Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-08-14
THREE ON ONE.
Sensational Developments
at YOrkville Thursday.
MAYFIELD PLEADS GUILTY AND QUITS.
After Stepping on Evans and "knocklng
Strait Silly" Overworked McLaurin
Falls Into Faint.

Alter stepping Oh LSahs anu AhoSNhS
Strait Silly" Overworked McLaurin
Falls Into a Faint.
The senatorial campaign has come to
be looked upon as a tiresome, humdrum
affair, with the repetition of the same old
story from county to county. The news
papers have not been taking much inter-
est in it, for the reason that after the first
three or four meetings, it was thrice
told story. But this characterization does
not apply to the meeting that was held in
Yorkville last Thursday, for it was far
out of the usual order. At it developed
events which 60 to make up history, and
which seldom occur more than once in
lifetime. No state in the Union has fur
nished a greater number, or more remark
able campaign incidents, than South
Carolina but in years to come, those
who helped to make up the big audience
in the courthouse, will tell Of having
been present at the most remarkable
scene that has occurred on the hustings
of this ntate since the war. They will tell
of having heard brave and honest man,
who had unintentionally misrepresented
a brave and honest opponsnt, come out
with a frlnk and open acknowledgment
and do his best to make amends. They
will tell of having seen and heard patri-
otic statesman, goaded to the highest
pitch of human feeling by the cruel and
unjust attacks of shrewd politicians, make
a speech that could have done credit to
Calhoun, McDuffie or Hayne, and then,
utterly exhausted, fall almost into the
Jaws of death. And some Of them will
tell also of an official in high representa-
tive position, who, attempting to intiu-
ence that choice of the people by which
he himself was elevated, received hu-
initiating rebuke that was as deserved as
1t was severe.
The crowd at the Yorkville meeting was
composed of between six and seven hum
dred voters. They were, for the most part,
representative citizens from all quarters of
the county, including town and country
alike. A glance in the faces of the audi
ence showed it to be an unusually intelli-
gent one, and more careful study gave
assurance that the first glance was cor
rect. Among the faces were those OF rep
resentative farmers, Of leading merchants
and business men, doctors of medicine
and ministers of the gospel. The amount
of apparent interest that has been mani
tested has heretofore indicated nothing Of
the kind; but there can be no question OF
the fact that it was easily the most repre-
sentative audience that has gathered at
any political meeting that has been held
in York county within the last half
dozen years.
There was music by the Bethel band,,
the proceedings were opened with sim
galarly appropriate prayer by Rev. w.
G. Neville, and Colonel j. j. Waters,
acting as chairman, in the absence Of Mr..
Brice, introduced as the first speaker,
State Senator S. G.. Maytield.
Senator Mayfeld is man of fine pres
ence. Tall and erect and well built, he
at once makes good impression. He is
farmer, or at least has large farming in
terests; but there is little about him to
indicate his calling. His hands are white,
his complexion pink, and by his dress he
would be taken for lawyer or preacher.
He looks his audience straight in the
eyes, however, has good flow of good
English, and is an entertaining speaker.
He commenced by expressing his pleas
ure in making the acquaintance of the
people of York county. Then he ex-
pressed regret at the inability of Colonel
Irby, who was confined to his room with
an attack of cholera morbus, to be present,
for the senator, he said, was an unusually
strong and able debater. Next, be said
that he belonged to no combination. The
only combination he knew OF was the
newspaper combination which was
against him. He was in the contest to
combat the views of McLaurin, which he
considered inimical to the best interests
of the state. He referred to the action OF
Senator Tillman in jumping on him on
account of his tariff views as unwarrant-
ed, and said that if Tillman wanted to
mix up with state matters, let him do as
he had threatened-resign his seat and
run for governor in 1898. Senator May
field said he had helped pass the dispen-
sary bill and had fought and killed pro-
position that was sought to be incorpor-
ated in it, and which allowed the estab-
lishment of dispensaries at crossroads
outside of incorporated towns. He was
in favor of high license under consti-
tutional limitations as the next best
thing To prohibition. He next entered
into an exhaustive discussion of the tariff
question from an anti McLaurin stand
point, and also discussed at length the
money question, advocating the free
coinage Of silver, and such changes in the
national banking laws as would admit OF
greater elasticity in the circulation of the
country, and at the same time guarantee
safe, sound and stable currency. Then,
in the most unsensational manner im-
aginabe, Mr.. Maytield proceeded to
spring the greatest sensation OF the cam
paign.
Mr.. Mayfield referred to the fact that
he had repeatedly charged McLaurin
with being a Populist at heart and with
having written the Populist platform and
attempting to organize Populist party
in this state. McLaurin denied the charge
at Spartanburg but after getting what
regarded as further and more convincing
evidence, 1 made the assertion again at
Chester yesterday. My informant was
DR.. Strait. DR.. Strait made the state
ment that McLaurin had approached
himself and Congressman Talbert, in
Washington, with a proposition to JOIN
the Populist party. This evidence APP
peared to be SO conclusive that said II
could not prove my assertion, l would re-
tire from the race, and if l did prove
it he should retire. l am now. satis-
fled from what l have heard, and from
ronrlusiya av;danre which has been