Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-08-14

ic party in this state. am now convin-
ced that / have done Senator McLaurin
a grave injustice. 1 have never inten-
tionally miSrepreSented any man, ana
have not Intentionally misrepresented
Mr.. McLaurin. 1 believe that the
as he understood it. l do not think he
Intentionally put false construction on
ANYTHING that was said to him by Mr..
McLaurin. From what Mr.. McLaurin
said to me, I can appreciate why he had
previously kept silent, rather than violate
personal matters. And now, with this
conclusive proof that have misrepresent,,
ed Senator McLaurin, and in view OF
what / said at Chester, and for personal
reasons, / hereby announce that Will
not be voted for in the primary Of August
81, and that I am no longer candidate
for the United States senate in this race.
wish to say also, that 1 make this state
ment because it is due to myself. MY
withdrawal is not in the interest OF Mr:
McLaurin, Governor Evans or Colonel
Irby. I differ with all of them in certain
matters at issue, ard having witnaIawn u, l
shall not so much as wave my hand TO IN
terfere with the choice of the people as
between them. Any one of these gentle
men will make good and faithful repre-
sentative ofthe state of South Carolina:
Senator Maytield closed with beautiful
peroration on brighter day for South
Carolina, and took his seat.
During the early part Of his speech,
Senator Mayfield was listened to with re-
spectful attention. The audience follow
ed him in every word. 1t listened like a
Jury, bent on giving the plaintiff falr
and impartial trial. When he began 10
make his statement in connection with
the misrepresentation of Senator McLau,
rim, the business-like atmosphere seemed
to undergo noticeable change ana tne
stiffness became solemn. Nobody, not
even the other candidates, knew what was
coming. The audience heard the story
for the first time it was told and followed
it through. At Mr.. Mayfield's statement
that he would withdraw, there was not
the slightest demonstration. 1t was EVIL
dent that the speaker, though previously
q total stranger, had suddenly mounted
high in the estimation of his hearers, ana
when he took his seat there was sponta-
neous outbreak of long continued ap-
plause.
The next speaker was Governor Evans,
who was received with liberal applause
He was glad to meet the people OF 1ork
county again, especially because OF his
failure to get here during the senatorial
canvass Of last year. The audience, he
said, was no doubt surprised to witness
the dramatic retirement OF his good
friend, Mr.. Mayfield, from the race. He
was surprised himself, and was also
sorry; but he felt pretty sure that Mr..
Mayfield would pick his flint and try it
again. Then he went on to say that
public office is public trust. HereJs a
charge made openly by the distinguished
representative of this district, and backed
by two other distinguished representa-
tiyes of the people. If Mr.. Maytield has
any evidence that what Strait, Latimer
and Talbert said is untrue, then no mat
ter what personal matters might be in
volved, it is his duty to give it to the
public. The people are masters and they
are entitled TO this information: But it
makes no difference what Mr.. Maytield
thinks. Strait is an honorable man, so
is Talbert, and so is Latimer. They are
all truthful, and they will all repeat the
charges made yesterday. Moreover, that
man." jerking his hand toward McLau-
rim, talked to me in committee room
for over an hour trying to urge me to join
the Populist party. He said that Loud
cheers and hurrahs for McLaurin. Cheers
also for Evans, followed by hissing.]
Governor Evans was somewhat discOn-
certed; but attacked the crowd with
Hollow for whom you please; l can
speak as well when you are against me as
when you are for me-" Then turning to
Mayfield, Governor Evans asked if he
meant to charge that what Strait said was
untrue.
"I said 1 believed what Strait said"
replied Mayfeld.
"Then, how can you believe both Nc
Laurin and Strait?" asked Evans, snap
pishly.
"McLaurin," calmly replied Maytield,
Ibid make that remark TO Strait; but ne
was not referring to PopuliSm in South
Carolina" Loud cheers and hurrahing
for Maytield and McLaurin.]
The crowd was getting somewhat oml~
nous, and declining to pursue the matter
further, Governor Evans went on to as
sert that McLaurin had thrown Bowden
into the Pnpulist stream to see how he
could swim; but on seeing his friend
Bowden swallowed by the waves, let go
the audience had no sympathy in this
direction, the speaker referred to the
beautiful prayer that bad been offered
by the reverend man of God, and
said that as be listened to it, with
bowed head, he wished in his soul that
the petition for the selection of men of
principle to represent the people in office
should be answered. Then he spoke of
the short reports that the newspapers had
been making Of bis speeches, and claim
ed that he had never attacked McLaurin's
record until after McLaurin had made the
charge that he had been crammed down
the throats of the people by boss. He
went on to say that he had had nothing
whatever to do with the "Colleton Plan :"
claimed that it had been arranged that he
should not run for governor; but that he
had determined that he would do it even
if he got only one vote. Neal and others
had arranged to hold March conven-
tion. He went to Washington, SAW Strait
Irby and others, told them about it, and,
as the result of the showing that was
made, Tillman sent down letter repudi-
ating the proposed convention Mcl.au-
rim had come down to Spartanburg with
IL view TO running for governor; but on
hearing the way the wind was blowing,
went back to Washington in disgust and
"wrOte that denunciatory letter OF Till
man and me-" McLaurin has knitted me !;
but never knitted him or any other man.
If had sold my vote against Judge Wal
lace, could have been elected attorney
general over McLaurin, for they offered
me the place first. But I would not go
back on my friend and refused. He had
gone on McLaurin'S official bond and
was on it yet. Then he went on to
say that not only El!erbe had told him
that McLaurin was for him, but Mcl.au-
rim himself had said so; and when Me-
Laurin had twitted him at Edgetield
for getting beat, he said McLaurin had
helped him. McLaurn admitted that he
had, and Evans did not know the contra