The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-08-07
County pemoorauc Convention.

On yesterday the County Democratic
Convention met In the court house pur-
suant TO the call OF the Executive Com
mittee, the object being the reorgani-
zation of the party for the ensuing two
years. The representation was not
full owing to the Indictment day no
doubt. Laurens Township club No.
81" was for some reason unrepresented,
| although thirteeni delegates had been
elected for that club.
A temporary organization was
promptly had by the election of o. f.
Goodwin as President, s.. Andrew
Jones, President and Jno. M.
Hudgens, Secretary and Treasurer,
The Notification of the delegates took
some time and on the report of q COM
mittee on credentials the organization
was made permanent. The executive
committee men we're reported to the
confirmed by the convention.
This vas clearly unnecessary
and the Convention had no
power in the matter, the Constitution
giving the right OF each Club to elect
q member of the County Executive
Committee. The business Of the Con-
vention about concluded, Mr.. G.. p.
Smith moved, that Senator Irby being
in the city, he be invited to address the
S~OuNcublOu WUtCu WAS OCuSrco anu u
committee consisting ofthree delegates
soon escorted the Senator to the floor
of the Convention introduced by dele
gate j. w. Yeargin. At this time the
house was very thin, put after the Sen
ator had spoken but a few moments the
large court room was comparatively
crowded. The Senator after being
greeted with cheers proceeded in q
calm way to say that it was not his in
tention to make a speech; that he was
chairman Of the party in this State and
hat q canvass was now active and to
discuss the Issues would be improper
in him. He however drlfted along
over, as it were, the shadows, and finally
drifted into deep wate", and made n
speech covering q large field of Fede-
raj and State politics and touching
many things. Without attempting to
give q report of q speech Of an hour,
the following are salient points of q
speech eXtempore and not cut out for
the OCCASION;
After Congress adjourns ard after a
short visit to New York he would re-
spond to an invitation to make a speech
in the county in this or next month.
If l were to speak here to-day l might
be misrepresented; only astenographic
report of a speech ought to go out: in
twenty minutes what L have to say
would flash over the wires the length
and breadth of this land. 1t is an cas-
Ter thing to start q lie on him than on
any man in the United States. When
pect to be elected to the legislature.
He had the fortune. OF Laurcns; Lau-
e N had furnished many leaders and
prominent men for the country. To
ecure the rights Of the people it was
necessary for him to I'LL for the legis-
lature in 1886. There were all around
wolves in Sleeps clothing posing as
the friends of the people. He said he
had been q quiet modest man in con-
gross. When necessary for the pro-
lection of the working men he had al
ways been at his post; when necessary
for the protection Of your interests |
will be there. The proposed tariff law
is a humbug and fraud and but for the
Mckinley law he would not support it.
He had not caucussed with his party
because of the sugar trust contamina-
ton. Two years ago he was opposed
to Cleveland; told them they would get
nothing out of Cleveland's administra-
ton; Cleveland q hypocrite and fraud:
crat, all his associations being with the
money power. He himself was a full
blooded Democrat, (emphasized) the
party in this State was purely Demo-
cratic, the South was Democratic; he
would be the last man in South
Carolina to leave the party; Tom
Watson was a very bright young fell
low, but incapable of leadership and
all the South if handled right would
be right and with South Carolina Dem
ocrats, (meaning Tillman). The South
Boies and Tillman or Stevenson lie be-
hind a log in 1896, and down the Cleve-
landites. There is but one party for
the South; the Democratic. Drive out
Cleveland n stick to the party. In
ten years we will have relief. l saved
the Democratic party in this State two
years ago from dissolution. Stand by
the Reform party, it is your salvation.
Butler has been kind and courteous to
me always and 1 have no complaint
against him personally, but Tillman
for the United States Senate.
This Government belongs to the
white man, and must and will be gov
erned by white men. 1t was right that
a negro should represent the 7th Dis
trict; it was set apart for him: the ne
groes are all registered in that District;
everything the last four years had been
fair, no fraud in elections, all had their
rights, and the negroes would vote
with the Tillmanites.
Very pleasantly he said there was
danger OF the ants joining them and
named two present converts in Laurens,
but they would soon be for kicking him
and Tillman out. An effort had been
made last Spring to GUST him from the
Craftsmanship but he hung out in the
interest Of the party; had been twice
elected and would serve out his term.
The speech was delivered in the best
OF temper, the speaker showing vicious
only when he named Cleveland, and
terribly in earnest when he claimed he
was a Democrat and those he repre-
sented. While he claimed he repro
scented all the party in this State.