The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-08-04
Combination Made Against McLaurin.

PIcKENs, S. c., July 3l.-The presence
of the five senatorial candidates here to.
day and their actions both in public de-
bate and private conversation have shown
Enthusiastically that the fight from now on
Is to be McLaurin against the field. Of
the other four candidates Whitman stands
no show ut all and need not be considered.
Irby, Evans and Mayfold are certain to
romain in the fight to the end, and Dun
can still maintains that he is a candidate,
although there are surface indications hat
he has not any right to be. He has taken
no part in the campaign beyond making
the announcement of his candidacy, and
the politicians have dismissed him from
consideration.
The primary election will be held on
August 3lst and the law governing that
election is so generally misunderstood that
it is necessary to explain it before under
taking to show the present situation Of
the senatorial anvas The successful
man must rave a majority of all the votes
cast, a plurality only giving him an OPP
portunity to run again. In the event OF
no candidate having 8 majority at the first
primary a second election will be ordered,
mt which the two candidates having the
most number Of votes will be entitled TO
compete for the Office. All others will be
ruled out.
II is the hope of Messrs. Irby, Evans
and Mayfeld that they will be able by
their combined efforts to prevent McLau-
rims getting a majority OF all the votes
cast. They know that he is certain to
head the list this time, and the most that
any of them hope for now is the privilege
OF making the race with him at the second
primary. It is very uncertain whether
Irby, Evans or Mayield will gel second
place when the votes are counted next
month, but the chances at present favor
Irby. He is makinga g~ood-natured fight,
and is rollicking about the State in a way
which makes it difficult to determine Just
where he stands.
Evans, however, may come in ahaad OF
Irby. The latter's career as United States
Senator is being attacked vigorously and
so successfully by McEaurin that his
chances of being entered in the final
struggle have lessened considerably dur
ing the past few days. McLaurin has
secured from Washington statistics which
show that Irby was not present more
than a third of the time while he was
Senator and failed to vote on scores of
important measures. Irby has been un-
able to defend himself from these charges,
but treats them lightly and answers them
Will JOhSS dOOut u1CLauA1A . oAASBON Az
publicanlsm.
It will thus be seen that In case q new
primary election becomes necessary, az
now seems probable, the final struggle
will be between McLaurin and the strong
est man in the field which is at present
opposing him. But while this field may
be able collectively to poll more votes
than McLaurin will on the 3lstof August,
it does not follow by any means that the
second count will register all these votes
for the anti-McLaurin candidate. In fact,
it Ia safe to say that NJ one OF the men
now entered in the contest against the
present incumbent will be able to deliver
his strength to any other man after he
r~etires.
Tie position of Senator Tillman in the
fight has been 30 frequently misrepre-
scented that it is impossible now tc get a
word from him about it. He says that
he is taking no part in the contest, and
action of his friends. The Evans sup
| porters, however, do not hesitate to claim
that Tillman faYors the former governor,
and they are doing their best to circulate
this report about the State. Tillman's
alleged opposition to McLaurin, of which
there Is not a particle Of evidence, is said
to. be due to the fact that when he was q
candidate for United States Senator he
was opposed by McLaurln during ths
first few months of Buffers candidacy.
It is pretty safe to say, however, that
Tilllman will let the candidates now in
the field fight it out at the first primary,
and that, If he takes any action at all, 1t
will be when McLaurin and his single
opponent line up for their second heat.
The same elements in the South Carolina
Democracy which elected General Earle
over Evans last year now favors the
election of McLaurin, and this is certain
to be a big help. Practically all the
newspapers of the State are supporting
him and Governor Ellerbe, who appoint
ed him to succeed General Earle, is aid
ing him in many ways.
All the candidates are putting O great
deal of money into the fight, and those
two of them who will have to make it all
owe again will have q pretty steep ex-
pens5 bill when the final verdict Of the
people is recorded.-AtLGntd Constitution