The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-16
AFTER THE PRIMARY.
THE COLUMBIA REGISTER GlVESITS
VIEWS ON THE RESULT.

Gives Its Reasons for Evans Defeat and
Claims that the Nomination of Judge
Earle Is a Victory for the Reformers.
COLUMBIA, s. G., Sept. 1.-THE
following appeared in the Register
this morning as a leading editorial:
"The political smoke has cleared
away from Tuesdays battle of the bal
lots and now a satisfactory observa
ton of its result may be made. At
the same time, an analysis of thecaus-
es may prove interesting. Judge
Joseph Ii. Earle has been nominated
by The Democrats OF South Carolina 10
succeed Hon. John j.. M. Irby as
United States Senator. 1t was report.
ed that Senator Irby said at one time
he usually wore his shoes two seasons,
but if he could not retain his "Sena-
torial brogans" for another term, he'd
be blanked if any other Reformer
should wear them. He did not even
attempt to retain possession of his
Senatorial brogans," but retired
from the race before the first bell was
rung. He saw that he would be dis.
tanced if he persisted ir running.
One reason why Irby saw defeat star.
ing him in the face was that he had
tried to elevate himself by showing
other men down. Whenever he i'm.
agined he saw in prominent Reform
er a prospective rival, his jealousy led
him to attempt to undermine that
mans position and influence. In this
work he had some ready, plant and
unscrupulous tools. Nor was this ef-
fort confined to men. Newspapers
which would not, become his organs felt
the weight of his displeasure. The
Register, because it would not sink
from the high level of an independent
Democratic newspaper, was schemed
against and worked against, but The
Register is stronger than ever, and so
are most of the prospective rivals
whom Senator Irby wished politically
buried. 1t was rumored that the rea-
son of Irby's energetic support OF
Evans for Governor was that he had
been promised that Evans would not
oppose his re- election, but would use
the power of the Governors office, if
elected, to aid Irby to retain his "Sen.
atorial brogans. Be that as it may,
the returns from the up country indi
cate that Trby's friends were not in
active-They believed Evans had been
guilty of treachery to Irby, and they
punished him by voting for Earle.
Another factor IN the polling of such
a big vote for Earle in the Piedmont
section was the defeat of Hon. John
E. Breazeale of Anderson when can
didate for election as a Circuit Judge.
Mr.. Breazeale was an original Reform.
er, yet Gen. Jos. 81. Earle defeated
him for Judge. 1t was reported in
the up country that the same intlu-
ences which were promoting Evans's
Senatorial candidacy were largely re.
sponsible for Breazeale's defeat. Many
Piedmont Reformers reasoned thus:
If Earle is a good enough Reformer
with whom to defeat all original Re-
former like Breazeale he is a good
enough Reformer with whom to de-
feat Evans, whose claims to alb initio
membership in the movement have
been challenged. Then in the Pee
Dee country Evans vote was much
smaller than it would have been had
he not TO a certain extent initiated 1r
by's policy of attempting to advance
himself by showing others down.
General McLaurin was looked upon
by both Irby and Evans as a possible
rival and both sought to crush him.
The consequences are instructive to
the student of political history, espec
tally to him who entertains the idea Of
actively entering the political arena.
McLaurin has just been triumphantly
renominated for Congressman without
opposition, while beth Evans and Irby
are booked for the political retired
list" at the expiration of their present
terms of Office. While McLaurin has
been out of the State nearly all the
summer and has thaken no hand in
the Senatorial fight his friends saw
and resented the antipathy to him and
voted against Evans. One of the
chief causes contributing to the defat OF
Evans was the fact of his having been
the beneficiary of the Colleton plan
primary. by the operation of
which large element Of the Demo
cracy of the State was debarred from
any practical participation in the
choice of the party's gubernatorial
nominee. The Conservatives could
not vote in the primary which really
named Evans for Governor, and thou
sands of Reformers would not vote in
it, because they considered it undemo-
cratic and regarded it with suspicion
as trap. 1t may be safely asserted
that nine-tenths OF the opponents OF
the Colleton plan primary cast their
ballots against Evans in the two pri-
maries. Tillman's appeal in behalf of
Evans could have no effect with the
opponents of the Colleton plan pri-
mary, because they regard him as par
ticeps criminis. That appeal was un-
fortunate in many respects-it deter.
mined many who were wavering to
cast their ballots for Earle, and afford
ed an opportunity for Tillman's op.
ponents to charge him with attempted
bossism and popping the lash: 1t did
not help Evans and it hurt Tillman,
for in writing that letter he was in.
consistent, having criticised General
Hampton for taking part in a fight
among Democrats. Many Of the Re-
Horm leaders were out of harmony
with Evans and either held aloof or
worked for Earle. In 1894 Evans
made a charge against The Liter
and evaded making a square, manly