The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-21
CARoLINIANS IN CONGRESS.
INTEREST IN THE ELECTION con-
TESTS INCREASING.

Two Members of the Elections Com
mittee Reported 10 Have Come 10
south Carolina to Look Into the
OmeinI Returns - Representative
McInurin DONE Believe Repre-
sentative TaIbert's Speech VIII In
nuence the Committee.
Washington Feb. 20.-Interest in the
South Carolina contested election cases
continues to grow as the time for report
ing them back to the House draws near.
To-day it was said by a member Of the
elections committee that those cases
would be reported to the House early next
week. Representative Thomas. rep. Of
Michigan, and Jones. dem. Of Virginia, OF
the committee, having these cases in
hand, are absent from their places and
it is said they have gone to South Caro-
lima to get the official returns from GER
tain precincts IN Charleston. which arc
supposed to bear particularly on the Muir
ray case. and at the same time to obtain
some other Information for the commit
tee before the cases are finally reported.
In the meantime. the members inter-
ested are on the anxious bench, and the
contestants and their friends are exert
upon the republicans in the House. There
is bound to be a majority and a minority
report on these cases, and there is apt to
be full debate upon the question of the
consututonality of the registration law
Of South Carolina.
In this connection, Representative Nc
Laurin' who is personally Interested in
one Of the contests. said to-day that he
does not believe the recent speech of his
colleague Mr.. Talbert, will influence the
members of the elections committee In
pealihs Win these cases. Said he: II
ppsnevee. the report is exaggerated. Mr..
McCalls committee is composed of sound
lawyers and as just men they cannot be,
SWayed by considerations incident to Mr.
NH HflDerss stand speech ph,eSh ~, believe they
evidence and render their decision accord
mBly. Under any circumstances Mr.
daInert dld exactly right to resent the
attack Mr Pearson of North Carolina
made upon our state. As for myself i
VIII never SIT In cowardly silence and
near my state abused and her senator de-
uouuceu as an anarchist merely because
contest is hanging over my head. L
never hunt a fight, but as long as Mr.
Ialbert and myself are in the House "a nd
the honor and dignity of South Carolina
Is lmppgned, the threat of contested elec-
ions cannot muzZle my tongue. Ii Is like
a man slapping your face. / don't care
now pig he Is, there is nothing to do but
to hit him back"
Mr. McLaurin is a member of the com
mlttee on ways and means ana he is one
Of the most energetic representatives in
the House. He Is serving his third term
ana Is an efficient and valued member of
the south Carolina delegation
Continuing he said: II do not approve
or thrashing over the old straw OF the
late war. because no good can come of
II. My friend Talbert was attacked by
Pearson, and he defended himself. Al
terward they had an adjustment of their
qlinculty, and they are now good friends
l think IL unwise to continually aRitate
the war issues, for l am nationalist i'm
politics and have no use for the little
mud puddle state rights politics we FREE
quently see played I'm congress. / am for
the union first and then for my state"