Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-08-18
Wednesday August Is, 1897.

here reverted to the prayer for the
selection of men of principle, that had
been delivered during the morning, and
whether intended for that purpose or not,
the effect was all that could have been de-
sired. He was enabled to start anew, and
was not again interrupted.
An old, old trick in politics, is that OF
going over to the opposition-professing a
change of opinion on account of some real
or imaginary circumstance and deserting
to the enemy in the hope that others
would be influenced to follow. For this
purpose, the campaign speeches OF the
candidates is usually accepted as good
occasion, though, of course, other occa-
sions and circumstances are taken advan-
tage of. There was more or less OF THIS
last Thursday. The reporter knows OF
one man who deserted four or five times,
probably oftener. He would take seat
in the audience beside some man whom
he had reason to believe might be induc-
ed to tumble, and make remark some-
thing like this: "I've been for McLau-
rim all along; but I'll be dogged if am
going to vote for him now." Then, as
soon as he could, he would 60 to another.
One Of this mans first changes was very
early in the morning. He had expressed
himself as strong McLaurin man; but
shortly after Evans commenced speaking
and before he had heard word from Nc
Laurin, he said he had changed to Evans.
AS to whether he accomplished anything
or not the reporter is unable to say.
There may have been men working in
the same manner for McLaurin but, II
so, the reporter was not made aware OF 1t.
One man was heard to say, after the
speaking, that he had all along been in
tending to vote for McLaurin; but after
McLaurin had submitted to such bully
Raging at the hands of Evans, he could
not do it. But this was not at all bright,
and found no sympathy. Most people
are too intelligent for that. They were
impressed with the remarkable self-con-
troll that was exhibited by McLaurin, in
remaining quiet while Evans was max
ing his violent personal assaults, and they
were still more impressed with the COM
plete and scathing, but at the same time
gentlemanly and high toned answer that
McLaurin made when his time came.
There was an effort, too, to raise the old
time town and country feeling. A we'll
known politician, who is always after
something, and who by the way lives in
a town, had all the morning been circu-
lating among well-known friends Of Nc
Lauriu and protesting to be for that can
didate as against the field. After the
meeting, he was noticed to several times
approach knots of country people, mem
toned the remarkable re ception that had
been given McLaurin, and insist that
big majority of the crowd was fro m the
towns, etc. His attention was called to
the fact that the political meeting con-
vened Immediately on the adjournment
of the Farmers Mutual Insurance conf
pany. That the members of the compa-
ny, who had filled up nearly half OF the
courthouse, had retained their seats.
Further, that these gentlemen are all
property owners, and constitute one OF
the most representative bodies of farmers
that is in existence in the county today.
Still further, that by far the largest por-
ton of the crowd that afterward came in
was also country people, and that, taken
altogether, there were scarcely more than
25 per cent. of town people in the build
ing. N Notwithstanding this, the gentle
man continued to hunt other crowds and
raise the same question.
An amusing case was that of another
well-known politician who has been In
office, been turned down, tried to get up
and been turned down again, and is still
for anything to be had anywhere. He
sat in the rear of the courthouse, facing
the audience. When the audience was
cheering Mayfeld so heartily, the politi-
clan referred to looked as if he were at
funeral. When Governor Evans began
to catch it from the audience, the politi-
clan looked still more solemn. He etwist-
ed uneasily in his chair. He could hard
ly stand it. Then, later on, when the
governor began TO bemean and castigate
Nc Laurin, everytime the audience would
ap plaud, the politician would give COM
panion, who sat next to him, and who,
by the way, is distinguished statesman,
All enthusiastic punch, and both would
smile broadly. After McLaurin had been
speaking a little while, the monkey-like
antics of the politician again changed to
funeral solemnity, and as McLaurin be-
gan to get in close quarters with his ra-
pier, the politician twitched and twisted,
until finally, unable to stand it any Ion
ger, he got up and left the room.
Although only half told, the story is
already getting too long for the availabl e
space. Every incident that is mentioned
is absolutely true, and if the reporter de-
sires, 9 can supply the names for each
story. But this is free country, and
barring such deception as they may he
practicing, each individual referred to has
a right to do just what he is described rs
doing. 1t is hardly fair, however, that
any man should vote any other man
without the other mans knowing just
how and why, and if these warnings
should serve to put any man-whether he
be for Irby, Evans, McLaurin or Dun
canon his guard against the politician
who would use him as an innocent tool,
then the space they occupy serves the
reader still further than passing pleas
ure.
LOCAL LACONICS