Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-06-12
Truth Comma to its Own.

There is about the speech much that
is calculated to make us smile; but
while we are smiling, we do not want
anybody to think that we are particu-
larly carried away either with the SEN
ator'S argument or the reasons he Pives
if he were really sincere and honest
either with himself or the public, we
think that instead of talking one way
ard voting another, he would do better
mouth shut.
In our review of senatorial chronol-
ogy last Tuesday, we undertook tC
show that Senator Tillman's whole ca
reer has been one Of selfish wilfulness
and in this speech, we see little else
than full vindication of all We said
The only thing that is really surprising
about it all is that Senator Tillmar
himself should think that anybody
will be deceived by such silly flub duh
as that with which he attempts to con-
ceal the smallness of his spleen in the
matter.
Here, for instance, is an attempt to
make it appear that his proposed vote
is based upon loyalty to the recently "a
dopted state Democratic platform. The
sum and substance Of that platform
was not so much that a man should
vote so and so on the tolls eXemntion
question as it was to recognize and
acknowledge the president himself as
the Democratic guide and mentor and
to follow the president wherever he
should lead. The senator. while pre-
tending to obey the instructions OF the
Democratic platform takes occasion to
do all he can to discredit and break
down the leadership Of the president.
We do not want to be understood
here either as trying to defend the
president or the recently adopted DEM
ocratic platform; but merely to show
the emptiness Of Senator Tillman's
professions in the premises. The pres
ident, we believe, is entirely right and
that he can take care Of himself: but
for the platform instruction we have no
higher respect than has been expressed
by Senator Tillman.
If the truth We're known, we believe
that platform deliverance as to the
duty of Democrats in material matters,
would be traceable to the handiwork
either of newly appointed Federal office
holders, or men who seek to ride into
power by clinging to the coat tails of
the president. We cannot for the life
of us see how this platform utterance
can have any effect on the past action
of any member of the national congress
or control the action of such member
until after he has gone before the peo-
pie on it in the next election.
So far as trying to make it appear
that there is any relation between the
situation of Senator Tillman TODAY and
Senator McLaurin in 1902 with refer
ence to the platforms of that day and
this, is concerned, the situation is sim
ply absurd. The grievance against Nc
Laurin was two-fold. In the first place
some two years after the people of the
country had repudiated free silver at
the polls, and it had become plain to all
men that the necessity for free coinage
had passed, Senator McLaurin trod the
issue under foot and looked forward to
live, new problems. In the second place,
while the Spanish American treaty
was under consideration purely as a
game of politics, he trained with Sena-
tor Tillman and his fellow Democratic
players on that side; but the very hour
ed a new war that threatened to in
vOlve most of the great nations of the
world in unnecessary bloodshed. he
jumped the game of peanut politics and
like the broad, able, patriotic man he
has always been and still is, cast his
deciding vote for an honorable peace.
For these things, as Tillman now con-
feSSeS in his speech, or rather using
these things as a preteXt, Tillman went
home and ordered the Democratic exc
cutive committee to pass resolution:
that would prevent McLaurin from
appealing to his white fellow citizens
for vindication.
Now, why is Tillman fighting Will
son?
1t is pretty well understood by those
who have been on the inside of the po-
ltcal game, that in further reward of
the services of j. William Thurmond
for Judge Jones, and against Governor
Blease and for Tillman, Senator Till
man promised Mr.. Thurmond the Office
of district attorney for South Carolina.
At that time he had no other idea than
that as the senior Democratic senator
under a Democratic administration he
would be able to control the appoint
ment. But here came the Messrs. Con
Zales, who stood in with Senator Smith,
Mr. Bryan and Mr.. Wilson, claiming
the Office for their lifelong personal
and political friend, and Senator Till
mans enemy, and Mr. Weston got the
plum.
1t was enough To make almost any
politician angry, much less Il man like
Senator Tillman; but the senator did
not happen to be in a position where he
could afford 10 say anything, so far as
the public was concerned, and here
was nothing for him to do but abide
his time.
This attack on President Wilson, in
our opinion, and this promise of Il vote
Il g.
the resolution of the recent state con-
ventiOn is nothing more than an ef-
fort to get even with the president for
appointing the nominee of the MeSSrS.
Gonzales. Mr.. Weston. over his own
man, Mr.. ThurmUnd.
And incidentally i'm this connection il
is not out of place To remark that SEN
atur Tillman'S own testimony shows
the certainty with which chickens
come home To ruOSt.