The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-06-03

tanned Senator Irby. ex-Goyernor Ev-
ans, Justice Gary. Judge Gary and
raxay other men Who have since be-
come prominent II State and national
Affairs In very few dAys Mr.. Nc
Lsurin made speech that developed
the fact that he Was oae CT the coming
factors N South Carolina politics. AZ
the second term Of the legislature At
tarney General Pope WAS elected asso-
ciate !ustice of the State supreme Court
and Ernest Gary, agressuan Wilson.
D. \. Townsend and Mr. McLauria
were candidates for attorney general 10
suoceed Justice Pope. AcLaurin bad
an easy victory. being elected On the
third ballot. He plunged st once into
the sea Of litigation The Coosa~ case
vas pending. involving ls-ge sum and
the bank and railroad tax cases that
have since become 50 Loted fnally end
ing IN the Supreme Court Of the United
States All as these cases were Of the
utmost importance 10 the State bis
record Is attorney general was good
Daring the campaign Of 1892 Goy-
e-nor Ilinaan Was opposed by eIGor-
error John c. Sheppard Ihe taain
fight 1poa TillnaAn was made by Col
YoarAaS, who Was candiSatefor Sec
rstA-y ot State Re was very eloquent
fluent and foccihle speaker. There were
personal differences between Yolraans
AMI Tillman, and Tillmaa refused 70
debate or recognize him n the cam
psiSn ai sl. which threw the fight 80
tx- As Yoonans vas concerned. upon
NcLAurin Rarely has such o debate
ever taken place n any campaign IN
this Sta-e- Twas o. such . character
s. 10 excite the keeaest public interest,
Vet the two men came OCT OF il the best
Of friends, personally. The result creat-
ed such wave Of pablo favor for Mr..
McLaurin that when Mr.. Stsckhouse
died In June, 1892, nothing could pre-
vent the people of NcLaarin's distxicx
from electiDg him TO Congress IN
November following.
He pss seated when the Fifty-sscond
CoasreSs convened in lSSs, In the
month Of December. Mr.. McLaurln's
hne urterances upon the aoor drew
great attention to him al over the
country. II WAS his remarkable ealogy
On his deceased predecessor. It WA
unusual and drew many comments
from the press He went back 10 givs
. sketch Of the history Of slavery IN
the South, showing its influence IN
the formation Of the character of the
men Of his State Then he proceeded
10 connect II with this new Reforn
movement with which Mr.. Ssackhoase
had had 50 much 20 do Ii launching.
He came 10 Congress about the tune
that Baily, Bryan, Sihley and others Of
equal note made their entrance upon
the congressional stage and inneaizte-
IL began TO attract attention 10 himself
IS debater. His first fight Was ON the
repeal Of the purchasing elanse Of tie.
Sherman at His speech was one ot
the very irst attacks upon Grorsx
Cleyslaad's policy. II was sarcastic
and punsent and claimed widespread
attention both .. home and n the co1n-
Try sf large. Then, during the panic
Of 1888. when because of the scarcity Of
money the hanks hsd to form q clear
ing house association snd issue oertifi-
Mr.. AeLaurin Was the very first mxn
In either branch Of Congress TO see the
point and propose remedy. He Got
some of the certificates and went before
the banking and currency COMMITTEES
with proposition TO issue SlS5. ooo. COO
a United States notes, which were 30
be deposited with the banks to take the
place Of these certificates BE showed
that the Law prohibited the retiremenk
Of these notes below Sis, oea. 900 and
that aS q matter of fact they lad been
retired tar below this amount He
made stroag fight against the smpcsi-
ton Of the 10 per cent tax that the
treasury department proposed to place
upon these certificates This speech
was very extensively printed In the pa-
pe-s Of the West and South
Mr.. AcLa1rin also took prominent
part IN the debates 10 repeal the 10 per
cent tax on State banks He made q
nunber of other speeches On the imam
cal question, all of which have attract
ed attention In the organization of
the Fifty-fcurth Congress, Speaker
Reed placed Mr.. NcLaurin upon the
WAYS and Means Committee. Since
that time he has devoted himself 30 tha
study Of the tariff question. In speech
delivered on March sd last he attrart-
ed the attention Of the whole co1nxxy'
With his speech upon the Dinsley bill
He boldly proclaimed the doctrine that
If policy of protection Was to obtain
thAf the South should have her share.
that ali or nothing sho1ld De protected
He offered an amendment In the COM
miftee room asking fo- duty of sr-S
cents upon all cotton imported into the
United States He VAS vigorously a.
tackled on the foor from al quarters,
but met every assault with that tActand
coolness and fully sustained his repu-
tAtson IS . lshater Then there waS
his last speech advertising Coiamhia
and the South IN way rs 10 attract tha
notice Of the entire country. Nr. No
la1rin has been elected thiice IN his
district
One of his admirers SAYS Of him: ..Hs
Is very broad man u politics. Dur
ing faciionAl fight there uas no man
that fought harder, bai IS sooa Is tina
battle ended be took the position that
he Was representative Of the whole
people, aad that lie did lot have ths
night 10 hold Democrat responsible Or
question his right TO vote as-ains1 him
N the primary election he wAs To
first reform leader TO come out openly
and boldly N favor Of peace and unity.
At one time Il seemed certain that The
leaders of his own faction would defeat