The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-07-07
.IRBY WAS
INSUL TING.
Crowd Was With MGLaurin and il
Angered Him.
SENSATIONAL MEETING AT SUM.
TER-THE CAMPAIGN IN SOUTH
CAROLINA OPENS WITH A woRDY
WAR BETWEEN THE cANDl-
DATEs-A FIGHT BETWEEN THE
TWO IS NARROWLY AvERTED.
THE CROWD HowLs AT IRBy.

Sumter, S. c., July 6.-The first meet
ing Oh the campaign for the Democratic
nomination for United States Senator to
MI the place now occupied by John l..
McLaurin, by appointment from Cover
nor Ellerpe, was held here to. day, and
proved sensational in the extreme. 1t
opened quietly in the opera house, which
was only comfortably filed
County Chairman Purdy introduced
Senator McI.aurin as the first spenker
The Senator's address was conservative,
ne paio tribute to the memory--of Senator
Earle, ana gave an account of his own
pontical stewardship. McLaurin was
warmly received, and sat down with the
pleasing assurance of having made good
impression. ynas
Then the storm broke. Ex-United
States Senator John l.. NJ. Irbv was in
trcduceh, and for three-quarters of an
hour was enacted as exciting scenes as
perhaps have never been Witnessed at n
campaign meeting in this or any other
State Things looked serious time and
again.
at one time Irby and McLaurin were
only prevented from clinching by inter
ference of those on the stage. Irby in his
speech applied the severest language to
McLaurln, and he came to the front.
When lrby rose the cheers for McLaurin
were detfening He maze an opening
sally: Mcl4aurin made an apt aside, and
the cheering was such that Irby, despite
repeated efforts could not go on.
When Chairman Purdy ha;. quoted the
crowd he started out again by charging
the crowd with trying to howl him down.
He said that he knew it was all fixed in
this hotbed of Haskellism and conservn-
tlsm. He said he did not care how many
ri han t,-sa
him from speaking. Chairman Purdy
advanced and said that it was their de-
sire to give Irby respectful hearing, and
he asked that he not repeat that insult.
ing language. If he could not be respect
ful they did not wart to hear him. The
committee were not responsible for the
outhursts of feeling. Irby replied that
they had insulted him first.
Irby then characterized McLaurin ms a
ring streaked, striped and speckled poli.
tician. He charged him with dishonesty
and with being guilty of treason and
tfeacherT. He said the foulest cOnspir.
acy that ever existed in this State was
now in force, and McIIaurin was the ben
eficiary
Finally, ..McLaurin. who had turned
pale, jumped up, faced him, saying:
"lrby, let's have an uudersta nding right
here. We have known each other for
some time. You can't accuse me of dis.
honesty. You can't insult me in that
WY"
The two men faced each other. Irbv
replied that he had said it, and added:
81 say further that if you hit me,you',l
be hit back"
At this juncture Editor Applet rushed
up to lrby and told hic, he would have n
reply. Charles Emanuel rushed in and
said to Irby mo one but COW ard would
talk thai; way"
Irby replied that no one but a coward
would insult guest. Mr.. Purdy and
Others got the men quieted, the house be.
ing an uproar.
When Irby finished, AlcLaurin de-
nounced the charge that he was in IL COM
bine as absolutely false. Irby retorted
that he would prove it.
No other candidates appeared. though
lrhy said that other pledges would be
filed, and the fast and fl rous meeting
ended, having lasted only one hour and
twenty minutes.
AT | 30 to night John Gary Evans and
John L. Duncan. the men who made such
bitter and sensational canvass in the
Senatorial primary last summer, filed
their pledges and entered the race for the
Senate.