The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-08-18
SUMTER. S. c.. WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 18. 1897.

against it, and it the letter had not
come out be would have gone. to
Marlboro and have worked in quiet
way for Evans.
After the letter he voted for Earle.
Ther have given you credit for
what you did not do" said Evans
after the letter, you promised 10
vote for me, ~
Mr.. McLaurin said he did not.
Later. on, Col. Irby wanted d.
rect affirmative or negative answer
from Mr.. McLaurin as to whether or
not he was in favor of the dispensary
or whether he would support free
raw material in Democratic admin
istration, should one be had.
McLaurin refused to answer in a
monosyleble, or, as he said,
to have the answer put in his mouth,
and so there was another tilt as to
whether McLaurin should be permit.
tedto answer in his own way or not,
and Col Irby refused to have an
answer unless it was yea or nay
Mr. May6eId charged Col Neal
with the parentage of the quiry in
The State of to day about supporting
j Belton Watson for certain Offices.
He said that be did have converse
ton with Mr.. Watson. but most posi-
lively denied that he offered Mr.. Wat
son the support of Evans, Irby or any
one else. He did tell him that he
would would not like to see him run
for railroad commissioner, because of
his friend Crum, and that be had al
ways looked upon Mr. Watson as his
and his brothers. friend, and
he would wager that Mr. Watson
never stated what was credited TO
him in the paper.
Mr.. McLaurin said he did not know
vino did the falling and shed the first
tears in the truce between Evans and
Trby.
lrby said it was Evans who did the
first falling.
McLaurin-I think Evans out to
have done it.
Col. Irby said, in talking of Evans
nomination, that Tillman was sent to
muzzle him, but that he would not be
muzzled, and that he told Tillman
that one March convention was all
that could be had, and there was no
use to try another for any one. as
for Tillmap, now be said he seemed
to be giving all fair foot race, and
he was satisfied. and as for himself.
be had no political daddy. for be was
laid in the sun and hatched by an
eagle.
Col. Irby repeated the charges that
McLaurin had said that Tillman
ought to be impeached during the
Darlington rebellion, and that the
Reform party had gone to hell.
McLaurin said he never said any
such thing that he had denied it
before, and that there was no use to
repeat thing he had often denied
and which be did not believe was
printed as charged.
Governor Evans gave little inside
history about his gubernatorial nomi-
nation. Neal, be said, vert to Edge
field as his professed friend and told
him that the leaders we're against him
aud he had better not run for governor.
Evans said he did not care who the
leaders were Cor. te vas going to run.
Tillman ,elegraphed for him to come to
the mansion and Tillman told him the
leaders we're against and be had better
not run He told Tillman that be was
going to run aod that the leaders could
not stiae the people. and be went to
Washington to see the congressman
and explain matters to them, all the
while determined to make the race be
fore the people. He said that he first
ssbusted' the March convention. and
that the Colleton plan was not gotten
up 10 his interest.
Mr.. McLaurin spoke first TO- day and
was Justify cheered when be started,
and on concluding. Hedealt With State
matters for some time and devoted
much time to deoounclug bossism and
said that the people had repudlated 1t,
and would do SO again, aud that lrby
need not boast Of what be had done to
make certain Offices. He never be-
lieved the Reform movement depended
upon any one nan.
In bis general discussion he said that
cheap clothes were due TO the money
situation, and not to the Wilson bill.
10 closing he said that if he could not
get Office except by trying to blacsen the
character aud the Democracy of others
he did not want it. He ran aud want
ed election Cor himself on his record
He justified his vote for the Ti!lmao
Latimer bill! as for States rights, aud
said he W0nI0 do so apair. He said be