The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1908-03-21
-1--r-I.-- /. n
Wit and Humor
BEN TILLMAN.

!. ! ! ! |
rc&M1M HINDER the old
49, " idea OF TIL
80 man as the
- typical fire eater he
- n Is about the last
"a man that would be
suspected OF any.
X thing 30 genial as
IN humor. That CON
I'M ception OF him Is
~ XANt now becoming some
10y what modified, or
possibly he Is be,
coming nellowed himself. At any rate.
a rich vein OF wit has been found In
the South Carolina senator, though his
thrpsts are somewhat rough and saw
age. like the man.
When Tillman was governor there
was revolt against his famous liquor
dispensary law. He called out the
militia. and the members OF one Gem
pany rendered their designations. The
governor dismissed them In a charac.
teristic letter. closing as follows:
you can depart 10 your homes. You
do not deserve 1t, hut | will pay your
hotel bill and trust that I may never
be bothered with any more such band.
box and holiday soldiers"
In his first speech In the senate the
South Carolina man paid his respects %
President Cleveland In rather savage
fashion. He recounted how he had
come TO Washington as governor TO
attend Cleveland's Inauguration, stand
Ing out for several hours In a drizzling
rain 20 see the first Democratic execu-
tive since the war. Then Tillman
raised a laugh by vehemently exclaim.
ing:
God forgive me for being such
fool"
IL was some time before this that
Tillman had made the thrust az the
president which fastened ON the South
Carollnlan the sobrquet OF "Pitchfork
Ben" II was as follows:
but II go TO the senate l promise
that will use pitchfork In the presi-
dents fat old ribs"
At another time Senator Ti'lman ex-
claimed:
II would rather go TO hell with my
followers than to heaven with the 9TH
er crowd"
To a Columbia audience In his own
state he said: This is the fifth time
I've tried to poke some sense into the
heads OF you people. but l suppose you
don't want II, and think you had bet
a lot OF towards, as you did the second
time came here"
Later az the same meeting:
you are 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, IL must
be admitted. OF a somewhat gentler
quality is the following, given at the
time OF his row with his colleague,
Senator McIaurfn: A young reporter
was gathering statistics as 10 the ia
vorite recreations and books OF Wash
ington notables. When the South
Carolina man was approached he look
ed the reporter over quizzically and re-
piled:
Every one knows my favorite recre-
ation-having fun with McLaurin My
favorite book is III Christ Came to
Congress-
The reporter thanked him and asked
where Senator Depew might be found.
why" said Tillman. "Chauncey Is
Ia Europe. but" he continued. with a
sly CLEAN I'm his one eye, II can give
you the information you seek. De
pew's favorite recreation IL playing
penuchle. and his favorite author is II.
Il. Roe"
Can you tell me his favorite work.
Certainly. Senator Depew's favor
ite work Is Opening Chestnut
Burr"
Senator Tillman dropped into the war
department one day 10 see Secretary
Taft.
see here" exclaimed the secretary.
who had Just assumed spectacles-"se
here what you have driven me 10 with
your attacks on my character and mo-
tives. You have forced me TO take 20
glasses"
well" responded Senator Tillman.
81 hope sincerely II viii enable you 20
see the constitution now"
The South Carolina man got dry fun
out OF the rate bill fight When Aid
rich accused him OF abandoning bis
own measure when the Hepburn bill
was placed in his charge. Tillman re-
sponded:
II never deserted my baby. but the
senator from Rhode Island insisted
upon putting his own dress upon H.
That was distasteful 10 me. and the
hanfilnQ IL aloeDlnQ npacefullv Then