Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-05

ing. Wisconsin: Newlands. Nevada;
Brady. Idaho; Hughes, New Jersey;
BrOusSard. Louisiana, ana stone, of
Missouri.
Rlease Leading Candidate
Senator Tillman's death makes Cole
Blease, former governor of South Caro-
lima. the leading contender for the SEN
ate. Senator Tillman was candidate
to succeed himself. At the request of
President Wilson, Representative Lever,
who was in the race against Tillman.
withdrew. 1t is now too late for Lever
TO re-enter.
Blease, while governor, was noted for
his eccentricities. which included the
disbanding of the state national guard
and the release from prison of several
hundred cOnvicts.
Nat Dial is also in the race and Gov
ernor Manning is spoken of to succeed
TiIlman by appointment, chiefly with
view TO keeping Blease out of the SEN
ate.
Tillman was born in Edgefield county.
South Carolina, the son or a farmer.
The sobriquet of "Pitchfork Ben was
given him because of hab:. - had of
pitching into opponents when = good
fight was on. From early life he was
active in politics, always supporting
the cause of the farmers.
In 1890 and again in 1892 he was
elected governor of South Carolina, go
ing to the senate in 1894. In 1896 he
was a candidate for the Democratic
nomination for president but was lost
in the popular tide started by William
Jennings Bryan in the famous cross
OF gold" speech.
As chairman of the senate naval com
n1ittee he has been instrumental, with
Senator Swanson, of Virginia. in put
ting through the great naval legislation
of the last two years.
Soon Made Reputation
As a senator, Mr.. Tillman quickly won
a wide reputation through the country
for pIainness and bluntness of speech
which. combined with his apparent
rough exterior and somewhat careless
manner of dress made him a unique
figure in congress No one attracted
more attention when he rose to speak
in the senate. following his first election
WAYS dramatic and ne called things by
their simplest names. He often referred
to himself as the corn-field lawyer but
it was believed he did so only for the
purpose of showing how little some of
the lawyers knew on some of the intri-
cate questions where common sense was
more desirable than legal technicalities.
b Within a month after he took his seat
in the senate, following his grst election
to that body in 1894, Senator Tillman
won his picturesque nickname of Pitch
fork Ben" a characterization which he
did not resent. In a speech he shattered
all traditions of the senators by taking
the floor so soon after becoming men,
Der and further indicated his disregard
of these senat orial usages by announc-
ing himself TO be "a farmer, pure and
simple with no collateral occupation"
and declaring his Intention of holding
up some of the public questions on his
pitchfork. While the impression made
upon some of his colleagues was not al
together favorable, his methods con-
WINGED them that he was a vigorous
fighter and a personality to be reckoned
with so long as South Carolina should
continue TO send him TO the senate. His
intimate knowledge of the best in lit
erature showed that he was not the un-
cultured man the senators had pictured
him, despite the brusque manner and
out-spOken ways.
Plight With McLaurin
Mr.. Tillman's career IN the senate
was fun of interesting episodes, promi-
nent among which was his exchange of
blows with his colleague, Senator Nc
Laurin, over an incident which occurred
in the executive session. which cost
him an invitation by President Roose-
welt to meet Prince Henry of Batten-
berg at a White House dinner Other
incidents were a sharp conflict with
Colonel Roosevelt partly growing out
of a dispute over the disposition OF
Southern Pacific railroad lands in Ore
gon, and Senator Tillmans persistent
and ultimately successful fight against
President ROosevelt's appointment Of
DR.. Crum, a negro, as collector of the
port of Charleston
Although of advanced age, Senator
TilIman gave evidences of his ability
to retain his office by engaging in a
fiery political contest with former Gov
ernor Blease, a candidate against him
in the senatorial primaries of 1918. The
senator had previously announced his
intention to retire from politics, but he
recOnsidered that determination in the
belief that his intimate knowledge of
naval affairs would be of service to
the country in time of war
Born in Edgefield county, South Caro-
lima, August II. 1S47, Mr.. Tillman re-
ceived an academic education, enlisted
in the Confederate army in 1864, but
was of no military service owing to
the fact that he lost the sight of his left
eye from a severe illness soon after
he enlisted. In 1868 he married Sallie
Starke.
He was elected governor OF South
Carolina in 1890 and again in 1892 His
services TO that state included the
founding of the Clemson Agricultural
and Mechanical college at Fort Hill,