The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-03-21
TiIInnania.

TilImania.
We recently had occasion to speak
of Senator Tillman's change Of atti-
tude, and the change of public senti-
,nent toward him within the past few
years. Speaking on the same line, a
Washington correspondent says that
when Mr.. Tillman came to the senate
ten years ago he was filter to be at the
head Of the committee on '"The Five
Savage Tribes" but that he has now
become more amiable, better tanned,
more amenable, and that this ac-
counts for his promotion.
1t will be recalled that during the
last Democratic convention in st.
Louis there was much friction in the
committee on resolutions between Mr..
Bryan and the "safe and sane" mem
bers. It was Senator Tillman who
came to the rescue and made peace
and succeeded in getting a unanimous
report. The funny part of the situa-
ton finally dawned upon the pitchfork
senator from South Carolina, and in
talking with some Of his friends he en-
Enthusiastically congratulated himself,
finally remarkinS with his usual en-
phasis that he really believed he wa
becoming safe and sane himself.
Senator Tillman has had a rema----
able career, an outline Of which is Civ
en- in the Sunday issue of the New
York Sun. His father died when he
was but two years old, but he had an
uncle who took an interest in him as
he grew up, and bequeathed to him
his large and we'll chosen library.
From the time that he received it Mr.
Tillman became student, and 1t is
said that he is now one of the best
read men in Congress. Not long ago
he was compelled to take morphine
to ease the pain in his throat, upon
which several operations were per-
performed, and while under the in
fluence Of the drug he lay back in his
bed and repeated line after line and
stanza after stanza from Byron,
Keats, Shelley, Tennyson, Shakespeare
and other English poets-stanzas
which he had not read for perhaps
twenty years.
Mr.. Tillman never had the advan-
tage Of a college education. He was
fourteen years Of age when the wal
Between the States broke out, and
was sent to an academy to prepare fo1
college, but an abscess formed in the
back of his left eye and entirely de-
stroyed it. At the age of seventeen ne
enlisted in the artillery corps OF At
lanta, but was never able to go to the
front on account Of his illness. As
soon as he recovered his health he
took charge Of his mothers large es-
tate a farm of 500 acres, and this ne
managed until he was elected COVER
nor in 1890 He married at 20, ano
his fellow-student Of his farm and al
his affairs was his young wife. There
are several children, the Oldest son
being his private secretary. Mr.. TILL
mad did not hold any office until ne
was elected governor Of South Carroll
ma. Five years prior to that he was
scarcely known outside of his imme-
date section. The first public speech
he ever made was at a gathering OF
farmers at Bennettsville, in 1885
when he was 38 years old. But the
speech attracted the attention Of the
whole State, brought him into imme-
date prominence, and since then he
has been a conspicuous figure in South
Carolina affairs and the leading poll
tician of the State.
He is a curious compound. We had
not supposed that Mr.. Tillman was a
literary man. We had not thought OF
him as a lover Of poetry. 1t had new
er dawned on US that he was man OF
sentiment, yet we are told that he Is
not only q. lover Of poetry, but a lover
of flowers! But we like him none the
less for it.
Tillman and Roosevelt-what an in
teresting pair! And to think that they
should be pulling together in political
harness 1t is ominous? We wot not,
brethren. But it's interesting
deuced observation-disclosures Times.