The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-08-15
SENATOR M'LAURIN REPLIES.


party elections and conventions, and
no man nor body of men has the power
20 say between those elections what
policies shall be the tests OF party 10y
atty. Senator Tillman IS assuming the
prerogative of supreme boss and dicta-
tor to say who shall or shall not be re-
garded as a Democrat next year. | 60
not concede any such power to him no"
TO you. He, nor all OF your committee
together. has not the power to exclude
from candidacy, nor the polls at the
Democratic primary, the humb!est citi-
zen OF South Carolina who declares
himself to be a Democrat and pledges
himself to support the party nominees.
Suppose in 1890 the executive commit
tee of the State had ruled out OF the
party all who engaged in the Farmers
Movement" Suppose two years later
it had excluded all who favored the
sub-Treasury idea? Such action would
have been unjust, tyrannical and in
sulting to thousands OF good citizens
and Democrats, but not more so than
this proceeding OF yours.
In lis double character as prosecut-
ing witness and attorney against me.
Senator Tillman is reported as saying
before your committee that | have
voted with the Republicans in import
ant matters" and that he has seen me
comforting with Republican Senators.
As will show by the records he him
self frequently voted with the Republl-
cans lin important matters. as all
other Democratic Senators have done
from time to time. 1t is frequently nee
essary, proper and courteous to confer
with members of the opposite party, as
he knows and as every man or prac-
teal sense knows. These expressions o.
his are attempts to take advantage OF
credulity and ignorance. | do not think
there is man in South Carolina 50 lg-
norant as to be really deceived by
them. He cannot put me under suspic-
ion as he has put himself By his own
acts. have not in public office retro
graded from a, perhaps. honorable
bankruptcy to dishonorablc and uneX-
planned wealth. He and have drawn
the same salaries but have found 1t
impossible 10 save dollar from mine.
| have never. however truckled to cor
poraticns with the fawning Of tanned
spaniel. made speeches against them,
then voted for them, and accepted IA
vors as he has done. have never been
the sole boss end buying agent OF a
newly created whiskey trust with its
rebates OF 100000 to $4,000 a year,
: none of which ever reached the State
Treasury. | have never had the hand
ling OF State bond refunding scheme
with $4,000 OF commissions never yet
accounted for or explained.
a year ago Senator Tillman went in
to North Dakota and made speeches
advocating the reelection Of Repub-
lican Senator-Mr. Pettigrew. Senator
Tillman and this Senator were promi-
nent in preventing by fillibustering tao
tics vote on the subsidy bill. The
newspapers said that Mr.. Hill, head OF
the Northern Pacific lobby against the
subsidy bill. gave Senator Tillman's
friend and associate a Tip" which paid
him $3.50 900 in the stock market. Birds
of feather, gentlemen of the commit
tee, always flock together.
Has Senator Tillman. prosecuting at
torney against my Democracy. ever
failed to abuse Democrats and Demo-
cracy? Do you know that in the last
two Democratic national conventions
he has supported the nomination o.
Republicans? In 1896 he favored Sala-
tor Teller for President, an old line Re
publican and one Of the bitterest foes
of the South in reconstruction days. He
had himself appeared before the con-
vention as a competitor Of w. ]. Bryan
and been ANONYMOUSLY showed under.
In 1900 he was for Towne, also a Re-
publican. for Vice President. Is he the
man to be supreme arbiter and judge
of what is Democracy in South Caro-
lima?
In the Senate | have labored. as the
records will show, to broaden the pros
pcrity of the country. to promote the
interests Of my own people. to spread
civilization, to enlarge and increase o2-
portunity for our young men and to
stimulate enterprise. His whole politi-
cal course and methods have been to
blight and rest ain to bite where he
blight and restrain to bite where he
dared and to fawn where he feared or
sought favor. shall ask the people to
contrast the records and shall claim
my right as free man. born and
reared Democrat and Senator from
South Carolina. to do it regardless OF
the orders OF twenty-one members OF
the executive committee. shall ask
the people to decide between the man
who has tried to help cotton factories.
open highways Of commerce and TO so
command the Democratic party as to
command for it the confidence and re-
spect Of the business and laboring e,e-