The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1910-08-17
UNCLE JOE GIBSON
ON SENATOR TlLLMAN
Old Negro Who Can Command the
Senator to "Shet up Cussin"
md He STOPS.


Richard Carroll, the well known
negro educator and preacher contri-
butes the following story to the Co
lumbia State:
| attended the Sunday school CON
vention of the Mt. Canaan association
at Bland Baptist church, between
Trenton and Johnston. Soon after /
had finished my speech met Joe Glib
son, a colored man, who has lived
with Senator Tillman 36 years. Uncle
Joe is 66 years old and possesses con-
siderable intelligence and refinement.
He was neatly dressed and the side
beard which he wore was in keeping
with q style peculiarly his own. He
drove one of Senator Tillman's mules
to neat buggy. But he said that he
could have driven one of the horses
if he had so desired. He said also that
what belongs to Senator Tillman be-
longs to him. When l came upon I'm
Gle Joe he was !ecturing the crowd
about. him on the excellent qualities
of Senator Tillman. / asked Uncle
Joe if he did not think it was time he
was leaving Senator Tillman He an
swered, For what, to go where, There
is no place on earth better than Mr..
Tillman's home. None better for me
than hebben." Does Senator Tillman
curse much?" was asked the old man.
Yes, but he don't cuss me: and when
he sits to cussin' around me | ken
stop him. He hears me- All | have
to say to him is You shet up dat Gus
sin now" We'll" said |, what is
your occupation on the senator's
place|' II tens to seator's business
an tells you right now, Senator Till
man can't get no white man to ten to
his business like | do; an you nor no
other man, white or black, can't come
thar an cit nothin' from Senator Till
man less he come in an through bv
ne. He sens everybody to me-"
Did Senator gilman ever knock
you?" NO, lawd.." said Uncle Joe.
lie never knock me hisSelf and thar
put his hand on me while de senator
lives; an Mr.. Tillman's wife is de bes
woman in de United States" How
does his son treat you? Did he ever
knock you?" He never put his han
on me sence he was born. | raised
him, and knocked him many times he
served it; but he never knocked me.
Don't yer know dat Senator Tillman is
as much gentleman as any white man
YOU know?' How does he treat other
colored people on his place?" Treat
EN- like he treat me. He cuss at EN-
sometime, but his cuSSin' amt nothin'.
he amt nothin but mout'." "Dont
YOU think you had better go some
where else and live now?" Does Won
think | is fool? Mine you. Rev.
carroll, Senator Tillman gives YOU a
COW one time, am he wouldn't er done
so II hadn't-ter agreed An YOU got
a good brekfus at our home de furst
mornin'. Now yer wants me to leye
him. l'se gwine to tell him dat Won
am as good fren as You make out.
How could | do thout him and he do
thout me? | will die today for him.
an he wud die for me"
About this time Rev. George Nor
gan, who belonged to eX-Gov. Pickens.
and who is about 30 years old. another
Gigniiied hightoned and arstocratic
colored man with intelligence. came in
the ring to tell something about Gov.
flckens and his family He told how
ne was one OF the pallbearers for Gov
Plckens and his wife, and how kind
he was to "his niggers." AS Rev. Nor
gan told of Mr.. Pickens he wept. He
said Richard Carroll, you live in CO.
iumbia, and if you want a picture of
my boss you see DR.. Butler. who prac-
tlceS medicine in Columbia"
uncle Joe at this point got angry
ana walked away. and said. "I don't
Keer who yer boss was. he didn't treat
YOU no better then | was treated $"
lhis was very interesting conversa-
tloh to me. | have made five or six
NiSilS 10 senator Tillman's home i'm the
Iast ~ years. and have always found
uncle Joe at his post of duty. One
would think from Senator Tillman's
aDuse of negroes on the stump and
elsewhere that he is mean to negroes.
but Uncle Joe put it right when he
sad Rev. Carroll. Senator Tillman
makes dem sDeecbnc iac, for r,,,, H.