The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-18
BLEASE HASEYEON
SENATORIAL TOGA
He Is Look ng Beyond
ext Cub rnator al
Race.
WANTS SEAT NOW
HELD BY IILLMAN
Apparently Has No Fear That
Justice Jones Will Beat Him
Out in Coming Fight pitch
fork Senator" May Figure
Prominently in Polit-
ical Battle.
Especial TO The rimes-Dispatch.

Especial to The Times-Dispatch.J
Washington. September lT.-Benja-
! min r. r!llman, United States Senator
from the State OF South Carolina. has
been an interesting figure in Con-
gress since his entrance sixteen years
ago. and If the reports that have just
reached Washington are correct, he
Will again figure in the political lime
light in the near future.
Two years ago Senator Tillman prac-
tlcally ended ms career in Washing
ton. with the paralytic stroke which
came near causing his death. and
which has since caused him to keep
close TO his South Carolina plantation
Since that time he has been here but
little, and doubtless would have pre-
ferred to end his days in the Senate
quietly at his Trenton home. But re-
cent developments have TRANSFERRED
which have caused the people of South
Carolina to wonder what the Pitch
fork Senator will do. and whether he
Will stand for election again next win
ter when the Legislature meets or
VIII quietly and without any special
formalities resign the seat which he
now holds.
Another Race Started.
OF the Supreme Court of South Caro-
lima. voluntarily resigned his place on
the bench last week to become a can
didate for Governor against the pres
ent eXecutive-Coleman l. Blease-not
only was the campaign for this place
started. but. according to prominent
South Carolinians. who have been IN
Washington during the last day or
two. another and more important one
oil 1fn sA1
States Senate to succeed Tillman.
The friends of Governor Blease. II
is said, are greatly pleased with the
entry OF Justice Jones into the politI-
cal arena: Having beensson the SUI
preme Court bench for many years
and having kept himself out of many
| State squabbles he will give the pres
ent South Carolina Governor q good
! fight. but one Of just the kind which
the latter and his supporters have
been looking for. Governor Blease's
friends claim that Justice Jones. az
candidate Tor Governor. will raise
the very campaign issues which
have been wanted. and they will
triumph over him gloriously when the
battle of the ballots has ended In the
next South Carolina gubernatorial
election.
But what about the "Pitchfork" SEN
ator. and where does he come in? The
Blease people will not oppose Senator
Tillman. 1T is said. but If the issues
raised in the Jones' Blease campaign
should show any considerable ability
of strength on the part of the lat
ter. pressure may be brought on Sem
ator Tillman to give UP his seat in
the Senate so that Blease may get II.
That seems to be the program now
; to be carried out in the little State
/ Of South Carolina. No one who is
! familiar with political conditions In
that State they exist at this time,
will doubt that Governor Blease-in
spite OF his cratic actions since his
I inauguration last winter-is very
strong and will make a tremendously
hard fight for the Senate, should he
! decide to make the race to succeed
Senator Tillman.
Unique Figure.
However. the matter may end. when
Senator Tillman retires from his place
in the Senate-whether 1t is within
the next few months or later-thc
upper House of Congress will lose the
most unique personality 1t has enter
tanned in many a day. Others may
come as his successor endowed with
more brilliance and power and with
more statesmanlike qualities, but there
will never be the equal OF Benjamin
| Ryan Tillman in the Senate again.
Straight from the cotton fields to
the Governors chair and from the exc
cutive office to the Senate of the
United States is the record of the
present senior Senator from South
Carolina
1t is not improbable that Senator
Tillman, sick and tired of official life.
may lay down his political burdens
any day. and in that event the Pal
metto State will see a senatorial fight
not witnessed in many year.
P, H. MEG.