Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-08-04

that it is necessary to explain it before
undertaking to show the present situa-
ton of the senatorial canvass. The
successful man must have majority
of all the votes cast, plurality only
giving him an opportunity TO run again.
In the event Of no candidate having a
majority a: the first primary, second
election will be ordered, at which the
two candidates having the most num-
ber of votes will be entitled to compete
for the Office. All others will be ruled
out.
1t is the hope of Messrs. Irby, Evans
and Mayfeld that they will be able,
by their combined efforts, to prevent
McLaurin's getting majority of all
the votes cast. They know that he is
certain to head the list this time, and
the most that any of them hope for
now is the privilege of making the
race with him at the second primary.
1t is very uncertain whether Irby,
Evans or Mayfield will get second
place when the votes are counted next
month but the chances at present
favor Irby. He is making a good
natured fight, and is rollicking about
the state in a way which makes it
difficult to determine just where he
stands.
Evans, however, may come in ahead
of Irby. The latter's career as United
States senator is being attacked vigor-
ously and so successfully by McLaurin,
that his chances of being entered in
the final struggle have lessened con-
siderably during the past few days.
McLaurin has secured from Washing
ton statistics which shows that Irby
was not present more than third Of
the time while he was senator and
failed to vote on scores of important
measures. Irby has been unable TO
defend himself from these charges /;
but treats them lightly and answers
them with jokes about McLaurin's al
legged Republicanism.
1t will thus be seen that in case a
new primary election becomes necessa.
ry, as now seems probable, the final
struggle will be between McLaurin
and the strongest man in the field
which is at present opposing him.
But while this field may be able COL
lectively to poll more votes than Nc
Laurip will on the 31st of August, it
does not follow by any means that the
second count will register all these
votes for the anti. .McLaurin candidate.
In fact, it is safe to say that no
one of the men now entered in the
contest against the present incumbent
will be able to deliver his strength to
any other man after he retires.
The position of Senator Tillman in
the fight has been so frequently mis-.
represented that it is impossible now
to get word from hin about it. He
says that he is taking no part in the
contest, and that he is not trying to
influence the action of his friends.
The Evans supporters, however, do
not hesitate to claim that Tillman
favors the former governor, and they
are doing their best to circulate this
report about the state. Tillman's al
legged opposition to McLaurin, of
which there is not a particle of evil
dence, is said to be due to the fact that
when he was candidate for United
States senator he was opposed by Nc
Laurin during the first few months OF
Buffers candidacy.
1t is pretty safe to say, however,
that Tillman will let the candidates
now in the field fight it out at the first
primary, and that, if he takes any &C.
tion at all, it will be when McLaurin
and his single opponent line up for
their second heat. The same elements
in the South Carolina Democracy
which elected General Earle over
Evans two years ago, now favors the
election of McLaurin, and this is Ger.
tain to be q big help. Practically all
the newspapers of the state are sup
porting him and Governor Ellerbe,
who appointed him to succeed General
Earle, is aiding him in many ways.
All the candidates are putting
great deal of money into the fight, and
those two of them who will have to
make it all over again, will have q
pretty steep expense bill when the
final verdict of the people is recorded