The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-07
STRAIT ATTACKS
JUNIOR SENATOR.
THE RETIRING COSGKEsS VAN ISSUES
An ADDKE.S
calls McLaurin Trickater-Says Ito Hat
bceh IRE nchrrOus and Unsc, up puiOus.
Very warm Language.
To the people Of South Carolina:

1
exposes are in order in South Care
lima, have decided to have u word
10 say. The star player in tho recent
performances has been writing his
own plays, criticising and damning
all others while painting his own
part in glowing colors without re
gard to the truth or tie interests of
any save himself l have decided it
to be my duty to keep quito no
longer while he is allowed weekly to
exploit himself and his actions
through tho leading newspapers of
our State. l shall confine myself TO
statement Of facts that can be fully
substantiated by the entire delega,
ton in congress, and, in fact, all
who had an opportunity from the
inside to observe closely the trend
of matters during tho last six years.
The people of South Carolina have a
right " know what is now and what
has been going on behind the cur.
tain. And when they have learned
all tho facts they will be slow TO
make up their minds
The address recently issued by
Mr.. w. A. Neal, it is we'll knowr, was
not written by him. He was sick at
tho time and could not judge for him.
self what the effect would be, nor
how despicable it made him appear
iii the eyes of both friends and foes.
1t is well known that it was written
by John L. McLaurin, who hastened
down to Columbia from Washington
and as hurrledly came away after he
had penned this Infamous slander,
an instrument of apostacy, and in
duced Neal, poor, sick fellow, to sign
it.
Along with other members Of the
South Carolina delegation in con
gress, have been subjected to the
treachery and undermining tactics of
the Junior senator from our State SO
long tnat I had almost become used
to it and did not expect to have any
thing moro to say during the short
period IN which I will remain in
public life. But there is such an
ontrageon~ly false accusation against
the entire delegation in tho Neal
McLaurin address that | cannot
longer remain silent
McLaurin has his commission as
senator until 1908, and he may feel
that he can slander us with impunity
but I, at least will not submit in ST.
lence. McLaurin makes Neal charge:
"In 1894 | was invited to 90 to
Washington to attend il conference
| was present in Irby's committee
room when it was agreed to make
John Gary Evans governor of South
Carolina. There was only one man
who raised his voice against it IN pro-
test. l was witness to the scene
when he withdrew in anger from the
conference" There was no need
for him to go back four years to
make an accusation OF there being a
ring in Washington at tho time which
was running South Cnrolina's poll
tics. He made poor Neal sign Il
falsehood, knowing at the time him,
self that it was falschood, and his
only purpose could ho to injuro the
delegation here in the eyes Of the
people. Now, the facts are these,
and | will bo sustained IN my state
ment by every momber who partici-
pated, as we'll as by Senator Tillman,
who was at the meeting mentioned
he being governor then: Irby called
Il meeting of the delegation without
letting us know what he wanted
with us. Tillman, Neal and Evans
were present. AS soon rs the meet
ing opened McLaurin mentioned that
Kocstcr, then editing the Register,
and Bowdrn, two prominent South
Carolinians, then in Washington
ought to be admitted to our council
Irby and McLaurin were then not or
good terms on account of a scanda
involving McLaurin, of which | vii
not speak here, because it is too
nauseating, and they began to quar-
rel, Irby declaring that he would mo-