Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-15
He and McLaurin Meet as Friends
for First Time Since Fight, but
Former Writes Old Foe to Run
for Senator, Not Governorship.
Famous Carolina Senator, Resting
in Atlanta, Gives Characteristic
Interview on Taft's Opinion of
Future of Republican Party.

When Senator Ben Tillman. OF
South Carolina, the "Pitchfork Ben
of other days, and John L. McLaurin.
several days ago in Columbia sealed
with warm clasp of friendship the
end of their long and bitter feud. it
Gid not mean a singieness of poiiti-
cal views for the two If McLaurin
runs for Governor of South Carolina.
as every rumor and his own tenta-
tive announcement indicate he will.
1t Is certain that he will not have the
! Endorsement or support of Senator
T1llman, as matters stand now.
So much Senator Tillman himself.
In Atlanta for a two weeks rest, as
serts. The information that McLAu-
rim would run for Governor. conveyed
, by Sunday American reporter, was
news to him, he admitted.
Favors Richards for Governor.
| No" he answered a question. ut
wont mean necessarily that he will
have my support. | didn't want him
to run for Governor. | thought he
ought to have tried for the Senate.
| am for John j. Richards for Gov
ernor"
| All of which was rather surpris
ing in the light of developments of
a few days ago when Senator Till
man and former Senator McLaurin
smiled and spoke to each other for
the first time since their sensational
INST fight on the floor of the United
States Senate twelve years ago this
month.
That fight was the climax of a feud
that for bitterness has hardly been
eXcelled in all Southern political his
tory. The two had been cordial
friends and then, as is always the
case when friends fall out, the most
cordial of enemies. Bitter crimipa-
tons and determinations passed be-
tween them, in the halls of Congress.
and on the hastings at home in South
Carolina. Their enmity sizzled, al
ways at blood heat
Climax Comes in Senate.
Finally, February 90, 1902, Senator
Tillman, In a speech on the floor Of
the Senate, charged his colleague with
corruption and with having been in
fuenced in his vote by the proffer OF
Federal patronage. Senator McLau-
| rim retIIrnipU tn bo eha
minutes later, gave Tillman the lie.
and they rushed at each other, fren-
zied. Before they could be parted,
there had been a blood -spiling, mau
Ing combat, with most of the dignified
members of the Senate as shock ed
spectators.
national sensation thus was
sprung, and a Senate investigation
ensued. Northern newspapers were
loud in their denunciation of the
Southern Senators, and many of them
advocated the expulsion of Senator
Tillman, whose heated tongue had
made for him many enemies. But the
matter passed with merely a severe
reprimand from the Senate.
They Meet at the Door.
Last week Senator Tillman was in
Columbia, a witness before a Legs-
lative committee. His former ad-
versary was witness in the Capitol
chamber. The hearing over, Tillman
made his way out of the hall, and at
the door came face to face with Nc
Laurin.
Bystanders edged nearer, nervous
| ly scenting a sensation. For all they
knew, the men were still bitter foes
But the sensation that did come was
altogether unexpected in nature. Both
men smiled, and came together with
hands outstretched in friendship.
Their antagonism was at an end.
Naturally, the announcement sew
eral days later that McLaurin would
run for Governor gave rise TO the be-
lief that he would have Senator Till
mans support. But Senator Tillman,
in Atlanta, says that is not the case.
However, the Senator. lolHng easily
in a comfortable arm chair in a Cau-
itol avenue sanitarium, is not in
clined to talk much about poliliss.