Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-05-14
and Humor
 BEN TILLMAN.

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 .mHA HINDER the old l AMh24EX9 idea of Till l "a man as the 1 MSX6 typical fire eater he l {{SN< < is about the last
 EM&MY man that would be
 6NMM. suspected of any
 thing so genial as 1 humor That con H MSNA. xN ception of him is l HM&MM@&NaA's now becoming some EMM#MXMME what modified or
 possibly he is be coming Lnellowed himself At any rate, 1 rich vein of wit has been found iii l the South Carolina senator, though his | thrusts are somewhat rough and say age, like the man. When Tillman was governor there was a revolt against his famous liquor dispensary law. He called out the militia, and the members of one com pany rendered their resignations. The governor dismissed them in a charac teristic letter closing as follows:
 You can depart to your homes. You do not deserve it, but I will pay your hotel bill and trust that may never be bothered with any more such band box and holiday soldiers" In his first speech in the senate th ' South Carolina man paid his respects t. President Cleveland in rather savage fashion. He recounted how he had come to Washington as governor ts attend Cleveland's inauguration, stand ing out for several hours in drizzill.e rain 10 see the first Democratic eXeell tive since the war Then Till.nst! raised a laugh by vehemently exclain: ing:
 God forgive me for being such Il fool"
 It was some time before this that Tillman had made the thrust at the president which fastened on the South Carolinian the sobriquet of "PtchtorN Ben" 1t was as follows
 But if go to the senate 1 promise that will use pitchfork in the presl. dents fat old ribs''
 At another time Senator Tillman ex. claimed:
 II would rather go to hell with my followers than to heaven with the oth CT crowd"
 To Columbia audience in his own state he said This is the fifth tim, I've tried to poke some sense into the heads of you people. but suppose yoa don't want it. and think you had bet ter beat your drums and stampede IiSa lot of towards, as you did the second time l came here.''
 Later at the same meeting:
 You are a set of old fossils, and you can go to the devil in your own way don't want your votes''
 This is rather grim humor, it must be admitted, Of a somewhat gent,er quality is the following, given at the time of his row with his colleague. Senator MeLaurin: X young reporter was gathering statistics as to the ia vorite recreations and books of Wash. ington notables. When the South Carolina man was approached he lool; ed the reporter over GuiZZically and re piled:
 Every one knows my favorite recre. aton-having fun with McLaurin. My favorite book is If Christ Came to Congress.
 The reporter thanked him and asked where Senator Depew might be found
 Why" said Tillman. "Chauncey Is in Europe but" he continued, with q sly gleam ill his one eye. II can give you the information you seek De. pew's favorte recreation is playing penuche. and his favorite author is l. F. Roe
 "Can you tell me his favorite work "Certa!nly Senator Depews favor ite work is Opening Chestnu. Burr.''
 Senator Tillman dropped into the war department one day to see Secretary Taft
 "See here." exclaimed the secretary who had just assumed speetacles-"see here what you have driven me to with your attacks on my character and mo- tives. You have forced me to take to glasses"
 Well" responded Senator Tilman "1 hope sincerely It will enable you to see the constitution now"
 SOy1th tN2rniln0 out of the rate bill fight When Aid rich accused him of abandoning his own measure when the Hepburn bill was placed in his charge Tilman re. sponded
 II never deserted my baby. but the senator from Rhode Island insisted upon putting his own dress upon it