The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-05-23

VoIc Couiu Dc ucponucd upon when
ever it was needed, and as matte
OF reciprocity the President and th'
members of the Cabinet accepted his
recommendations in appointments t.
Office and other official matters in Soutl
Carolina.
Last spring Mr.. McLaurin notified
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, that hi
should not attend the Democratic eau
Gus any longer, because he was not il
sympathy with his party upon some O.
the principal issues pending, and tt
avoid embarrassment to himself az
we'll as them preferred to remain away
| When the commotion occasioncd by
| this announcement was at its height he
made speech at Charlotte, N. c., be.
fore the Manufacturers Association
in which he defined his position.
Mr.. MCLaurin's announcements and
the circumstances attending them Gre
ated great sensation in South Caro-,
lima, although they were not unex-
pectcd. Taken with the fact that scv.
cral young and active men who had
formerly been Democrats were ap-
pointed TO Federal offices upon his re-
commcndation, 1t was properly assum-
cd that he intended to revive or at
least re.establsh the Republican party
in the State. This he denies, although
many of his licutcnants have incau-
tiously admitted it. It would be i'm
possible, however, for Mr.. McLaurin
just now to burn his bridges behind
Kim and declare himself Republican,
because he could not then be candi-
date for reelection to the United States
Senate.
1t is the custom here, where there is
only one party, TO hold Democratic
primaries and vote for all the candi
dates to Office. This is sort of pre-
liminary election. Any man who
wants to he Governor or Senator or
Congressman or hold any other gift of
the Democratic party has his name
placed upon the ticket, and in August
all Democrats are allowed to vote for
their choice. The Democratic ticket
at the ensuing election is made up of
the candidates receiving the highest
number of votes at the primaries, and
the State Legislature unanimously
ratlfics the choice of the party for
United States Senator so expressed.
Therefore, if Mr.. McLaurin should
formally withdraw from the Demo.
cratic party he could not be candi-
date for re. c.election to The United
States Senate at the primaries, and no
one would vote for him IN the Lcgis-
lature. Hence he will be compelled
TO remain nOminally a member Of that
party until the election Is over.
The Tlllmanites or regulars propose
TO read HIM out OF the party and make
it impossible for him to be a candidate
by adopting resolution at the State
convention providing that every man
who goes before the people at the pri-
maries shall pledge his faith TO the
support of the platform, and then make
platform dcnouncing expansion and
advocating free trade, free coinage at
sixteen to one and other Populstic
principles, which it is notorious that
Mclla does not believe in. This
would be a good thing for several rea-
sons, although it might be rather pain
full for McLaurin. 1t would bring the
issue squarely before the people and
make fight Oh the principles and not
on the man. 1t is believed, too, that
McLaurin would be much stronger if
he forces this issue than if he tries to
return to the Senate by the back door.
lie admits that he favors protection,
expansion, single gold standard, sub
sides and other Republican doctrines,
and, if he asks all the people of South
Carolina who agree with him to cast
their votes for the candidates for the
Legislature who are pledged to support
him for the United States Senate, the
real sentiment Of South Carolina will
be disclosed.
The other candidates for the Senate
will be Representative Latimcr of the
Seventh district, who is supposed to
have Tillman's support, and Daniel S.
Henderson, lawyer of Aiken, who is
also friendly with Tlllman. 1t is I'M
derstOod that Henderson and Latimcr
are working together with some kind
of an agreement as to the results.
Latimcr has taken charge Of the tile
water counties and the lower part of
the State, while Henderson is working
in the Piedmont region among the
manufacturing districts, where Nc
Laurin is strongest. a third candidate
is Wylic Jones, cashier Of the Caro-
lima National Bank at Columbia. lie
was II colonel in the Second Carolina
volunteers during the Spanish war and
is chairman of the Democratic Stae
executive committee.
McLaurin has already begun his
campaign, although the election does
not take place until August, 1902. His
recent speech at Charlotte may be call
cd the keynote, but OH May 22nd he
appears again at Greenville, when it is
expected that he will define his atti
tude and creed more in detail. He in.
tends to make "a campaign of cduca
tion," speaking in every county in
South Carolina Oh the gospel of prog
ress, expansion, protection, SOUND
money, subsidies, liberal appropria
tiOns for public improvements anG
other Republican doctrines, but | un
derstand that he does not intend to &C
into State issues at al. unfortunately
his health is poor, and it is doubtful
if he can endure the labor that is re-
quircd to carry out his plans. lie has
never been able to stand excitement
IJn has q ncrvOus tnmnnromort 10 die