Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-11-07
McLAURIN ON TILLMAN.
Marlboro Man is True TO His Life.
time COlOrS.
WILL NOT PLAY DOG in HANGER.

Would Have Peace in South Carolina
but Even for Peace Would not Sa.
erifiee the Splendid Principles fol
Which He has Been Fighting Sine.
| His Entry Into Political Life-ReaI.
H Message to TilIman; but nc
Less a Message to South Carolina.
Senator John L. McLaurin on last
Wednesday afternoon gave out to the
press the following in reply to Senator
Tillman's recent spiteful broadside:
| Bennettsville, Nov. 4th 1913
/ Senator Tillman's letter Is SO Till
manesque" that when I read 1t yester-
day, I hardly knew whether to laugh
or cry; cuss or pray. I expect a little
Of all is in order. ~
He hits Blease with meat axe
pitchforks me, Ignores Smith and spits
in Simm's face.
1 am not going to let myself loose
(if can help it,. The situation Is too
serious, for from the way I feel and
he feels, we'd be fighting in pair OF
minutes and let South Carolina go to
the devil as we did before. will hon
estly acknowledge that I have never
been able to get entirely over an early
affection for Senator Tillman. I have
said hard things myself, but don't
like to hear other people say one word
against him. II had conquered and
had him down, I would never have
rubbed sand in his eyes. His letter is
distinctly offensive: Johnny is smart
but he is bad little boy, he sassed
papa. Papa is sorry, but come here
Johnny, hand me the brush, now get
across my knee, papa is going to
spank you, but If Johnny is good the
balance of the week, he can go to the
| movies Saturday" I feel like say
ing damn" but I'll say BLESS the
Lord"
That letter discloses why couldn't
| get on with Tillman, why Latimer
couldn't, and why he and Smith can't
agree. An imperious will that brooks
| no opposition. could get on with him
now, I'd laugh at him. I used to take
him and myself too seriously. Will
say however that, God never made a
man big enough to talk down to me.
NV record In the senate needs no de-
fense. I have done the "penance" OF
the very nearly great man." who was
| too far ahead Of his time. have suf-
fered the bitter fate that comes to all
advanced thinkers. After 'pitchforks
are forgotten and dung heaps" plowed
| under, the state warehouse idea with
agricultural products as bankable
| asset will give me place in history
where foul slanders and - my own
weaknesse are forgotten. God has
been good. I do not need an office for
my name to live. When Cole L. Blease
stood up before 5000 people and said
he is a good man, he would make a
good governor, he has been badly
treated by the scurrilous politicians OF
South Carolina" he made a personal
friend that will last him after the mis-
erable bootllcks and sycophants have
turned on him, like those who used to
lick Tillman's hand and at his bidding
| drove the steel into my heart and are
now ready to drive it into Tillman's
for the favor Of another. Senator
Tillman has served a great purpose,
he does not need an Office to perpetu-
ate his fame, but he Is a man, poor
weak clay, same as I. In us both is
that unperishable spark, that after
death has washed the dross away, will
shine clear and bright. Why should he
still seek to dim the luster Of my star?
I envy him not the faintest ray Of his
own. l rejoice in all true greatness,
and sorrow in what is little for are we
not all MEN.
| God must judge between us and the
balance he strikes shall be for all eter-
nifty l long ago forgave him, his let
ter shows he has never been able to
do that.
| God does not expect repentance ex-
cept from the near" great. Life Is a
pose to 80 per cent The world Is a
stage. My sense of humor saves me-
1t made me laugh, to see how utterly
the public misconstrues the true char
acter of both myself and Tillman. 1t
Is the joke Of the century.
Ti.lman's pose from the beginning
has been bluff, brutal honesty, "P"cf
fork Ben" Give 'em hell and rub II
in" He overplayed his hand little
Down underneath lives the most as
tute player of the political game that
| ever dealt a card. The only man with
| out college training that ever knew
with a classical education. Under that
roughness, exquisite literary tastes. A
giant mind that has read, digested and
assimilated the wisdom Of all the ages,
and applied it to practical politics. Be-
meath buster Is the subtle genius Of a
Tallyrand, he has made every man in
| South Carolina vote for him one time
or another. l laughed with him when
the Gonzales so!emnly voted for him
last summer.
| am no politician. l haven't fooled
anybody and Tillman has fooled ev-
erybody except himself. I was the
seeker Of abstract truth, careless OF
personal fortunes. Tillman was the
adroit political acrobat that could
change from a radical to a conserva-
tive. l tried to reason it out and was
| crucified for the reasons, not the re-
suit. Woodrow Wilson and Underwood
are just where 1 stood fifteen years
ago.
| His letter is so full Of Tillmanism
his arrogance and dominant power
over men, that l almost love him for
being just what he Is. 1t brings back
gentle brave Hugh Farley, the polish
ed Tindal, dear old Wash She'll" and