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

empty honor of M. G.. to my name?
Was it to draw the salary of $ 900 year :?
1t was neither Of these, my friends. There
may have been at first some youthful am
hition but my object has been far beyond
that. I find duties and responsibilities
there which furnish employment for all
the intelligence, energy and patriotism
find that now, above all else, you need
men there who are broad enough to real
ize the extent and varied interests of this
great country of ours. l must represent
my own state; but must, remember, al
so know how to give and take when our
own interests conflict with the just rights
of others. Evans may sneer his charge
about licking the feet OF the Yankee ma
ton and voting for the protection ot Tex.
as wool; but it should he remembered
that it is not time to build wall around
this state yet, and there is no reason to
lug in this Populist business either.
At this point DR.. Strait jumped up and
asked:
"Do you deny p"
The doctor was behind the senator, who
was not thinking about him at the time,
and evidently did not hear his remark:
But members of the audience did, and
shouted, "Sit down, Strait; it's none Of
your business ~ Strait said something
about not "being afraid of anybody"
and by this time Senator McLaurin be-
ed him what it was he wanted.
"Do you deny it ?" responded the doc
tor, swelling up somewhat like frog.
"Deny what, dOctor?" asked Senator
McLaurin, mildly, as some one again
gruffly told the doctor to sit down.
"Deny what I said at Chester?" pur-
sued the doctor.
"Will you please repeat just exactly
what you said at Chester ?" asked Sena-
tor McLaurin
AS the wheels in the DOCTORS bead be-
gan to revolve, he tried to reply but the
confusion was so great that he could not
house were fiercely shouting to him to sit
down. The chairman called for order,
but without effect and quiet was not re-
stored until Mr.. McLaurin waved his
hand and assured the audience that ne
asked Dr. Strait to make a statement, and
he wanted to hear it. Several men who
were starting toward the stand paused,
and the doctor continued II said, didn't
you come up to me and Talbert and say,
with me. The time is ripe, the current Is
high, and the sea is coming ip p" [Jeers
from the audience
"I do not remember to have made that
remark" said Senator McLaurin, to the
audience. There was time, however,
when every free-silver Democrat OF any
prominence in Washington was talking
that way. Sibley, Bryan, Tillman, my
self and others were trying to do all we
could to unite the silver forces of all par
ties. Governor Evans was elected 10
the Chicago convention on the free Sill
yer or bust" idea, and presume that Or.
Strait was that way too. [Cheers for Me-
Laurin.1
The doctor seemed to think that an ef-
fort was being made to put him in false
position, and in a "now-I-have,caught-
YOU, in another tone, he stormed:
ibid you hear me say that?'
McLaurin-I never heard you say any
thing about anything, doctor; Laughter
and applause] but took it for granted that
the people of this district were that way,
and if you were not that way, then you
did not represent them. lCheers ana
cries of "Get down, Strait."]
Strait failed to say where McLaurin's
alleged remark was made, and McLau-
rim suggested that probably it was at the
famous Willard Hall conference.
Strait, (snappishly)-I was not there, sir.
Mr.. McLaurin very pleasantly-l was.
Cheers for McLaurin.]
McLaurin, still unable to locate the place
where he was alleged to have solicited
Strait as recruit to Populism, went on to
tell about the Willard Hall meeting: It
was a gathering of free silverites, OF all
parties, with view to trying to get TO-
gether. He had told the meeting that
South Carolina would work for free silver
naturally; but the free silveriteS would
not leave the Democratic party. Senator
Stewart had jumped on him and he told
Stewart that there would be no sense in
such a move; that South Carolina silver
ties already had control of the party Or
ganiZation, and that an attempt to
form new party, would only mean local
division to no good purpose. TO prove
the wisdom of what he said, the senator
cited the case Of North Carolina, when IN
the last election, elected Republican
governor and gave Bryan majority OF
%, 900 votes and" conclu ded the sena-
tor, "what the people want now is live,
honest, intelligent and energetic represen-
tatives, and hereafter 1 believe they Will
Law the hand of affiiction on all non-entl
ties who act, as stumbling blocks In the
way of their getting their just demands
Long continued applause, during which
DIR. Strait subsided.l
Continuing, Senator McLaurln SAID ne
had never belonged to the Populist party ;
but that he respected the Popnlists tor
tn0y ndQ lIldOe llSut VII PiihSiPto "A.A
no hope of winning. Then he went on to
pay high tribute to Senator Mayheld
for his manly action in withdrawing from
the race, and said that he hoped the others
would have the manhood to do likewise
when convinced of the error of their way.
Then he told about the POpulist platform
incident. In effect, he said that Maytleld
and others had made unsupported char
ges against him in regard TO thls matter
at various places. There were connected
with it personal reasons which be did NOT
care to mention, and although he had full
permission to give out the facts, ne had
resolved not to do it, even If it should cost
him his election. But painted by the
other candidates as the blackest hearted
villain, capable OF anything that was low
and mean, and constantly nagged ana
goaded, he was so hurt at Chester, that
for reasons he could scarcely explain, he
gave up his secret. Mr.. Maytield had
come to his room after the speaking, ana
he had given him all the facts. }. w. bow
den was his friend. While he was SICK
in Columbia, and while his wife was also
sick at his home, Bowden had nursed
him for 10 days like a woman, During
his convalescence, Bowden had told
of his determination to issue mani
festo for the organization OF Popullst
party in this state. He urged and plead
with Bowden, pointing out the effect, ana
assuring him that no good could be ac-
cOmplished. AS the result Of his plead
ing, Bowden was induced to strike out
that norton OF the platform which ap-