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

j nln, claspe0 nlS nanQ anu tuankeu
him for What he had said.
! Mr.. Mayfeld, in his speech at
Chester, said (:
"McLaurin cries out that there is
combination against him. ! am
against him because be is wrong on
the tariff, on the bin which permits
the dispensary to fixed on this State
aud because he is not a Democrat
IF he calls this opposition to him a
combination, what has he to say Of the
combination in his favor? The com
bination in his favor is a strange one
indeed 1t is composed of the. press
OF the State, in large measure, and
Ben. Tillman. Think of it, gentle
men, the newspapers and Ben Till
man fighting together to secure Nc
Lauria's election Wha: is the rea.
son for this strange combination )?
The newspapers think McLaurin will
fight lillian IN 1900 when it comes
his lime to stand for re election and
Tillman thinks his political salvation
in 1900 lies in the election of Nc
LauriD. Tillman believes that if Nc
Laurin is elected on his tariff views,
that then the people cau't and won't
fight him in 1900, as be and McLaurin
voted together on the tariff. Those
who wish McLaurin to be elected by
Tiilman's aid forget the fact that they
are helping Ben Tillman for his cleo
tion in 1900 But the gratest reason
why Tillman wants McLaurin elected
is because McLaurin is pledged by
his vote already to help Tilman pass
an amendment through congress
which will permit the dispensary to
be continued in South Carolina for
years to come. Tillman knows full
we'll that if he can get this amend
mept through congress that then the
courts cannot interfere with the dis
pensaey law and he will have it fixed
on his people for years to come BE
knows full well that that
amendment will set at naught
every decision rendered by the
courts aud that then his pet
institution will have full swing No
power can interfere with it. Till
man knows McLaurin will vote for it
and work with him to get this amend
meat through congress, for he both
voted aud worked for it last session.
and during this campaign McLaurin
has said that be was in favor of pass
ing the amendment. Ben. Tillman
knows that if Goth the senators DO
not favor the amendment, it being a
local measure cannot pass. and he
knows that if / am elected TO the
senate instead of McLaurin be can
never pass it. But TilIman is play
ing shrewd hand to keep his dis
peDsary as an issue for 1900 If the
dispensary goes down TilIman will
be without Staie-issue. If all fac
tons want to play into Tillman's hand
let them vote for McLaurin's election
If they wan. to keep the dispenssry
on our people, let them vote for Nc.
Laurin. Itrests with the people Of
the State to say by their votes wheth-
er or not they will vote for nc
Laurin and thereby perpetuate the
ITO pull McLaurin through Till
man comes into this campaign for
will help him to get his
bill through congress Though Till
man promised keeping his hands off
in this election, he has not done so.
But by entering this campaign aud
throwing his weight against me, an
my position. notice Till
man says be will resign his position
to run for governor next year before
he will see the dispensary go down.
take up the challaage and dare him
to enter to uphold the dispensary.
Now, | am against the olspehsary-
l am entered againstit and will nev
er stop fghting.uatil the State goes
out OF the LIQUOR business Tlllman
will never dare to run for governor
on the dispensary issue. Either Till
mau or his representative will be
beaten by the votes of the people.
Next year this fight will be made
viii, all the power that can De
brought to bear
T::en. after the band had played
lis ins;allment, Gov. Evans took the
floor and said that the audience had
lust witnessed the dramatic retire
ment of his good friend Mayfe!d, but
that he was satisfied thai be would
pick his flint and try it again A
public office was. be said, public
trust, and if May6eld had any con
elusive proof that cleared McLaurln
of the charge of Populisn that it be,
longed to the public The people
wore the masters and entitled to this