The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-04-05
AN ANIMATED COLLOOUY.
BETWEEN CONGRESSMAN MCLAuRIN
AND EDITOR CAN'T.

Tho Congressman Uses Some Very Plain
Language to tho Editor-An Unseemly
Their Tempers.
SPARTANBURa. S. G., March 25.-A
big mass meeting was held here to day.
After speeches by several candidates for
Governor and Congress-; Congressman
McLaurin was called upon for speech.
He said he appreciated tho spirit Of the
courtesy and fair play that induced tho
crowd to give him such q warm invita-
ton to speak; that Mr.. Wilson had
talked in very glib way about tho birth
OF tho Reform Movement In Spartan
burg County, but he (McLaurin) saw
the baby born aud was tho midwife at
85-bfdded the nam ny and father of
it, for Tillman was both. His whole
past had been devoted to tue cause of
Reform aud his future and the future of
his children depended upon whether this
movement shall be made o great, glorl-
Gus and grand success, or whether it
shall be prostituted and made q Disgrace
and a reproach to every man who has
ever had anything to do with It, by mis-.
have no interest in it save the dollars
aud cents that they can make out of it.
The only place where he had heard of
any complaint in regard to his course as
q Reformer has been from q certain lit
tie organ in your city.
Il. l.. Gentt interposed and said: *
supnose you are referring to me-"
McLauriL: "If the cap fits you wear
it, sir'
CAN'T: "The cap fits me and it's
big organ"
McLaurin: "Yes, CAN'T, about the
, s'Zs of your mouth, aud that is big
, one. But I'ge got something moro i'm.
q portaut TO talk about than CAN'T"
n Tho crowd seemed somewhat aston-
!. ished at anybody having the temerity to
q attack Editor CAN'T and was very much
nclined to take Gantt's part, but Nc.
Laurin's bold manly Oratory told upon
r. them and in little while Gantt was left
=, With but half dozen haoiars around!him
a. those with whose aid he had been try
a, ing to interfere with those speakers
~ whom he did not like.
CAN'T interrupted McLaurln to ask if
it was true that he had ridden to tho
n, State line upon railroad pass.
- McL.aurin: mo. And the man who
"a says did is an Internal lar.'
CAN'T admitted that he had asked The
question on the strength of a telegram
from Washington saying that he had
>, done it.
Il The crowd supposed the telegram was
A firm Senator Irby and was curious to
f hear McLaurin's reply to this informa.
ton. l. came quick and strong as fol-
lows. Tho man who sent the telegram,
"nd the nr'n who inslnuates that did
a lde upon free pass is an informal liar"
McLaurin showed no anger though he
q hit 80 hard. He quitely drew his ticket
out Of his pocket and handed It to tho
chairman Of the meeting to reiute tho
slander.
r CAN'T then undertook to ask another
( question, but McLaurin said: "No, sir.
+ You have put yourself in the dirt aud
+ mre where you are beneath the notice
} of q gentleman and I'll not answer an
other question, andI went YOU to under.
stand that am not in the Reform move.
J ment to save few paltry dollnrs 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 decelving and deludlng
| them.n
. McLaurn continuing, said: SIT was
0 the bravery and chivalry of the liberty.
p loving citizens of this beautiful Piedmont
. Belt that during the trying days of re.
construction 70 lied back the black tide of
= negro domination and rescued this State
= from carpet-baglsm, and the rule of Athe
alien. Ia that chivalay deadf Has tho
: spirit Of fair play departed from your
/ breast that you allow political hench-~
man and an imported Georgia hireling
to insult your guest and ono of the rep.
, resentatives Of South Carolina in Con.
= grese?"
, The indignation of the crowd against
= Gantt's course showed itself by the
loud aud long continued applause of these
= words.
3 While the excitement was at it's highs
8 est, General Farley said in cold, metal.
. lie voice: "Yes, and it's not the first
} lie he (Gantt) has insinuated."
When the crowd had finished Yelling
, the approval of McLaurin's sentiment
, one voice shouted "Hurrah for the Head
light"
McLaurin called attention to the fact
That only one man had yelled for the
Headlight, but the shouter could get no
reinorcements, McLaurln told lima he
: was one poor, pltiful little headlight by
himself, which drew down on the shou.
ter the laughter of the crowd.
: Prior TO these exciting episodes Nc
Laurin had another spat with CAN'T,
who wanted to know whether McIaurin
would support Tlllman or Butler and said
some one had telegraphed him from
Washington to ask that question.
McLaurin replied: "Neither you nor
your boss in Washington can bulidoza
me. will support the man who stands
flattooted for our demands.'
Can't tried to claim that this was not
direct answer, but the crowd evidently
concurrred in the opinion that McLaurin
was right in saying that Tillman ought
only bs supported just 80 long as he
stuck to the principles Of the farmers'
movement and no longer, and commend
ed his position Of refusal to say he would
blndly support TiIlmau without any re.