The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-06-13

cans would only be able to pass the
appropriation bills. The Democracy
should make hay while the sun shines
and l am glad to sec the president
pressing the antitrust legislation 50
vigorously. / am sorry that he did
not include rural credits in the legis-
lative programme. We will have to
face much criticism on account Of his
allure to redeem his promise made
last winter just after the passage of
the banking and currency law that
this would be done. The farmers are
q mighty power. who are just begin
ming to understand what their real in
terests are.'
The senator recalled that Theodore
Roosevelt. "thc great advertiser" had
come home delighted" Then he de-
voted his attention to Senator O'Gor-
man. anti-repeal leader. suggesting
that In the next campaign the New
York senator would have some diff
Guilty in explaining why two planKs
so antagOnistic as the tolls and ship
subsidy planks were placed in the
Baltimore platform.
Senator Tillman said the tolls fight
had made itSvery unhappy for him.
He recalled that when the Spanish
treaties were before the senate he
charged his colleague, Senator Nc
Laurin, with selling out to the Re-
publicans. and blows followed. Then.
he said, he had inserted in the South
Carolina constitution, for McI.aurin's
sake. a provision that candidates
should obey their party platforms.
II would fell very unhappy if Nc
Laurin could justly charge me with
prescribing physic for some which l
myself am unwilling to take" added
the senator. He explained, however,
that the recent South Carolina State
convention of his party had adopted
a resolution in favor of the repeal
bill.
Senators will remember that in
1902, while Hon. John l.. McLaurin
was senator from South Carolina,
he and l came to blows on the floor
of this chamber because l charged
him with selling out to the Republi-
cans on the Spanish treaty, which
charge he denied with bitterness ond
called me liar. This / Immediately
resented with blow. Some of the
older senator's who witnessed the
scene are yet with us, but l do
not propose to go into any further
deails. / merely mention it i'm order
to explain why it is embarrassing for
me to vote for this repeal. At the next
State Democratic convention after the
encounter between McLaurin and my
self, urged and succeeded in having
passed by the convention a provision
changing the constitution and rules
vi thO party III 'ooutu SdIOilIltt 50 us 10
require each candidate for the senate
and house to subscribe to the follow
ing pledge:
81 will support the political prin-'
ciples and policies Of the Democratic
which l may be elected, and work in
accord with my Democratic associates
In congress on all party questions.
This was made for McLaurin and
everybody understood why. While his
betrayal Of his trust was very na-
grant and fully warranted my char
acterization of it, it was no more clear
and explicit than this question OF
tolls; for where will we look for
Democratic policies and principles
if not in the party platform? Where
will we get palmer language than the
pledge ut Baltimore on this subpcct?
There has been no caucus Of senator's
or Democrats to determine what is
the party policy. The platform. says
one thing, and the president has in
dOrsed and praised the platform and
explained that very thing i'm Il speech.
No authoritative repeal ~ dsavowal
Of the platform at Baltimore has been
uttered by anyone: and Democrats
everywhere are very much muddlcd.
The president alone urges tho repeal
because I'm his Judgment it is neces.