The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-08-18
MAYFIELD RETIRES.
A Dramatic Incident at the
Yorkviile Meeting.

Yorkviile, Aug. 12,-There have
been meetings during the campaign
that have been fall of personalities,
others that have been verging OH the
sensational, but to.day's meeting was
dramatic. Governor Evans made
some reference to it but it was even
more intensely dramatic than one
might suppose from the mere state.
ment of the fact.
At times, although. the audience
showed it's partiality, there was an
absolute quiet aud deathlike stiffness
in the court house with its 900 or
100 people. First of all. in manly
and straightforward way, Mr.. May
field admitted the wrong that he had
done Mr.. McLaurin by charging him
with trying to o.eanize the Populist
party in this State and then to re-
deem his pledge made at Chester
yesterday formally withdrew from
the race It was unexpected The
style, the provocation and the con-
summation are all so unusual in South
Carolina politics that it made it all
the more startling and when Mr.
Mayfeld concluded he was cheered
TO the echo for the position he had
taken Then came Governor Evans,
who threw unusual fire, and. ass Mr..
McLaurin said. "unwarranted person.
al feeling" into his discussion.
Mr. Evans spoke longer than usual
and so enthusej was he and deter
mined that he rose on his tip-toes to
emphasize what he regarded as the
lack of loyalty on the part of McLau.
s,ia to his friends and his false posi-
finn. The generating statement Of
Mr.. Mayfeld and the severe arraign.
ment of Governor Evans had spurred
Mr. McLauria up to decided pitch:
He. had said nothing from hie seat
and when he arose it was plain so
gee that be was going make one of
the speeches of his life, which ne
did. He spoke with all the ardor
aud feeling that He had and at one
time during the reading Of letter
from Congressman Bailey. justifying
his vote on the wool schedule, he
gasped for breath and came very near
reeling over, but he manned himself
and went on with even more than
his wonted vigor and it was but
minute after he had finished his
speech that be fell to the floor like a
log. completely exhausted. i was
the work Of conflicting emotion. e1-
ertien and the heat and it took nitro
glycerine tablets to enliveu the slug
gish heart. It was. however, moth
ing serious and soon after Mr. Nc
Laurin was taken to his hotel, where
he recuperated.
Then Col Irby, one Of the central
figures in the play of The day, was
absent A severe attack Of cholera
1aorbus had incapacitated him from
atteodance and he, toe. during the
afternoon was sufficiently recuperated
to be out,
Bat the Incident Of the day was
the withdrawal of Candidate May
field. Mr. May6e!d had made his
customary speech, attacking the
tariff views of Me-. McLaurin and in
sisting that he was not now nor
never had been in combination
When be went on to say that yester-
day and on previous occasions he
had charged McLauein with having
written the Populis. platform and at
tempting to organize thai. party IN
South Carolina At Spartanburg he
denied the charge but after getting
what he regarded as further evidence,
as well as that yesterday ~of DR.
Strait, he would withdraw from the
race aud if he proved them McLau
rim himself should withdraw He
said he made the charges in good
faith and that ne never misrepr"S"n;ed
any one He was now satisfied from
what he had hezrd and from con
elusive proof shown him by McLan
rim, that he did dictate the Popullst
psslforn and that McLaurin did sue
ceed in striking put that portion re.
iating to organization III this State
aud to Mr.. McLsurin more than any
one else was due the credit that there
was no Popu'ist fight in South Caro-
Ina He believed that the statement
made by Dr. Strait was correct as he
understood it bat he further believed
that N. McLaurin was telling the
truth h now saw that MIR Nc
L4nria rather than violate personal
Affairs had declined 90 make any
statement aud with conclusive proof
that he uow had he was willing TO
say that he had misrepresen'ed Nc
Lanrin and to add that he had work
ed to prevent the destruction Of TIE
Democratic party in this State He
H.. ..:I xbof -, x,ior nf uhat hp