The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-06

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had joined causes with the Reform.
ers and would do battle for "ou,
side" in the next State campaign
This conversation took place week
or two before Senator Earle's DEATH
and served to put us on our gaurd
against the political pitfalls which
we had reason to believe were being
prepared for us as the editor of the
farmers organ, and from that time
on we were convinced that McLaurin
groomers in Columbia and the
State administration were in collu-
sion with Gonzales and the Haskell
ite and Popeite independents to
overthrow the Reform movement
andto strangle Senator Tillman in
lVOO, as we could not conceive how
they could so easily tame the great
political rip-snorter Gonzales with
out its involving the desertion Of
the cardinal principles of Reform
and the cowardly betrayal of Sena-
tor Tillman into the hands of his
bitterest enemies. At this time, too,
the Conservatives were patting the
little curly headed congressman on
the back, and at every cross roads in
the State where there was a one
horse grocery store and package
Of Gonzales free circulated papers
read, the Conservatives were telling
the Reformers that they had Tillman
right where they wanted him and
would beat him out ST his boots with
McLaurin in 1900 All this, we
say, served to make us keep our
eyes and ears open, although we
did not for a moment attempt to de-
ceive Col. Neal or any member of the
committee as to the position we oc-
cupied towards Tillman, the Alliance
and the Reform movement, as we put
them, and especially Col. Neal, on
notice that we did not intend to de-
part from the original Reform policy.
And now if, in turning the paper
over to us Col. Neal did 30 under
the belief that he could toll US away
from the ark of political safety or
! deceive us as to the ultimate pur-
pose of this McLaurin Gonzales con-
spiracy, he simply took his chances.
It was only short while after this
when we heard that a personal news
paper organ, in the interest of Mo
Laurin, would shortly make it's ap-
pearance in Columbia, for which
venture Senator McLaurin had very
"patriotically" donated $500, Gov
ernor Ellerbe 500, Colonel Neal
5000 and Colonel Tompkins 800.
Mr.. Rooster was to be the editor OF
this McLaurin organ, and knowing
that he had in the past been the re.
fex of John T.. McLaurin's every
thought, look and gesture, we had no
reason to doubt the genuineness and
quality of the shackles which these
fellows were assisting Gonzales to
forge on confidiug Tillmanites and
Alliancemen until old Ben and the
other orthodox Reform leaders could
be tolled under the political deadfall
which these conspirators had pre-
pared for them. But notwithstand
; ing Mr.. Koester's willingness to sing
; McLaurin's praises there would have
been no need for it had it not beer
for the fact that the principal part O.
, that contract with Gonzales follow
ers required the political head o.
, Tillman in order to be of full force
, and effect. This, these conspiratorl
3 promised him, but at the same time
, they reserved the right to name th'
manner in which he should be decap
8 Standardization publicly executed
. before the populace or secretl,
f stabbed in the back by false friends
! The latter course was adopted, ant
8 80 the publication of the Record wa
. resorted to, whose hypocritical mis-
{ sion it was to tie McLaurin and Till
1 man together like Siamose twins--
q never praising the one without ais
}, praising the other, while tho Stat
4 was to be the chief adulator of Nc
@ Laurin, while at the same time cor
o signing Tillman to the lowest depth
10 of political infamy and demagoguer,
}. AID is even now importuning tn