The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-09-24


when announced and the chair w:
rot only sustained BY Mr.. Irby b,
by the second vote; therefore the ed
torial in che State was malicious al
false. Listen at it. (He once mor
read the editcrial.) Said he, Nov
gentlemen, are we to submit to that :
Can we sit here content and allow ou
president to be insalted? | don't b,
lieve in mu2zling the press. But whe
we are attacked by such man as tn
editor OF this paper we should act. III
knew that no man there was too higI
Tor him to say mean things about, bu
they. as individuals, could put up witt
IL. But this was an attack on tn,
president OF the convention. When Ia,
refl ltcts on our president, he reflects OF
us; therefore l move that the resolu
tion be passed"
Later Mr. Patterson took the foo,
again and stated that q member of the
convention had gone to the reporter
OF this paper on the floor, and told
him that several members had asked
him TO see the representative of the
paper and ask that the statements In
the editorial be corrected. Instead OF
correction, there was another edi-
torlal this morning repeating the same
charge. Can we stand that? He had
thought OF resolution to deny to the
writer of the article the privileges OF
the floor. Let it go to the world that
we denOunce it as falsehood and a
reflection on our president and this
body"
Col. Talbert was about to put the
question when his attention was called
to the fact that the convention had
not decided yet to act upon the meas
ure Immediately. Ten members arose
and objected to the consideration, 80
the resolution went over until to-day.
There were about fifteen members
who objected, Senator Irby being
among the number. He said on a
not act hastily, but should rather act
after mature deliberate consideration.
Outside OF this incident the rest of
the work of the convention was pretty
much routine and altogether bhe body
was not in session an hour.
On Thursday morning the resolution
of Mr.. Patterson came up for CON
sideration, and the day was largely
spent in the discussion Of the matter.
The leading members took part in the
debate, a number of Conservatives in
cluded, and the following substitute
offered by Mr.. Patterson was adopted
by u vote of l23 to %. Every speaker
declared that he did not endorse the
editorial attack upon Gov. Evans, and
testified to the high respect in which
he is held as the presiding officer
Resolved, That said editorial state
nent is unsupported by facts, Senator
lrhy having announced upon the lDor
of the convention that the announce
ment of said vote by the president was
correct and as said editorial is reiec-
tion upon the honesty and integrity OF
the president of this convention, and
an insult to this body, be it
Resolved, That the convention de-
sires to express its entire confidence in
the integrity, honesty and fairness of
our president, the Hon. John Gary
Evans, and We do hereby declare the
statement in the aforesaid editorial to
be unsustained by the facts and untrue.
Resolved, That we consider the edi-
torial in question an abuse of the pri-
vilege granted to the press, in admit
Ting its members to the iloor of the
Senator Tillman, in speaking in favor
Of the adoption of the resolution, made
reference to MIR. Gonzales and en-
phasized his remarks by pointing at
him and referring TO him as THAT
man."
Senator Tillman got very much
up in his speech and scored
the Conservatives for pretending to
mean one thing while at heart they
meant directly the opposite. He was
very emphatic and used some very
strong language. He said that every
one agreed that 1T was unfortunate
that this subject had been brought up,
but that it wodld be doubly unfortunate
If the convention did not do its duty.
He saw cropping out in the discussion
some political animus. Every lawyer
in the house had spoken and they
were all Conservatives and they had
expressed themselves as favoring
postponement. Only two Reformers
had spoken on the same line. Pointing
at Maj. Barker, and the rest of the
Charleston delegation, he said that by
sophistry they were trying to convince
the convention that this editorial was
beneath their notice, while they full
we'll know that any pOstponement will
be taken by the public as lack Of con-
tidence in the Governor.
And these men are knowingly trying
to belittle the issue. With two excep-
tions every Conservative on the floor,
wiz huu oPohCh, was say my IntJ IL
was beneath the dignity of the conven-
tion to notice the editorial or were
talking about postponement. Mr. Will
son has plainly stated the issue--it is
not a question of numbers but the i'm
putation OF wrong motive to the
president of this convention. Some
members talk about his suing for libel
while others talk about holding that
man personally liable. DO you want
him to take stick and knock him
down
That man in the last four years has
dished out more fire, hell and damna-
tiOn than any other man, and now let
us throw back into his mouth some
Of the gall he has been spOuting out
upon US. (Cheers). You are just
trying to shield him. Why in the name
of God don't you come out and tell the
truth and say you are opposed to this
resolution because you are afraid Ol
hurting the feelings of the editor o.
the State
Maj Barker: 81 call the member
to order. 1t is not permissible for hin
to impugn the motives of any man il
this convention.
The chair sustained the point.
Senator Tillman: '"rhs truth alway
hurts. Nobody is trying to abridg,
the freedom OF the press, but we az,
simply giving them notice that the,
must behave themselves. We want Il
put 1t on record that he pointing t,
Gonzalesl has told falsehood and W,
are going to do it whether you vot,
with us or not (This was directed to
wards the Charleston dclegatiOn.)