The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-01
TN HIS HOME COUNTY,
buT M,LAURlN TOO uNWELL TO AP-
PEAR.
he was Remember 800 People Attend
ed the Campaign Meeting WednesdsS-
Evans and Irby the Only Speakers.

Still confined to his bed from the
bhysicsl collapse which he suffered at
IL 6orkyille, Senator McLaurin was
apain una bic Wednesday to face his
bpponents on the stump in his home
County of Marlboro. The absent sen,
htor was touchingly remembered by q
Number of very handsome boquets
tor him being sent to the stand. The
crowd which assembled numbered
about 800. They listened quietly and as
Quietly left when the speaking was
<bver.
Chairman W. D. Evans presided.
&He introduced former Governor Evans
las "a young and gallant son OF South
Oarolina-one who is not unkno"n1o
you." -,
Mr.. Evans expressed mis- gratlfica,,
tion that so many were present, ano
took it to indicate that the people
were awakening to the real issue OF
this campaign. He did not believe that
&animosity of county pride would cause
the voters to forget that Democratic
prirciples were at stake. 1t was not
8his intention to strike McLaurln ex'
0cept on his public utterances. he de
Isired to conduct the campaign
fairly and honestly. but he did not
think his mouth should be estoppsd
fwhile one of his opponents lay sick IN
Especially should he have the
fright of speech, as that sick opponent
was having circulars and copies OF a
Yorkville paper containing the sup,
posed speech of GIr. McLaurin at that
place. In speaking in McLsurln' =
absence he was at the disadvantage OF
having to read from his speeches and
of showing up their faliacies.
The question of this campaign Is,
said Mr.. Evans, "Wiil you follow
this new evangel,' who would lead
you into the Republican party, or
will you cling to the faith of your fa'
ther's" Hastily then be reviewed the
history of the tariff from from 1882 to
the present. He told Of notification
4 and declared, That's what you got
for making straight tight" he
i charged that Mr. McLaurin had spent
two hours In Sumter in trying to
show there could be no such thing as
tariff for rvenus only. A comparison
was then drawn between the Demo
cratic and Republican tariff demands.
That word protection" in the Repub.
lican platform was misleading, said
MIR. Evans. We think of it as the pro
lection of father for his child, or the
protection told of in holy writ.
The farmer of the south and west is
q free trader il he's got any sense.
Why9 Because he's got no manufac-
turing interest to protect. It is to his
interest to buy his goods as cheap as
possible.
A little later Mr.. Evans declared he
had to take McLaurin's printed record
around with him, for he would deny
everything If the record was not pull
ed on him. He had succeeded in pin:
ming him down to one thing, and
that was his opposition to free raw
material McLaurin has declared.
II don't believe in free raw material. j
Then he stands with Havemeyer and
the sugar trust. Should McLaurin
be elected on his platform of opposi'
ton to free raw material he could re-
ceive, were he corrupt, 81, 900, 900 for
voting to place duty on sugar. The
people would be estopped from criti-
cistng him, because prior to his elec
ton he had announced that he oppos'
ed free raw material.
MIR. Evans vigorously attacked Mr..
McLaurin on the cotton, wool and
hide schedules. In conclusion, he de-
clared that McLaurin was the jack O.
lantern that would lead the people
into q bog until they would sink be-
yond hope of extrication.
Mr.. Evans was applauded.
Col Irby was introduced as the
ssunconquerable leader OF Reform in
1890 and 1892" He spoke with more
than his accustomed fire and vigor.
II am not the man," he begun, "to
strike sick or fallen foe." He pray,
ed God that McLaurin would be re.
stored to health and vigor in time to
meet him once more on the stump.
Then, and only until then, would he
assail him.
II had rather be defeated ten thous-
and times than to know that l had
been elected by striking the sick. u
(Applause.
McLaurin, if possible, should re
turn to the stump, but if he can t re,
turn, I say he either ought to with
draw from this race or send Governor
Ellerbe. Why Governor Ellerbe2
Because he above all other men, is re-
sponsible for the political status of af-
fairs In this State, and if he comes I'll
take care of him.
81 am as much oi a Reformer today
as I was In 1890, but am a Demo
crat." No one could impugn his
record as a Democrat or a Reformer.
He told how he was sacrificed last
year; spoke of his record and services
TO the party, and declared that Nc.
Laurin himself said he never voted
wrong. His vote on the Wilson bill
and his defeat of the silver compro.
mise, placing the ratio at 20 to 1,
were recounted. He did not have and
had never had political godfather.
Mr.. Evans had at Camden intimat.
ed that Tillman favored his (Evan's)
election.
Mr.. Evans denied that he had. He
had only said, he declared, that he
had received a letter from Tillman
saying he was hands off," in this
race, but that if he were elected
he would welcome.him as colleague.
Col. Irby said the explanation was
satisfactory. He concluded by say.
ing he had not made the speech he
would have made had Senator Nc