Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1906-02-28
TiIlman Won't Call on the President.
Zach McGhee in The State. I


Washington, February M.-Every one
in and about Washington, who keeps tab
ON public men and measures, has a pic
ture in his minds eye of Senator Tillman
at the White House comforting with the
President on what now will be known as
the Tillman- Hepburn rate BILL It is the
same bill. by the way, which in his
speech last week South Cardinals senior
Senator caused some considerable merri-
ment over by his picturesque description
Of 1t as something which the President
handed out to Mr.. Hepburn on waiter
saying, "Here Pete, pass thisp' 1t is
Senator Tillman's job now to pass it in
the Senate and the situation is interest
ing and amusing.
Since the action of the committee yes
terday, Senator Tillman has been receiv-
ing files of callers, particularly news.
paper men, not one of whom but has
asked him-and always with twinkle
in the eye-"When are you going to the
White House, Senator, to confer with tho
President?" He has not been to the
White House since tho time the Presi-
dent, on account of that fight with Nc
Laurin, recalled an invitation to dinner
there. He knew the boys were having
some fun at his expense. He took it
good natnred)y, once remarking, though,
in impatience, Here, Pm not going to
be any clown in this circus any longer"
1t has been generally considered neces-
sary for the Senator who would have
charge of the bill in the Senate to confer
often with the President. To-day a
number of Senators friendly to the
measure were at the White House and
when some one remarked that the man
in charge of the bill was absent. the
President said, Tell Tillman to come
up, he is fighter, honest and square,
and like him."
But Senator Tillman says he has no
cause to call on the President. He saws
the rate bill is before the Senate and it ia
the Senate's business to consider it. $50
far as the President is concerned" said
he tonight, 'ie is a secondary matter
now. He has had his say and done his
part, now it is none of his business"
Senator Spooner expressed the opinion
to newspaper man this afternoon "that
the President bad no occasion to confer
with Senator Tillman, who knew as
much about it as the President did and
could ihandle it without aid." The
Democrats are looking upon the sudden
turn in affairs as one of the greatest vic.
tories they have one in many day.
The situation, it is generally believed,
was brought about by the great engineer
ing ability of Senator Bailey, though
nearly every one continues to be puz-
zled to understand exactly why Senator
Aldrich, Foraker and Others threw the
bill into the hands of Tillman. 1t is
looked upon by some as tactical move
to give the matter an extremely radical
turn and bringing tho whole rate making
business into obloquy, while by others it
is looked upon as a practical surrender
OF the railroad Senators, who, seeing they
would be unable to obstruct the meas
ure, decided to push it off on the Demo
Gratis, intending to hold them to blame
for the whole thing, not feeling that
there was any honor-or at least any
graft-in it. at the same time thew
would take their spite out on the Presi-
dent by putting his pet measure into the
hands of his bitterest enemy. ANYWAY.
everybody is thoroughly keyed up to the
point of expectancy.
Something far more interesting ia
about to happen than anything hereto
fore anticipated.