The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-11-12
T|LLMAM ANSWERS M'LAUR|N.
WILD SUPPORT T.. ID. SMITH IN
RACE FOR SENATE.
People Should Return Junior Senator,
He Has just Reached Useful Stage,
Says Tillman i'm What He Saws
May Be His Last Public Utterance.

Washington, Nov. SIN reply to
Senator John l.. McLaurin's letter
Senator Tillman makes the following
statement:
l have just read McLaurin's reply.
There are some things 1 want to
answer. He says I rubbed sand il,
his eyes," l had no such purpose.
1t is not chivalrous and generous to
do such a thing, and think I havu
some chivalry and generosity in my
nature. ! simply told the truth. That
is all.
He says: "That letter discloses why
he couldn't get on with Tillman, why
Latimer couldn't, and why he and
Smith can't agree" Latilner and
never had any clash at all, and Smith
and 1 have never had one. We have
simply been unable to agree about
patronage. That is all.
1 want it distinctly understood
that when I said, II for the first
time since / denounced him on the
floor OF the senate believe he has at
last become patriot and wants to
do the State ali the service he can
during the balance Of his life," I did
not mean 1 would under any circum-
stances support him myself, for am
going to do all can to reelect Sena-
tor Smith. While Senator Smith has
made some mistakes here, he has
been loyal to the people Of the State.
He deserves reelection, and our people
will make a fearful blunder If they do
not send him back to the senate. He
can do better service hereafter than
he has already done. for he mas learn
ed a great deal, and is just beginning
to understand the senate. Elease can
do nothing for the State, because he
abused President Wilson before he
was nominated, criticized him for his
Mexican policy on his last trip to-
Washington. has shown absolutely no
loyalty to the Democratic party. and
would necessarily have no influence
with the administration.
While our people are not so carry
for patronage that they ere ready
to boOtlick Woodrow Wilson or any
body else, they do deserve to have a
man here who is loyal to Democracy,
and from Blease's past record and his
selfish ambition, would nos be sur
prised at anything he might do il
he were sent here. The Democrats
have a majority of only seven votes
in the senate now, and the possibil
ties are that this will dwindle rather
than increase. But whether it does
| or not the president is entitled to
loyal support from South Carolina, for
South Carolina had more to do with
his nomination than any onher one
State.
Blease has shown that he is not
broad enough and high enough to fill
a seat in the senate with credit to
himself or anybody else. How would
the people of South Carolina like to
have senator who only recognizes
his friends?" Had 1 pursued that
policy the Gonzales brothers" never
would have voted for me last summer.
and a great many other old political
antagonists and personal enemies
would not have done SO.
This may possibly be my last public
utterance. But If it were, and 1 could
| speak to The people of the whole State
| in one meeting, 1 would emphasize
their duty to support the Democratic
president by sending him a loyal
friend 80 the senate. Woodrow Will
son grows bigger in the estimation of
the Democrats here and the people of
the United States every day of his life.
1t would be criminal to do otherwise
than increase his Democratic major
ity. We do not want a Riddleberger
or Malone from South Carolina
Another thing: The State ware
house idea with agricultural products
as a. bankable asset originated in the
Ocalla platform. The scheme to have
the State place it's credit behind the
farmers and lend them money to
finance their crops is a good one, no
matter who originated it. hope to
see it worked out in a practical way,
and the sooner the better.
l realize only too sadly that my star
is sinking to it's setting, and McLaurin
is very much mistaken if he thinks
have any desire to dim the luster'
of his. If II be dimmed it has been
by his own actions. Nothing I have
said has done it. He says that he has
long ago forgiven me, but my letter