turbing the decoTum Of the Senate the
following day. The humblest COnsLtu-
ent from the Palmetto state can meet
his Senator at his home, unObstrucJed
by fuukies. While the men talk busi-
ness, Mrs. Tillman, plain and hos
pitable. puts the women at their ease.
The Tillmans have two sons, 3. K
jr.. who is one of his fathers secre-
raries. and Henry, just admitted 10
the practice of the law, aad three
daughters. Miss Iona, Miss Sophie.
and Sanie May. the youngest. The
Tulman family relations are marked
by deep affection.
The Senator and his wife are not
fond Of Washington. They go to the
Capital when the session opens, not
before. They leave for South Caro-
lima on the first train after the Vice
Presidents gavel has announced ad-
j0urnment-be 1t in daytime or at
night Mrs Tulman went before the
close Of the session this year She be-
grudges the time that she is absent
from her children and her garden.
The Senator can intrust his flowers 10
no other hands than his own.
The Tnlman place at Trenton. S. c.,
Us "a Ahatit Oh LElOtt imam bIt acres / he
Senator raises cotton for the market
and corn for his hogs and mules Also
he has 1000 peach trees and several
acres Of grapes.
Every morning. when at home the
'hre-eater of the Senate puts on com
Portable, baggy clothes and rides over
the plantation. overseeing and direct
ing. He keeps everything well in hand.
and the prosperous look Of the place
shows that ne knows his business.
LOVER OF ROSES.
He gives much personal attention 10
flowers. which are surpassed probably
by no other private garden in the
South. A lover Of roses. he has moro
than 175 varieties, which he tends
with the utmost care. Crimson ramb-
lers and MarechaI Niels riot around
the Big white house. Thousands of
bulbs line the walks and drive. Lilies.
violets, and all manner of potted
plants iii a large hothouse. A grave
of evergreens and shrubbery about
the house is Of the Senator's own
cultivation. When, year or two ago.
a late frost laid low a lot OF his plants
he was almost fnconsolable.
When the family is at home the TIL
man place is the center of more or