The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-14
The CAMPAIGN OPENS.
He FIRST MEETING A VERY EXCiI'
ING ONE.

most Came to Blows cLsurjp, Irby,
Eyan., Duncan sind Ma, field in the Rsca.
The Senatorial a~spirants were SEIZED
uled to address The people Of Sumtsr
Nor day, but only three Of them had
made up their minds to III when the
meeting was called to order st II
o'clock, in the very rccmV, cool ard
handsome opera house Of Sumter,
These were Sepstor McLaurir. ex Ssu
ator Irby and Hon. S. G. Mayfeld,
the latter being too unwell to be pres
emit. There were only two speakers
Messrs. McLsurin snd Jrhy. They
occupied only Gre hour and twenty
minutes, but in that short time they
succeeded in getting up one Of the
liveiiest rumpuses ever 81 en- in 3 po}lt
ical csmpsien in this State. Col, lr5y
was particularly sever or Mr. Nc
Laurin. accusing him Of dishonesty
in relation to bis party, his peonle and
his State. Mr.. McLeurin could not
sit quiet under the sever lasting OF
words and the two men we're On the
point of having q public fisticuff On
the stage when they We're prevented
by cooler heads.
At the very start McLaurin made q
very neat reply to 1rby and the crowd
fairly went wild over it. They kept
kept il up for some time and Col. Irby
believed they intended to howl him
down and said Sc. He was thereafter
constantly interrupted by those in the
audience. He got mad and referred
to the crowd as city henchmen" and
this infatuated the sudience SO much
more, who howled verse than ever.
Chairman Purdy by his GOODNESS, bis
calm demeanor and good judgment
kept them as quiet as possible, but
told Col. Irby that nc could Eot be re
sponsible for the result if he contin.
ued to apply such language as "hench
men" to the people. There were sew
eral other stirring incidents and there
was not a dull moment during the
meeting. :
Senator McLaurin bad the crowd
with him and bis points were roundly
cheered. He discussed issues almost
entirely and in an attractive way, but
he made one or two references to "dis.
honest politicians sulkipg"and sarcas
tic references TO the ''saviors Of De
mocracy." Col. Irby evidently took
this language as referring TO himself
and from the start 10 the finish he de
voted his attention 10 his opponent
and laid it on him about as hot and
heavy as his most ardent partisan
might wish.
There we're possibly about $50 PEG.
pie in the building. a msjority OF
them from the country. The people
of the city who were present deeply
regret the bowling and interruptions,
but congratulate themselves that the
noise was made by those not citizens
of the city.
During breakfast Col. W. A. Neal,
Crews Mark Hanna, walked into the
dining room and approached Col. Irby
with outstre,ched Rand. Irby de
clined to shake hands. saying: You
must excuse me, sir; I don't care to
bpeak to you, SIR" Colonel Neal said
"All right" and wheeled about. This
was the first incident of the day.
Chairman Purdy called the meeting
to order a few minutes past II o'clock
and prayer was offered by Rev. Mr..
Willlford. The chairman made a few
remarks and then presented Senator
McLaurin, who was received with
great cheering. Before getting TO bis
speech proper he said he most heartily
re.echoed the sentiment of the chair.
man, that the campaign be conducted
on a high plane, and if it is not, l
will not be responsible. No one re-
grets more than I the death of Senator
Earle. I know not a mar in South
Carolina who does not regret that the
career Of that noble ard chivalroUs
gentleman was cut down when it
promised so much usefulness to the
State. 1 shall striva 10 worlhily car
ry out the high purposes which actu
ated him. He spoke OF the great good
accomplished. by the Reform move
ment in instilutipg primaries, in
which there could be 20 trades, as ali
white men could express their honest
opinion. He declar.d be wss under
promise to no man, and YVES not in a
combination OF any sort. The prom
ises he made on tie stump are the
only ones he will make, and he will
carry them out as he had always done
in the past. (Applause) he then
entered into a discussion OF the tariff
question and other political issues.
A NEAT REJOINDER.
When Chairman Purdy introduced
Senator Irby there was slight ap
plause, ana when he started off it ap
peared that he would have easy sailing
and would be listened to quietly and
attentively. But this was a calm be.
fore an unexpected storm, as the Sc
quel proved. Col. Irby IN beginning,
jumped right on McLaurin. He said
Men of Sumter, l must sympathize
with a man who sings his own praises
and can talk more about himself than
any one can say for him." Just then
the city bell tolled the hour of IL. and
continuing, Col. Irby said: "And
that bell has just tolled his funera.
knell."
McLaurin Gin his seat: "Hark from
the tomb doleful SOUND"
This was greeted with laughter and
loud cheering. Fora minute or more
the crowd yelled themselves hoarse fol
McLaurin. Irby in the meantime
stood facing them. He attempted tc
say something, but his voice was
drowned in the torrent Of cheers fol
McLaurin. Irby folded his arms and
calmly waited. His face showed thai
he was angry, in that he believed the
crowed was trying to howl him down,