The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-08-25
The Candidates in Horny.
Tickling the Voters of the In-
dependent Republic.

dependent Republic.
Conway, Aug. 23.-About 400 of
the independent voters of Horny
filed the county court house to hear
the senatorial candidates. They lis
tened quietly and showed neither
their approval or disapproval of
what was said
Col John L. NJ. Irby, the first
speaker, said it had been life long
desire of his to visit the Independent
Republic of Horny. He had often
wondered why this county should be
called the Independent Republic,
but since driving from Marion here
he knew why it is thus called. In
front of every house be saw hogs. cows
and more goats than he had ever
seen in his life. People who raised
their own supplies, as these did,
could we'll be called independent
He was here to solicit the votes of
the independent men OF Horny.
They had never seen him before, but
his record was known to them all.
for it was part of the recent history
of South Carolina. His record
good, had or Indifferent as the people
might think twas his own and he
was not ashamed Of it
While Mr. McLaurin was absent
be would not speak on is record.
This was one of the mos: remarkable
campaigns in some respects in the
history of the State. He had been
threatened by the governor Of the
State that if he made this race the
power of the administration would be
used against him The only reason
this threat had been made was be-
bause he had spoken and written to
his friends in the Legislature against
the metropolitan police "But for
me- Mr.. E!lerbe and the men who
are bounding me would never have
been heard of and would be living
in obscu-ity today and this was
their gratitude He felt that he was
entitled to an endorsement last year.
II could have been elected / could
have beat Evans out of his boots :"
The reason he didn't do it was be-
cause had he run McLaurin would
have entered and this would have
complicated matters so much that he
would have been defeated. He said
that his opposition to the proposed
bolt of the South Carolina delegation
necessitated his withdrawal from the
race. He opposed the "bolt or bust"
policy for the reason that the scheme
was to capture the national conven-
ton for Teller, rank protectionist,
and nominate him for President.
A part of the South Carolina dele.
CATION went to that convention and
voted for Teller They were under
taking to commit the south and west
to protection and silver. The con-
vention met but the south said, "No,
Mr.. Teller. we can't vote for protec-
ton" In caucus before the con-
vention met. the South Carolina dele
gation voted for Teller. and though
all did not favor Teller, they were
bound to vote for him under the unit
rule. He knew Of this scheme and
opposed it because be was opposed
to making the south pay tribute to
the north on their clothes and other
articles. Because he opposed the
South Carolina delegation being com
mitted to Teller, he had to go down
An effort was made in 1872 and '94
to lead the Democratic party of this
State into the Populist party, but he
said to the leaders if they did he
would read them out of the party.
Col. Irby, in speaking of the suf-
frage clause, declared it was dis
grace 10 the people of South Carroll
ma. He spoke with his usual vigor
against that clause and was applaud
ed when he concluded.
Mr.. John Gary Evans took issue
with Col 1rby on his suffrage talk
and declared that not a single white
man would be disfranchised Get
ting to his tariff speech, MIR Evans
said Mr.. McLaurin was projection
list and haG voted for protection with
the Republicans He had charged
McLaurin with this and he didn't
deny it
Voice-Didn't McLaurin and Till
man vote together on the Dingley
bill
Evans-Ill explain that later, but
don't you people try to tie McLaurln
to TiIlman's coattail.
voice-We're not We tie Till
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