The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-07-29
The Senatorial Campaign
AT COLUMBIA.
"A Lively Time but Everybody was In
Good HumOr- IrDy and Mayhe1d
Relate Reform History.

ltcIute kc1Orm History.
The Columbia campaign meeting wa
about On the same plano ~ the preced
ing meetings. Messrs. Mayheld ant
Irby did take occasion to reathrm thet
charges against Governor Ellerbe Will
more than their usual vehemence, ant
Col, Irbv let OUt one more RefOrn
secret by asserting that in 1890 Ellerbe
in the convention, was declared nomin
ated comptroller general when as
matter OF fact Stokes, OF Colletop, re
ceived the nomination by nine votes
This, he said, was known at the time
to q gentleman who has since been ex
alted to the bench.
Mr.. May field made public the slate
already made for State officials, 80 he
said, and gave voice to other things OF
more than general interest. Senator
McLturln, In addition to his usual tariff
speech prefaccd it with some free silver
arguments. Former Governor Evans
stuck to his free trade arguments, Mr..
John L. Duncan appeared in the lists
for the first time.
When Mr.. Mayfield was introduced
he was received with applause. He
said, in reply to the charge as to unfair
ness as to the time limit, that Mr.. Nc
Liurin's contenSion WAS unfair, and he
ought to know 1t. 1t was wrong to
weary the audlpr" and Mr.. McLaurin
had distributed thousands of his
speeches with his frank, and he has
newspapers to give his views publicity.
, lie said that Mr.. McLaurin had
charged him with being in q combina-
tion, and the Evening Record had made
al Kinds OF charge against him. The
IL cord, he said, was owned and con-
trolledtby EIlcrbe, Neal and Mel Laurin.
Mr.. McLaurin had $500 In stock in the
paper, and h E:lerbe and Neal each had
$3.50 or more in 1t, and controlled it.
Mr.. Koester: mo, sir, they don't
control 1t or me-"
Mr.. McLaurin arose, and said in ex-
PLANTATION, that Mr.. Koester was his
friond. Mr.. K ester had stood by him
and he lost his position on his account,
and when he did 80 and had no position
and a wife and child to support, he
gave him $500 and he could have done
what he waut:d with tho $500. He did
not own cents worth Of stock In the
Record, or any other paper in the
State.
Mr.. Maytield; "What about Gov
ernor Elerbe and Col. Neal, the Mark
Hanna of the administration 2"
Here some Of the crowd called for
5irLturin, and mir. Mayfield said that
no one could brow-beat him, and he
would have fair play. He said the Re
cord had jumped on him, and he could
do some Of it himself.
He said that Col. Neal had made a
deal to strike down the Chief Justice,
and that he believed Governor Ellerbe
knew it. He said he only struck when
he was strnck. He had never made
any attack on Governor Ellerbe, aud
spoke OF his record when he was attack
ed and charged with being in a COM
binaLion. He was a free citizen, and
said what he pleased. Ho said that he
had invited Governor Ellerbe to be
there, and 1t was his fault he was not
there. Mr.. McLaurin know he was
going to be In the race. He knew this
before there even was any talk of other
candidates, and 1T was wrong or unfair
to charge him with being in any sort OF
q combination. He said he was sick
and tired of being charged with being
in any sort Of combination.
Mr.. Mayf, Id then started out on the
tariff question, and said, from M. Nc
Laurin's statements one would suppose
there were no other Representatives
from the State that he was the great
eat Representative the State had ever
had. He heard that this monstrosity-
the DiDgley bill-was going to be favor
ed by Senator Tillman. Mr.. McLaurin
said he and Tillman agreed, and If 80
and would vote for the DIngley bill he
would be black hearted Republican.
He said 1t was all foolishness to talk
OF McLaurin not having fair play, when
be had government frank to send out
Ills speeches; whom he had the Admin
istration behind him; when he had
three or moro newspapers favoring
him when he had his salary and other
things at his back. He went on to ask
whether the people were willing TO
pull money out of their pockets and pay
more for rice and lumber. He said Nc
Laurin wanted an increased duty on
boxes, sashes, doors, blinds and the
like. The vote on the wool question
was, he said, unwarranted, and could
not be justified by it being q personal
vote. McLaurin Is high Protection
lat, liz theory If not in practice. The
farmers were to pay for these duties,
and Mr.. McIIaurin was not represe Mt
ing his people in his tariff Views. Then
McLaurin was In favor OF the TIllman
dispensary bill. II this bill passes the
State can always have dispcnsary
law. He wanted the State to get out
OF the liquor business and to get out of
tho traffic as soon as possible. Mr..
question at length.
he said what he wanted was full re-
ports In the daily press. He would not
weary the audience by imposing on tho
time OF others, but would cut his speech
short. He was surprised that Mr.. Nc.
Lhurin had been thanking Heaven for
the State being free from negro domina-
tlon. he had UNDERSTOOD Mr.. McLaur-
In had thought Of rum Ing independents
tickets to beat the Constitutional Con
veDtion. w"
McL.urln said that this charge was
not true.
Mr.. May6eld then asked whether bo
would also deny writing the Populistic
platform.
Mr.: McLaurin: THAT is mono OF
yonr business" ~.
This occasioned much applause and
laughter.
Mr.. Mayfeld then went for Mr.. Nc.
Laurin for writing the Pcpulistic plat.
form, and said tn at he had prepared q
series OF questions to PROFOUND to Gov
ernOr Ellerbe that would have paralyz.
ed him. He said he had not said any.
fhipn a ahOnt (IOvernOr HI Iorho until n ,