New-York tribune., 1897-08-29
A UNIQUE CAMPATGN CLOSED.
THE CONTEST FOR THE SENATORSiIP N
SOUTH CAROLINA ENDS WITH MLAt-
rim A PROBABLE WINNER

Columbia s. c. Aug 2s tSpeciaD.--A political
campaign. unique. 'or South Carolina. closed
to-day when the last OF the Senatorial mas
meetings was held. There have been forty Of these
meetings. I'm every county in the state. be
ginning at Sumter. on July ). and ending to-day
AT Florence Next comes the primary at which
the Democratic voters OF the State Will expires"
theif preference for United States Senator. rms
will he held on Tuesday next. and the candidate
who carries the primary VIII he selected oy III
Legislature. already chosen. which is pledged 10
carry out the will of the people thus voiced.
This IL the method which the people OF South
Carolina have devised for keeping the selection OF
the Senator I'm their own hands. instead OF h'IuS'
ing IL TO tho Legislature and. as practicai'y III "
voters of party. its effectiveness c"','io'
be- doubted After the candidates haNe spun"
in every county I'm the state. and every e'''o' ms
had voice in telling the Legislature ""o"' ~
elect the successful c1ndllate VIII certalhy w Il"
much the cnoicc Of the people II they had voted
FOR him direct
There were five aspirants for the Seratorsi'p
when the campaign opeDed-Senator D. I'' We
Laurn, who fills The seat by governor r'-
lG be's appointments Ex-senator j. l' NJ hps
Ex-Governor John Gary Evans. State Senator ,
g. Mayhed and John +. Duncan. McI.aurih' itpE
Evans and Duncan are still In the race. pnt May
field Withdrew ten DAYS ago under sensational CIR
cums;anccs. lie had accused McLaurln of help
ing to organize the Populist party and declared
that he would coa:s TO oppose him II the charge
not sustained. Mci.aurin produced proofs III
refutaton Of tho charge. which Mayfed consl"-
eicG convincing. and he accordingly. announced
his withdrawal from the race In fuhlment or hi'
promise
The campaign all the way through has been
fight OF the field against McLaurln II opened with
sensational set-to between him and lrby at
sumter whcn lrby denounced him AZ a liar ana
traitor. and personal encounter was only pre-
vented the platform by the interference OF by
sfand"rs. Another theatrical episode occurred az
Nork,i!ic On August L. when McIaurin's opponents
pressed him hard the charge of his completely
with The Pppuisis. and, after an excited ana nm
petuous defence Of himself. he fell in faint. ana
had to be- restored by injections of nitro-glycerne
Since incn he has been unable to appear IN S me
canvass and has lain his home threatened
with serious brain trouble as result OF the or
Although most of the offensive ammunition has
been directed at McLaurin. as the rsco9nlzed E,a
strongest candidate. rhy has not escaped. Il has
been charged that. while member OF the senate,
he borrowed s5No from Senator Edward Murnhy.
was while important legislation in which Murphy
was interested was pending. it IS alleged ana the
inference is that Tie loan was made for the p9r11
Of influencing lrbys vote. and that II did
have that effect Irby admits that he borrowed
icrcs;
John Gary Evans who was Tillmans successor ; .'r
ioyernor is charged with having manipuat "a
deal for the refunding Of large block OF the
state debt with much pront to himself. and with
poCEotnE dispcnsary rebates. while Governor.
Al four Of The candidates are Tillmanirs ana
all four are for free silver. so that whether the
next senator from South Carolina j. John L. Nc
Iaurin. John l.. VI Irhv John Gary Evans or John
r. Duncan nc n"tical complexion OF the STATE
the candidates 1i'fnr. Nciaurn voted for the
tariff on rice. cotton and lumber when tho DinGcy
law was on iiS MASSAGE. 'rd Is charged ~ ms op-
Moments with hc!r0 q nrotectionist. while Evans
boasts Of hoinc . frcc-'rador. and the other cand
da '"s poso tariff roform"rs.
The host estimates roint 10 McTaurin rs the
victor ir Tu"s'lnv'H primary and hi- own sue
c"ssor i'm mo scat orc" occupied by Wade fiamp-
ton.