The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-08-31
TILLMAN'S SPEECH.
Synopsis Of His Remarks at the Red
Shirt Reunion in Anderson on
Last Wednesday.


lowing synopsis Of Senator Tillman's
speech at the Red Shirt reunion in
Anderson Oh Wednesday:
Tillman Denounces Newspapers.
Senator Tillman was the last speak
er. He opened by hurting compliments
at the newspapers and ridiculed their
editorials about his leaving Washing
ton during the tariff session and 60
ing out West to make addresses. He
sarcastically raked the newspapers
over the country about their "bark-
ing at my heels just because l have
made arrangements to leave my lee
turing tour to come to South Carolina
to make five or six speeches.
He then jumped on the negro ques-
tion and made those remarks so often
spoken by him about this country 60
ing to rack and ruin if compulsory
education is adopted. He said Presi-
dent Taft is playing to split the Solid
South, and that he is dispensing a
few census jobs here and there,
hoping that it will help him in the
job.
He repeated that story about how
be, Tillman, blocked the Senate in the
Crum matter, and said that nothing
pleased him better than getting money
from the Republicans for making
two hour lectures in which he would
tell them they were fools and idiots.
He raped the News and Courier and
the State. He said that Deacon Hemp
hill was advocating the organization
Of commercial party, which is moth
ing short of Republican.
A voice in the audience said that
the ,wspapers did not amount to
muc and Tillman replied: ''No, they
don't, but a mosquito can make It
mighty unpleasant sometimes.
Tells What He Has Done.
After giving Tillman considerable
advertising, telling what he had done
and what he took special delight IN
and relating how he accomplished this
and that in the Senate, although op-
posed by Republican Senators, and
unassisted by Democratic Senators:
and, after rapping the newspapers
good and hard and those persons diff
fering from him in opinion, Senator
Tillman branched off to Red Shirt
days. He recited personal experiences
and told Of the awful condition in
which the State was at the time. He
toA of the brave deeds Of the Red
Shirt organization and the ballotlng
in the Hampton campaign.
Senator Tillman was given an ova-
ton when introduced and throughout
his speech there was considerable ap-
plause. The audience was with him
from start to finish and every utter
ance, especially when sarcasm was
used or when an attack was made,
brought forth yells upon yells. He
spoke for nearly two hours.
When Senator Tillman concluded,
picnic dinner Vas served in the grove
to the immense crowd. The day pass
ed off pleasantly. Good weather
prevailed and few arrests resulted.
There were no appreciable delays in
carrying out the programme Of events
and the first Red Shirt Reunion has
gone into history as a grand success.
Red Shirt Drill at Aiken.
Senator Tillman, speaking Of the
bloody shirt drill in Aiken, August 9,
1876, said:
"There has been more or less dis
eussion in the papers of the State re-
Gently about the origin Of the red
shirt as the Democratic uniform Ill
1876. I SHALL leave it to others to
sift the evidence and determine. II
it can be done, just where the credit
lies. want to tell what l know about
the bloody shirt and its effective use
in that momentouS crisis. In my story
of the Hamburg riot | have mentioned
the drum-head Court-martlal, which
condemned and executed prisoners
efter the fighting or firing had ceased.
"The last man selected to be shot
IL Of
Pomp Curry, whom I had known
from boyhood. He had furnished the
names Of all whom he recognized to
District Attorney Stone and his evl-
dence caused warrants to be issued
against practically all the members
of the Sweetwater Sabre Club and a
few others who were not members.
We were charged with uIder ana