The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-09-04
MeLAURIN IN ANDERSON.
His Unexpected Appearance
Among the Candidates.

unexpected that happened again today.
The off-year campaign has logged
along with more or less interest and
everyone seemed to be waiting and
watching to see what McLaurin would
say and do.
The letter of Senator McLurin to
dicated that he did not expect to at
tend any of the off-year campign meet
ings. This morning it was for the
first time suggested that Senator Nc
Lurin would be here and would speak.
It seemed to be absolutely unexpect-
ed and most people did not believe it.
When Congressman Latimer had
about concluded his argument note
was handed Chairman Brazeale to the
effect that Senator McLaurin would
arrive here about half-past l, and so,
after conference, it was decided to
adjourn the meeting until after the
arrival of Senator McLaurin, and to
reserve the remaining speaker, Col.
George Johnstone, to reply to him.
Congressman Latimer and Mr.. Hemp
hill did not have the opportunity of
the afternoon session, which was full
of enthusiasm and fire. They had to
dance without band Of music, but
when Senator McLaurin came he and
Col. Johnstone soon supplied the miss
ing enthusiasm. Mr.. Hemphill made
a strong speech, as he always does; it
was talk to the people, and not
above them, upon the pending issues.
After his talk he was most heartily
.a.-.,+,1ofo1 on oil ci6oc
This has always been a/strong Lati-
mer county and he still seems to hold
sway here. There was no question
about the sincerity Of the reception
given him, and during the speeches OF
others, although ne was not an issue,
there was applause and cheers for him,
which means more than applause dur
ing the course of ones speech.
The distinctive feature of the meet
ing today was the discussion between
Senator McLaurin and former Con-
gresham Johnstone. It was really a
Superb debate. Senator McLaurin
came into the hall with the most
hearty of welcomes. His friends
cheered him time and again, and he
must have felt we'll over it, because he
made capital speech, and he who be-
lieves McLaurin cannot take care OF
himself is wofully mistaken, but he
met a foe of remarkable ability in Col.
George Johnstone. Mr.. McLaurin
opened his second section of today's
meeting in a speech of over an hour
and during that time he was heartily
applauded at frequent intervals. He
did not mention Tillman throughout
his speech in any way and he made no
reference to Latimer, who had punch
ed him good and hard during his
speech. It was more especially in his
second or reply speech that he made
his best effort. It was then that he
took off his collar and got down to
business, and it was then that he
threw real feeling into his speech, re
plying to the biting sarcasm of Col.
Johnstone relative to his holding the
pursestrings to public patronage, and
ther things that he urged showed
the drift toward Republicanism. Sena-
tor McLaurin had the voice of Josh
Ashley, and all know what that means.
But there were others for McLaurin If
cheers count for votes, and the whoop-
ing was steady and long. Some say
it came largely from citizens of other
counties who came with McLaurin,
who held Offices or wanted them.
There were outsiders, but there were
Others, many others, who cheered for
McLaurin, and if cheers are to be
votes there will be many here for Com
mercial Democracy, if no change
comes. The McLaurin folks had plenty
of cheers. but no one who knows aught
of Carolina politics can count that
way.
Just after Mr.. McLaurin, came
George Johnstone, and he was cheer
ed, encouraged as he has no doubt
never before been by an Anderson au-
dience. Men who had opposed him
for Congress got up and hurrahed
when he ran his sharp poinard of ridi-
cule or sarcasm deep into the political
body of McLaurin, and how we'll he
did it. It has the ring of Mark An
thongs grafton, For Brutus is an
honorable man, so are they ali, hon
orable men, and then a jab, and SO
he would say he believed what McLau-
rim said, and then punch, and then
he would again testify to believing Nc
Laurin's statement about the public
Offices and another cut to the core.
It was mastery and it met the issue.
That the audience thought we'll of it
they showed beyond question. Col.
Johnstone blistered son-in-law OF
Citizen Ashley, who rung in Tillman,
and who gave Mr.. Johnstone just the
opening he wanted to grow eloquent
in burying partisan feeling, insisting
that McLaurin of all men had no
right to attack Tillman.
It was a clean but sharp and vigor-
Gus debate. and the kind that ought
to tell. Mr.. McLaurin did not say
whether he would attend any other
meetings, if invited. He said he had
hastened on from Norfolk and was still
seasick
Both Congressman Latimer and Mr..
Hemphill had heart burning that it
was not their fortune to have the rub
with McLaurin. They did not antici
pate the fun and ask for last place. but
there will come another day. There
were from six to eight hundred in
/