Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-05-08
TRYING TO HELP HAMPTON.
Thinking Only OF His Needs, Not the Magic
OF His Name-WilIiain. VS.. Rooster.

Thinking Only OF His Needs, Not the Magic
OF His Name William. VS.. Rooster.
Senator McLaurin, l wish to mako
plain statement of tho facts regarding
the offer Of tho Columbia postmaster
ship to Con. Wade Hampton. Tho offer
was made at my urgent suggestion. AS
soon as l heard that Senator McLa,rin
would be likely to have much influence
in the appointment Of Federal officers in
South Carolina |, on my own motion, re-
quested him to consider Gen. Hampton's
name in connection with the place at Co
lumbia. Senator McLaurin agreed that
it would be graceful and proper tribute,
and said he would rather see Gen. IIamp.
ton have tho place than any man living.
He hesitated, because he feared the pro-
position might be misunderstood. told
him l believed that Gen. Hampton could
be given such strong assurances that his
acceptance of tho position would in no
way hamper his political action that ho
could be satisfied on that point. l have
reason to believe that such assurances
were given to him. l have been Gen.
Hampton's devoted and personal friend
and admirer through good and evil for
that ho would be gratificd by the volun-
tary tender of All important position at
his own home, which would promote his
comfort and be an evidence of the honor
in which he is hold. Senator McLaurin's
distinct statement to me after had sug-
gested the appointment was that he re-
garded Gen. Hampton's character and
record as putting him above and beyond
ordinary political considerations.
at this distance | have no means of
knowing whether in fight between Nc
Laurin and Asbury Latimer Gen. uamp-
ton would side with Latimcr, nor can |
imagine why. do know that his proba-
bic political position was not mentioned
between Senator McI4aurin and myself.
A. b. Williams.
KoEsTER SAYS HE DID IT.
Columbia, May 4.-Thc publication of
the rumor concerning Gen. Hampton
and the position he took upon tho mat
ter was decided political sensation here
to-day. There has been considerable
talk about how tho whole matter started,
and good deal of light has been thrown
on the matter by the following signed
statement from Mr.. George II. Rooster,
editor and publisher of tho Columbia
Record, and strong personal friend Of
Senator McLaurin:
''In view of Gen. Wade Iampton's in
terview in this mornings State IL brief
statement from myself seems necessary.
AS is generally known, | am a close per-
sOnal friend of Senator McLaurin and
have been ever since he first came to Co
lumbia as member Of the Legislature in
1890. 1t has been falsely said | wanted
the Columbia postmastcrship as a reward
for my friendship for the Senator. Some
of my friends tried to get me to apply for
tho office, but declined to do so, though
they said it would 6o easy for mo to Oh
tain it, told them | would not even ac-
cept the Shanghai consulship, us it was
my intention to remain in editorial har-
ness. Discussing this matter with Sena-
tor McLaurin, he asked me whom would
recommend for the Columbia postmaster
ship and led mo to believe that my rec
ommendation would have great weight
with him. could not recommend a
man unless hc was fit for the Office and
willing to accept it. knew Gen. lamp
ton was we'll qualified to discharge the
duties of postmaster of Columbia, but |
did not know whether he would accent
the place or not. From what was said
Mt the time home was given Cen
Hampton | supposed such salary as
that OF postmaster Of Columbia would
bo peculiarly acceptable to him as plac-
ing him III position of Independence
But | know he was old and cherished
bitterness toward all who were in any
way responsible for his retirement from
the United States Senate, and did not
Ihlcnu W nave NY lTlcuQ tender an ONCE
to Gen. Hampton and have it rejected
So told Senator McLaurin would make
my recommendation later.
IL then talked the matter over with
three Columbians and | asked one of
them to asccrtaiu if Gen. Hampton would
accept the appointment as postmaster of
Columbia, and to make it perfectly plain
that absolutely no conditions would be
attached to the appointment, but that if
hp 1prnntpI If hp xyf,,,lI l,. II.
in any way and would be considered
absolutely free to support or oppose
whom he pleased. 1t was an honorable
offer, cOuchcd in courteous terms II
was meant as recognition of Ilampton's
worth and past services to the State, ser
vices which, however, did not cnttlc
him to election to representative office,
II his views were at variance with those
of the people whom he would have To
represent. The gentleman saw Gen.
hampton and the reply was as courteous
as the offer, being that Gen. HAMPTON
would not accept the appoint lncnt.
There had been no suggestion of buy
ing" Gen. Hampton in the offer, and
there was no scorn in its rejection. So
his words as reported in to-day's State
are a surprise, to say the least of them.
Neither McLaurin nor Mckinley offered
an Office to Gen. Hampton.
in conclusion desire to state that
the information Of my offer was not
given the public by me. told McI.au.
rim of what had done and he said it.
would have given him pleasure to have
used his influence in behalf of Gen.
Hampton to secure him an Office without.
pledge or condition. said nothing
about the matter to anybody else and am
at loss to understand how it became
public. George Il. Kocstcr."
MIAl'RIN ISniGN,NT
Columbia, May 5.-Scnator McLanrin
is indignant that his advocacy of Gen.
Hampton for the Coumba postmaster
ship should have been declared by thc
local press to be an effort to buy tho old
general
at Bennettsville to-day he said the
matter was first presented to him bv n
gentleman he knew but slightly, who is
close friend of Gen. lIampt0n-A. B.
Williams, cousin OF the Seaboard's
president and editor of "A Richmond
paper. lie was assured by Mr.. Williams
that tho Office would be acceptable to the
general at this time, and that he would
not object to having it come through
Mcl.aurin. The tender was made ac
cordngly. senator McLaurin says he
has the written acknowledgements of
Gen. Hampton for his efforts in keeping
him in the Office Of Railroad Commits
sloncr after his own term expired He
declared he would not be drawn into a
controversy, saying the papers which
are his opponents arc using bushwhack
ing methods. lie promises on May 22d
TO make his position clear to the people
of his State.
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