The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-28
AN ANIMATED cOLLOOUY
Between McLaurin and Editor CAN'T at
SpSEtanburs.-ShellG Gives an Account of
His Stewardship-Genera! Ellerbe
Retrieyes His Reputation
as Speaker.
Especial to The Reg ster.l

respects, the part that was not on the
programme was by far the most in
teresting and exciting portion of the
meeting. Reversing the order of the
speeches the closing ones will be given
FIRST, for they were something very
mnch out of the ordinary run.
Over 1000 staunch Reformers, with
q slight sprinkling of ants, gathered at
the Encampment grounds and spent
over Eve hours listening to the speeches.
The meeting was called for the purpose
of hearing the candidates for Governor
and for Congressman from the Fourth
District. Invitations were sent to Con-
gressnen Shell and McLaurin, but as
neither was candidate for either of
the positions specified in the invita-
tions it was not supposed they would
speak.
They were present, however, and the
crowd demanded speeches from them,
as they had been attacked by Spar
tanburg paper and the crowd thought
they should have the right t. defend
themselves. Some schemers had
planned to prevent them from speak
ing, but the crowd demanded the
speeches and they got them, and got
them hot and strong.
Congressman McLaurin broke the ice
at ooce by sailing right iu and giving
the man who had attacked him good
dose. He said he appreciated the spirit
of the courtesy and fair play that in
duced the crowd to give HIM such a
warm invitation to speak; that Mr..
Wilson had talked 10 very glib way
about tae birth of the Reform Move
ment in Spar:anburg County, but he
tMcIaurin) saw the baby born and
was the midwife in 18S5-bedded the
NANNY and father of it, for Tillman
was both. His whole past had been
devoted to the cause Of Reform and his
future and the future of his children
depended upon whether this move
ment shall be made great, glorious
and grand success, or whether it shall
be prostituted and made a disgrace
and reproach to every man who has
ever had anything to do with it, by
miserable, selfish, scheming politicians
who have no interest in it save the
dollars and cents that they can make
out Of it. The only place where he had
heard of any complaint in regard to his
course as Reformer has been from a
certain little organ in your city.
T. L. CAN'T interposed and said: ~
suppose you are referring to me-,
MeLaurin: "If the cap fits you wear
it, SIR:
CAN'T; "The cap fits me and it's a
big organ"
McLaurin: ayes, CAN'T, about the
size OF your mouth, and that is big
one. But I've got something more i'm
portant to talk about than CAN'T"
The crowd seemed somewhat aston
ished at anybody having the temerity
to attack Editor CAN'T and was very
much inclined to take Gantt's part, but
MeLaurin's bold manly oratory told
upon them and in little while CAN'T
was left with but a half-dozen heelers
around him-those with whose aid be
had been trying to interfere with those
speakers whom be did not like.
CAN'T interrupted McLaurin to ask #
it was true that he had ridden to the
State line upon railroad pass.
McLaurin. mo. And the man
who says did is sn internal liar
CAN'T admitted that he had asked
the question on the strength of 3
telegram from Washington saying that
he had done it. -,~-~~~--
The crowd supposed tie telegram
e@ from Senator Irby and was curious
TO hear McLaurin's reply to this in
formation. It came quick and strong
as follows: ''The man who sent the
telegram, and the man who insinuates
that did ride upon free pass is an
Internal liar"
McLaurin showed no anger though
be hit so hard. He quietly drew his
CAN'T then understood to ask an
other question, but McLaurin said:
'sNo, sir. You have put yourself in the
ticket ort of bis pocket and handed it
to the chairman of the meeting to re-
fnte the slander.
dirt and mire where you are beneath
the notice of a gentleman and Ill
not answer another question, and
want you to understand that am not
In the Reform movent to save a few
paltry dollars by riding on free passes.
You are in the Reform movement for
base and sordid purposes, to wiring
the dollars out of those people by de-
ceiving and deluding them"
McLaurin continuing, said: at was
bravery and chivalry Of the liberty
loving citizens of this beautiful Pied
mont Belt that during the trying days
of.reconstruction rolled back the black
tide of negro domination and rescued
this State from carpet-bagism, and the
rule of the alien. Is that chivalry dead?
Has the spirit of fair play departed
from your breast that.you allow poll
ticai henchman and an imported Geor-
gia hire!ing to insalt your guest and
one of the representatives of South
Carolina in Congress-"
The indignation of the crowd against
Gantt's course showed itself by the
lsud and long continued applause Of
these words.
While the excitement was at its
highest, General Farley said in cold,