Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-02-08
at1iseellanenns 8eaaing.
WRATHY DR.. STRAIT
With Expiring Breath Seeks to Poison
McLaurin.

WRATHY DR.. STRAIT
With Expiring Breath Seeks to Poison
McLaurin.
To the People of South Carolina:
Since manifestos, addresses and ex.
poses are in order in South Carolina, l
have decided to have word to say.
The star player in the recent perform
ance has been writing his own plays,
critieisiDg and "damning all others
while painting his own part in glowing
colors without regard to truth, or the
interests of any save himself. l have
decided it to be my duty to keep quiet
no longer while he is allowed weekly
to exploit himself and bis actions
through h the leading newspapers OF the
state. I shall confne myself to state
ments of facts that can be fully sub,
stantiated by the entire delegation in
congress, and in fact by all who had an
opportunity from the inside to observe
closely the trend of matters during the
last six years. The people of South
Carolina have right to know what is
now. and what has been going on be-
hind 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 well-known, was not
written by him. He was sick at the
time and could not judge for himself
what the effect would be, nor how des
picable it made him appear in the
ewes of both friends and foes. 1t is
well-known that it was written by
John L. McLaurin, who FASTENED
down to Columbia from Washington
and as hurriedly came away after he
had penned this Infamous slander, an
instrument of apostacy, and induced
Neal, poor sick fellow, to sign it.
Along with other members OF the
South Carolina delegation in congress
have been subjected to the treachery
and the undermining tactics OF the
Ijunior senator from our state SO long
that had almost become used to IL
and did not expect to have anything
more to say on the subject during the
short period in which 1 will remain in
public life. But there is such an out
rageously false accusation against the
entire delegation in the Neal-McLaurir
address, that l cannot longer remain
silent.
McLaurin has his commission as sen
ator until 1908, and he may feel that
he can slander us with immunity; but
at least, will not submit in silence
McLaurin makes Neal charge: "lr
1894 1 was invited to 20 10 Washing
ton to attend a conference. l was
present in Irby's committee room WHEEL
lt was agreed to make John Gary
Evans governor OF South Carolina
There was only one man who raised
his voice against it in protest. l was
u witness to the scene when he with
drew in anger from the conference
There was no need for him to 90 back
four wears to make an accusation u
there being ring in Washington a.
the time which he was running Soutt
Cardinals politics. He made pool
Neal sign falsehood, knowing at tn.
time himself that it was a falsehood
and his only purpose could be to in
lure the delegation here in the eyes Of
the people. Now the facts are these
land 1 will be sustained in my state
ment by every member who particl
pated, as we'll as by Senator Illlman
who was at the meeting mentioned, h'
being governor then. Irby called 1
meeting of the delegation without let
ting us know what he wanted with us
Tillman, Neal and Evans were pres
ent. AS soon as the meeting opened
i McLaurin mentioned that Kester
then editing "The Register" and Bow
den, two prominent South Carolinians
then in Washington, ought to be ad
niLted to our council. 1rby and Nc
Laurin were then not on good terms
on account of scandal involving Nc
,aurin, of which 1 will not speak here
because it is too nauseating, and they
began to quarrel, Irby declaring tha
he would not have anything to do will
a Populist, and before anything wa.
done, for the purpose of which we hae
been brought together was mentioned
McLaurin angrily left the room, say
ing, "he would stand by his friends"
| Matters having assumed this shape
Latimer, Talbert and myself, member:
of the house, also left, and there was
not one word said about running Johr
Gary Evans for governor. McLaurir
has become so notorious himself fol
holding conferences and planning po
llitical deals, and is by nature such
trickster and conspirator, that | pre-
sumo he feels called upon TO charge
such things to others. He was in the
"Forty-movement," which had for it:
object the destruction of the Reform
party. He begged Latimer, Talber
and myself to join him in a Populis'
manifesto to the people of the state il
1894, saying that the state was ripe
and that the people would rally behino
that banner if we would join him
He denied this when he was running
for the senate; but 1 can prove it by
both the gentlemen referred to. HI
cursed and damned the dispensary Law
here during the Darlington riot, anc
wrote the "Dear-Appelt letter." g living
Senator Tillman the "Joab stab; )" ye
when Tillman came on here after
wards, he went to him and begged hin
not to fight him in his congressional
district for congress, and disclaimec