Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-10-14


and most original men who ever rep
resented South Carolina In Washing
ton. Ben Tillman was a free lance,
but his articles set people to think
ing. Finally he got the farmers stir
red up. They organized q farmers
movement and pretty soon Tillman
became a political factor In South
Carolina His first appearance in
convention was in Columbia In
1886. when John Peter Richardson
was nominated governor. He was q
delegate from Edgefleld and favored
the nomination of Ex-Governor Shep-
pard. who was from the same coun-
ty.
Who was Ben Tillman7 The peo-
pie cf Augusta began to talk about
him. His cotton factors said that
he was a good farmer. but that his
wife was better farmer. He was
stickler for paying his debts. He
was Lot large planter. but his credit
vas good on cotton row. When he
used to come to the Chronicle Office
1T night he invariably brought a pref
ty jar of fresh butter or little
basket of fruit for his friend. Pat
Walsh. This shows that Ben not
only raised cotton, but that be made
mis- own supplies. He had fine
orchard. good dairy: many peo-
pie said that the management of his
wife secured these things. AT any
rate. he lived at home. and he lived
we'll. Now and then the local col
umns of the Chronicle would print an
article like this:
"Our popular friend, Captain Ben
iamin R. Tillman. of Roper's. has
eft upon our table some fine fruit
md freeh eggs. just from his -four
ishing little Carolina farm. Come
again, Captain. the latch string al
ways hangs on the outside
Who was Ben Tillman9 Well, he
was captain OF the cavalry company.
or the red shirt fellows over in
Edgefield. When Governor John B.
iordon. with General Wade Hamp-
on. was invited to Augusta to open
he fair, Ben Tillman brought his
company over from Edgefleld TO turn
out in the parade. The Chronicle
Joys remember that during the ex-
ercises the Edgefield troopers were
banked over in an old field and the
sun became very hot at midday.
they remember Ben Tillman's dash
ng across the field on horseback to
six the commander II he might move
is troopers in the shade. as the
men and horses had ridden across
he river from Edgefield that morn
ng and needed water badly.
Now you have the three person
ges who used to come to the Chron-
Gle office at least once a week and
elieve the long vigil of the boys at
light by talking politics; gossiping
bout persons and things-discussing
the grandeur that was Greece and
ne glory that was Rome Sen
illman was remarkably we'll read;
Ohm Gary Evans was classic and
elicate and McSweeney was very
luiet man who talked but little,
,ut was looked upon as q good
riend and a deserving fellow. / do
ot recall that these men ever met
that time. They may have and
Iey may not have done so. If they
Id | don's remember that they i'm
'Fessed each other. Their lives NOV
In entirely different spheres.
heir ages and professions sent them
r apart. Well. time changes and
the great crucible of politics these
en- after a while got together.
en- Tillman continued to write his
rticles. His faction became a ma
ority party. / we'll remember the
light he was elected governor. He
lne over to the Chronicle Office as
| isual and sat by the desk of the
.ews editor. The Chronicle received
| pecials from all parts of the State
| and Ben Tillman read, but from the
| elegraph ticker. the news of his
riumph. Pretty soon the Office was
illed with Edgefield people and Car
olinians generally. congratulating
Captain Tillman," or Governor
| iillman," which should 1t be?
Boys, call me Ben" said the lead
or. and II was generally that way.
/ lh9 OOh lCCoil Nhdb JOAh
Gary Evans or McSweeney came in
hat night. If they were in town
hey did. / remember that some
body wanted to set up champagne
over Humans election. but he re-
fused 1t, saying that he didn't like
lt-never drank II, and that as for
a raw oyster, he couldn't touch one.
Well. John Gary Evans plodded
| along In Aiken. The Garys all join
ed the Tillman movement. and first
thing we knew little John Gary had
been elected to the senate-the same
pale-faced, delicate little chap who
used to sing tenor and mako his re-
markable speeches in the justice
court. Then, after Ben Tillman, he
was nominated and elected governor.
by the farmers. The rest is known