Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-07-31

the state machine in Columbia. The
state machine was in charge of 1rby, and
whatever Irby said, went. The message
would be brought to Yorkville, and on
salesday, or on the occasion of some con.
vention, it would be passed about among
the precinct leaders, who, in turn, would,
in kind of Indifferent way, advise the
voters as though the whole thing were
from personal information, and away
went whatever Irby and the state machine
wanted, with rush.
"In 1890 and 1892, you will remember
everything worked smoothly. In 1894, il
you recollect, there was little hitch as tc
who should be governor. Several candi.
dates were out in the Reform primary
and the people thought it was to be mat
ter of honest choice. Up in this county,
Eilerbe was the favorite. Many of the
precinct leaders, and even some of the
county leaders. were for him. Those
who did not favor Ellerbe were pretty
generally for Tindall, and Evans hardly
seemed to be in it. But what was the rs-
suit? Suddenly there came instructions
from Columbia. There was salesday
caucus, the word went out over the coun-
ty, the Alliance Campmeeting was held
at Tirzah shortly afterward. When the
election was held on the following Satur-
day, it was developed that Evans had car
ried the county with whoop. If you
remember, also, an effort was made in
the Reform convention that was held q
few days later, to divide York's delega-
ton among the different candidates
Evans, Ellerbe and Tindal-in proper
ton to the votes received by each. The
effort failed, however, and Evans got the
entire delegation in spite of the fact that
he was not the actual choice of l5 pei
cent. of the voters.
"This was a pretty hard lick to the or
ganization in this county. A number OF
leaders who had not before been aware OF
the fact, began to realize that they were
being used, and, Of course, did not like
| it. When the constitutional convention
question came up, they undertook to dc
their own thinking, and Notwithstanding
the strongest efforts that Mr.. 1rby ever
made in this county to carry the conyen'
ton through, they sat down on him.
"Now there is a certain portion OF this
old organization still in existence. Don't
understand me to be referring to the
regular Democratic organization. That
has always acted fair and square. am
only talking of the wheel within the
wheel-the organization inside the party,
and which was used to manipulate the
balance of power under the dictation OF
Irby. How much Of il is still sticking
together. I do not kc;ow. I know oi
quite a number who lave pulled out
some because they did not get what they
thought they were entitled to, others be-
cause they were trsated unfairly, and
others because they realized they were
being used. But there is still an old
guard left. There arc l5 or 20 OF them,
mostly originals-that is, men who start
ed in at the beginning. Some two OF
three might very properly be classed as
soreheads, and none of them have the
political influence they used to have be-
fore the people caught on; but still, they
owe about all they ever got to lrby, and
not being certain whether Irby is as dead
as mackerel, or whether he will succeed
in getting back his old power, they are still
inclined to do his bidding.
"Now, what influence can he exercised
by this remnant Of the old organization,
I confess I do not know. don't think it
amounts to much but still, if it attempts
to do anything at all, it will be as 1rby
directs; and as it is the only organization
there is, it amounts to just that much.
"But so far as that is concerned, you
need not be at all surprised if Irby should
draw out of the race before the primary
He and Evans are trying to beat McLau'
rim. They understand each other perfect
| ly, and if they deem it advisable, one OF
the other will withdraw. In that event
all the strength that Irby can control
whatever it may be, will 60 to the man
who remains in the race. Evans may be
depended upon to do the same thing.
mo" concluded the politician, don't
bet too strongly on McLaurin. So far as
the natural inclination of the people is
concerned, he is undoubtedly in the lead
But as I have already shown you, natura
preference does not always count. More
than once in the past, we have seen
comparatively few and comparatively
weak men, force down the throats of the
people a man they did not want, and
many of us, no doubt, will live to see the
same thing again."