The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-10-09

pdTu, HuO ndS iloul VIC Soa0 Soe"
ty.
Who was Ben Tillman? The peo-
Pile of Augusta began to talk about
him. His cotton factors said that
he was a good farmer, but that his
wife was a better farmer. He was
stickler for paying his debts. He
was not large planter, but his credit
was good on cotton row. When he
used to come to the Chronicle office
at night he Invariably brought pref
ty jar of fresh butter or a little
basket Of fruit for his friend Pat
Walsh. This shows that Ben not
only raised cotton, but that e1nade
his own supplies. He had a fine
orchard, a 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
well. Now and then the local col
umns of the Chronicle would print an
article like this:
"Our popular friend, Captain Ben
jamin r. Tillman, Of Roper's, has
left upon our table some fine fruit
and fresh eggs, just from his -four
ishing little Carolina farm. Come
again, Captain, the Latch string al
ways hangs on the outside
Who was Ben Tillman? Well, he
was captain of the cavalry company,
or the red shirt fellows over in
Edgefeld. When Governor John B..
Gordon, with General Wade Hamp-
ton, was invited to Augusta to open
the fair, Ben Tillman brought his
company over from Edgefeld to turn
out in the parade. The Chronicle
boys 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
ing across the field on horseback to
ask the commander if he might move
his troopers in the shade, as the
men and horses had ridden across
the river from Edgefield that morn
ing and needed water badly.
Now you have the three person
ages who used to come to the Chron-
ice office at least once week and
relieve the long vigil Of the boys at
night by talking politics; gossiping
about persons and things-discussins
the grandeur that was Greece and
the glory that was Rome" Sen
Tilman was remarkably we'll read;
John Gary Evans was classic and
delicate and McSweeney was very
quiet man who talked but little,
but was looked upon as good
friend and a deserving fellow. do
not recall that these men ever met
at that time. They may have and
they may not have done so. If they
did | don't remember that they i'm
pressed each other. Their lives mov-
ed in entirely different spheres.
Their ages and professions sent them
far apart. Well, time changes and
in the great crucible Of politics these
men after while got together.
Ben Tillman continued to write his
articles. His faction became a ma
jority party. | we'll remember the
4 In
came over TO the Chronicle office as
usual and sat by the desk OF the
news editor. The Chronicle received
specials from all parts OF the State
and Ben Tillman read, but from the
telegraph ticker, the news OF ms
triumph Pretty soon the Office WAS
filled with Edgetield people and Car
olinians generally, congratuIating
Captain Tillman, or Governor
Tillman," which should it be?
Boys. call me Ben, said the lead
er, and it was generally that way,
ANYHOW. | don't recall that John
Gary Evans or McSweeney came in
that night. If they were in town
thev did. | remember mat some
body wanted to set up champagne
over Tillman's election, but he re-
fused it, saying that he didn't like
yt-never drank it, and that as for
a raw oyster, he couldn't touch one.
Well, John Gary Evans plodded