The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-08-04

elected railroad commissioner
Col I.by concluded with an appeal
to ,be people to s'aud by Democracy.
He vas applauded, as he was through
out his speech aud az the end.
Mr Jobo Gary Evans said he had
been dared to make this race He bad
accepted it aud was here running, Dot
on fac.ionai issues. but on national
questions He then proceeded with
his tariff for revenue ooIy speech. He
asserted that McLaurin's Republican
tariff views would never be accepted by
the people Of this State. McLauriu,
be said, claimed that be and Tillman
osd together 90 the tariff. He said
be aidn't believe 'Fillmau held the
same tariff views but ii De did he
could uos come before The people Of
this State aud win 90 that issue alone
He than referred TO McLaurin as a
.sspsucker on limb" aud declared
he was the hardest man to pln up on
an issue be had ever encountered. He
was con.ioually shifting his views, he
asserted.
Mr. Evans said be didn's believe 10
a tariff He was for free trade With a
direct tax to supply the necessary rev.
euue Tor running the government.
Mr.. Evans again expressed the
hope that the factions would cease
their fight and unite on the Demo
cratic tariff principle. (Applause.
sentor McLaurin began his speech
by affirming that the people had juet
witnessed an example of the unfair
ness of the fight waged on him in this
campaign He was attacked and his
views mlsrepresented and distorted
by three opponents on every stump.
At this instant someone from the
crowd yelled
eve won't hear a Republican
speak !"
a hundred or more took up the
cry. An uproar followed No voice
could rise above that wave of hoarse
sound.
Senator McLaurin appealed to
Chairman Wilson. Mr.. Wilson got
order restored.
Colonel Irby. who was sitting to
ward the front of the stand, asked
that for his sake the crowd keep
quiet.
McLaurin vehemently replied that
be did not want to be heard asa favor
to Isby or to anyone else. 81 de
mand the right to speak as Demo
crat" applause.
He had been called Republican.
by his opponents. He flung the
epithet back in their teeth and de-
clared that he had served the people
as attorney general, as congressman
and as United States senator to,
faithfully and too long for this siur
against him to be believed Ee
owed ali that he was to the people of
the State and he would never be
false to their interest.
Since Colonel Irby had brought up
the negro mill labor question, he said,
he<wanted to assert most positively
that he was opposed to negro opera
tives in factories. So much was he
in favor of employing white labor
wherever he could that be rented his
farms out to white tenants at q less
price than he could get from ne
gres.
Here other Interruptions from a
few in the crowd occurred They
continued and grew 10 such an extent
that Chairman Wilson again had to
restore order
After getting quiet Senator Nc
Laurin attacked Irby and Evans for
devising the CoiIeton plan to override
the will of the people and make
Evans governor
Evans denied that he had anything
to do with forming the plan
McLaurla declared that Evans was
the beneficiary Of it at any rate
Turning his attack to Iroy's record
Senator McLaurin asserted that the
people had done more for lrby than
any insn in the State and got less re-
turn for it Ee then read l:by 5 record
wbi,e SENATOR He next prodded
hin 18th appointing his broth
er. " G Irby, committee
cletls and tiien letting him stay in
L,urens :he entire time without DO
ing any work far his pay.
Irby got up and explained that in
Washington he had Mr Can't as his
secretary so that he (Gantt) could
study law and while he was at home
3e employed bis brot!seTr The pay,
be SAID. was divided
.icLscrin said tha: since Senator
Troy seemed to have needed a clerk
wh;ie he was at home.
6