The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-04-07

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and with the use of manure, produce
fine crops. Farmers are we'll up wit
their work, and small grain far ad
vanced over Spartanburg County. w
saw five acres in cotton to one in corr
, There are numbers of beautiful farr
houses in this section and every fe,
miles ia thrifty railway villages. w
passed through Barksdale, Gray Court
Owings and Fountain Inn, beside
taking in Mr.. Chris. Owings, who
one of the most successful planters il
! that county. We took supper witt
| Mr.. Owings, who is q stsunch friend t.
Senator Irby. Mr.. Owings has a pc.
of six Chester hogs for next year
killing, and which will now averag,
225 pounds each. He says he will
make them go to 500 or 600 pounds BY
next winter. Mr.. Owings raises
yellow corn and he says for stock feed
ing eight ears contains as much nutri
ment as ten ears of the white variety
and it is less susceptible to drought
We met several friends at Mr.. Owings
and spcnt delightful evening.
Aftep supper we hitched up our team
and started for Fountain Inn, to spend
the night with Mr.. John w. Keilett
Fountain Inn is one of the most pros.
porous towns in Laurens County. II
is about the size Of Woodruff, and buys
1000 bales of cotton q year. And
speaking OF cotton, we saw in front OF
many farm houses great piles Of bales.
| During our trip we must have passed
at least 500 bales yet in hands of far no
ers.
Mr.. Kellett is one of the most hospi-
table of men, and we met aNwarm well
come. He has beautiful home and
delightful family. His eldest daqgh-
4 ter is frst-class artist. and has or
namented the house with handsome
[ paintings and portraits of the family.
Kellett showed us q patch Of two and
half acres, on which he last year
raised $500 pounds of lint cotton, and
| bales per acre. This shows what the
land around there will do with the use
OF fertilizers and scientific culture.
The good people of Owings are re-
joicing over the fact of at last having
post Office given them, and which
has been named "Rapley," as there
was another Owings in Laurens Coun-
ty, and it would have confused mails.
Owings has three stores. church and
school, and until this o flee was estab-
lished her people had to send long
mile into the country to Powers for
their mail.
During our ride we travelled forty
miles, going one road and returning
by another. If that section is an in
deX to the political sentiment of Lau-
rens County. it is waste Of time to
try and defeat Senator Irby at home.
We storped at number of houses,
talked with the people, and they all
report the country as unit for Irby.
The people have named their babies
for him, and every man or lady he
passed on the road would halt him and
have some kind word'to say. We never
saw such unanimity and enthusiasm for
candidate. And parties tell US that
the other sections of Laurens are just
as strong for Irby as this. So thuse
who are predicting that Senator Irby
will be turned down by his own people
know not what they are talking about.
If they will 60 into the county, and
talk with the farmers, they will find
that'J. l.. M. Irby is firmly anchored
in their hearts.
And another thing we noticed
While the people are all strong advo-
Gates OF silver, every man we saw re-
pudiatcd the idea OF going into any
Independent party. They believe that
the silver delegates will centro the
Cnicago convention, and have no idea
of following the Populists.
We met Col. Crews. editor of the
Laurenville Herald. He tells us that
tho new paper to be started by his son
will be printed on the Herald press.
deny having any stock in 1.-THE Silver
Democrat. In fact, friend of Sheriff
McCravy's' told Senator Irby that he
(McCravy) says it was a false report
that he was fighting him. So it will
be seen that the opposition to Senator
lrby in Laurens is largely imaginary,
and the work Of outside parties.
Congressman Wilson is strong over
Laurens, and the manner in which be
handled Boutclle has made him many
new friends. He will have no opposi-
tion for reelection. It was reported
that. Mr. Patton, of Columbia, would
oppose Mr.. Wilson, but it would oe
folly for Patton TO make the race. We
heard in Spartanburg that there was
i'll feeling between Senator Irby and
Congressman Wilson, and we asked
the Senator If there was any grounds
there was not, so far rs he knew that
just before he left Washington Mr..
Wilson and himself had talk, and
parted on kind terms. He also said
there was no truth in tho story that
Tillman and himself did not speak as
they passed why" he remarked,
Senator Tillman frequently comes
over to my seat, and we talk together.
or course our relations are not as close
as they once were, but we always
speak when we meet, and freely dis
cuss any measure relating to the good
OF our State. | tell you am not max
| ing war on any one. intend to dis
charge my duty by my people, and
think and act for myself. | am no
coat-tail swinger The people elected
me to the Senate, and they are the
only masters | own"
Senator Irby's enemies have put out
the report that no has been absent
from nearly every roll call. TO answer
this story, he refers to the proceed
jGgs OF Congress. Senator Irby saws
that as soon as the committee meeting
is over he will return to Washington.
| He thinks Congress will adjourn in
May, as all important business has
been transacted which could be hoped
for at this session, and only the appro-
priation bills are now in the way. Sen
ator lrby says he will make cam
paign OF the State next summer, and
meet the people face to face and give
an account OF his stewardship.
The Headlight is not an organ for
Senator Irby or any other man. This
paper Is free and untrammeled, but
will keep the people posted. If Sena-
tor Irby was guilty of repreheusible
conduct. we wOul0 1enounap him nc