The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-02-08
STRAIT ATTACKS
JUNIOR SENATOR.
The Retiring Congressman
Issues an Address.--Calls
McLaurin a Trickster.

mC16uIiu d IilChSSSt.
To the People of South Carolina
Since manifestos, addresses aud ex-
poses are in order in South Carolina. I
have decided to have a word TO say
The star player in the recent perform
ance has been writing bis Own plays,
criticising and damniug all others while
painting his oxn part in glowing solors
without regard to truth or the interests
of any save himself have decided it
to be my duty to keep quiet no longer
while he is allowed weekly to exploit
himself and his actions through the
leading newspapers OF oar State. / shall
con6ne myself to statement Of facts
that can be fully substantiated by the
entire delegation in congress, aud, in
fact, ali who lad an opportunity from
the inside to observe closely the trend
of matters during the last six years
The people Of South Carolina bave a
right to know what is COW and what has
been going on behind the curtain. And
when they have learned all the facts
| they will not be slow TO make up their
minds.
The address recently issued BY Mr.
w. A. Neal, it is we'll known, vas not
written by him He vas sick at the
time and could not judge for himself
what she effects would be, nor how
despicable it made him appear 10 the
eyes of both friends and foes 1t is
we'll known that it was written by John
L McLaurin. who hassened down to
Columbia from Washington aud as
hurriedly came away after he bad
penued this Infamous SANDER. an instru
| mens of apostacy, and induced Neal.
poor, sick fellow, to sign il.
Along with other members of the
South Carolina delegation 10 congress,
l have been subjected to the treachery
and undermining tactics of the Junior
senator from our State so long that |
had almost become used to it and did
not expect to have anything more to
say during the short period in which I
will remain in public life. But there
is such an outrageously false accusation
against the entire delegation 10 the
Neal-MeLaurin address that [ cannot
longer remain silent.
McLaurin has his commission as
senator until 1908, aBd be may feel
that he can SANDER US with immunity,
but I, at least. will not submit in
silence McLaurin makes Neal charge {:
Gin 1894 was invited to go 70 Wash
ington to attend conference. | was
present in Erby'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 10 protest | was wisne-,
to the scene when be withdrew 10 anger
from the conference" There was no
need for him to 60 back four years to
make an accusation of there being a
ring in Washington at the time which
was running South Carolina's politics.
He made poor Neal sign faisehoOo,
knowing at the time bimseif that it was
falsehood, and his only purpose could
be to iDjure the delegation here in the
eyes of the people. Now, the facts are
these, and [ will be sustained 10 my
statement BY every member who parti.
cipated, as we'll as by Senator Tlllmau,
who was at the meeting mentioned
be being governor then lrby
called netting of the dele
CATION withou. letting US know
what be wanted with as. Tillmsn,
Neal aud Evans we're present. AS
soon as the meeting opeoed McLaurio
mentioned that Koesser, then editing
The Register. aud Bowden, two prcms
ineut South Carolinians. .hen 10
Washington, ought TO be admitted to
our council. Isby and MeLaurin we're
then not on good terms on account
of a scandal involving McLaufio. of
which l will not speak here, because it
is tco pauseating, and they began to
quarrel, Irby declaring shat BE would
not have anything to do With Popu.
list, and before anything was done. or
the purpose for which We had been
brought together mentioned. McLaurio
angrily left the room. saying he would
"staud by his friends %
Matters having assumed this shape,
Lstimer, Talbert and myself. members
Of the house, also left. and there was
cot one word said about running John
Gary Evans for governor. McLaurin
has become so notorious himself for
holding conferences and planning polIi-
ical deals, ard is by nature such
tricks,er and copspirafor, that | pre-
sumo be feels called upon TO charge
such things to others He vas 10 the
..Eo-tr ,nov.menkD whinh has for it's