Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1901 — ASTHE WORLD REVOLVES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ASTHE WORLD REVOLVES

Tillman S’eefa "Blood. Washingtons telegram: The friends Of United States Senators B. F. Tillman and John L. McLaurin of South Carolina are fearful that the political feud which has arisen between them will develop into a personal encounter. There Is great danger that onp of these hot-headed Southerners will say the word which will mean a duel, unless the friends can patch up the fast widening breach. In view of the present feeling of bitter hatred existing between the men that seems impossible. What seems most likely is that the men may meet somewhere and one or the other extend an insult that, according to the well-known South Carolina “code,” tan only be atoned for with blood. Although Senator Tillman did not make his savage public attack on Mr. McLaurin until Saturday last, the bad blood between the men dates back more than a year to the time when the

latter refused to take orders from Tillman and supported the administration by voting for the Paris treaty of peace. Hot words passed between them, but the men have avoided a clash until Senator McLaurin’s recent speech in Charleston, S. C., where he advocated expansion, protection and support of President McKinley’s policies, and by inference attacked Tillman’s wellknown hostile attitude toward the administration. This so angered the senior senator that he made thp hot retort in which he openly charged McLaurin with stealing a speech from a New York clergyman, and wound up with this defiance, whose meaning can not be misconstrued: The people of South Carolina cannot be further deceived or misled by this man, and I speak now in order that they may fully Inform themselves In all of these matters; and I stand ready to furnish the proof of everything I say, and. If necessary, will meet Mclaurln face to face In any forum he may choose. Senator McLaurin retorted in kind by charges as personal and as savage as those made against him. Of Tillman he said to a reporter: He began his career by abusing and slandering better men. I have a contempt for an Intellectual bully and shameless pretender masquerading as a statesman, a moral pigmy posing as the champion of honesty; and such a man talks of blushing for South Carolina on my account. I neither court nor desire his friendship or good opinion. Nothing further is needed to demonstrate the bitterness of the feeling between the men. Each of them is known to be absolutely fearless, and a personal encounter would almost be a certainty if they should meet face to

face. Dueling has been made a crime Which disfranchises Its participants in South Carolina, and if Tillman and McLaurin would meet on the “field of honor” both would lose their senatorial togas. This may help the heated ■tatasmen to ( keep cool heads, but the friends of the men will take no chances and will do all they can to keep them apart until they have time to cool oft. —George F. Curtis.'

SENATOR B. F. TILLMAN.

SENATOR M'LAURIN.