The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-05-08
HAMPTON DECLINED OFFER
He Does Not Want Office at the
Hands of McLaurin.
Columbia State, Mays.

FOR several days it has been rumorc
III Columbia tEat Gen. Wade lIamp,o
had been approached by friend G
senator McL1ulin to know whether q
not Gen. Hampton would accent th
posill"u OF posmast stcr for Columbia.
"a representative of The State callc,
on Gen. Hampton yesterday artrrnoo,
, at ms comfortable home on Scnat,
street ami was received with that kin,
cordially which bas won SO man,
hearts to the grand leader of Soutl
1arollnlans IN war aud peace. Gen
Hampton was informed Of the rcpor
above mentioned and asked for som,
expression upon it. He seemed reluc
lant to say anything for publication il
regard to 1t, but when told that the in
formation mad come from one who !,
known to be in close touch with Sen.
aior McLaurin, the general, in hi.
usual firm way, said:
~ would not accept anything in th,
world from that sourcc.n
Here he paused and after Il moment
continued with significant emphasis
The people of South Carolina ought
to know by this time that | cannot be
| bought
That is all Gen. Hampton would say
III regard to the postotlice rumor, cy-
cept to intimate that il might he well
TO apply to Senator McLaurin for in
formation on the subject. However,
he ana not seem sure that such an an.
pllcatl0n would be accorded rcpv
that would be entirely veracious.
1t can be stated, however, that in
"ell-llItormcd circles it is believed thai
Dch. Hampton has been approached
more or less definitely with the offer
Oh the Columbia postmastcrship. That
IL would be refused If it came through
senator McLaurin cannot be doubted
after what the general has said, nor ia
1T believed that Gen. Hampton would
accept any favors at the hands of Prcsi.
dent Mckinley, though it is believed
tina. the President desired to retain
zen. Hampton in the Office of United
States railroad commissioner. He was
unable to do so, however, for political
reasons.
The reference which Senator IIamp-
ton made TO the man who now holds
the Senatorial seat he once occulied
recalls fact that has been known, but
not published. When the Reform
movement OF 1890 began Senator Nc
Laurin, 1t will be remembered, was
rather late getting on the band wagon,
but finally landed safely When the
name OF llampton's successor was
brought out, Senator McLaurin, then
in the Legislature, remarked to Co. |
lnmbla gentleman that that was going
TOO far, that he could not follow the
' movement" in that direction.
When the nominations were made,
however, McLaurin made speech sec
ondlnS the nomination of the man who |
was put up by the Reformers to beat
the hero of 1876.
While in conversation with Gen. |
Hampton the talk very naturally |
irlited to the reunion and one of the |
gentlemen suggested that Gen. IIamp-
Ton would doubtless be vearied by |
having so many old soldiers to call on |
him and 10 shake his hand in public.
as all would want to do.
"Oh no." intcricclel the great cav
alryman, 81 won't mind that. am
always glad to meet man who fought
Trough the war without descrtIng and
laS not ucSertcu SlnCc.' ~
In view OF the foregoing, the follow.
ng specials were sent to the News and
Courier:
RICHMOND, Va, May A. In Justice
10 Senator McLaurn | wish to make a
plain statement OF the facts regarding
he offer of the Columbia postmaster
'hp to Gen. Wade Hampton. The
)ifer was made at my urgent sugces-
ton. AS soon as heard that Senator
would be likely to have much
influence in the appointment of Federal
oiflceIs in South Carolina | on my own
motion, requested him to consider Gen.
Elampton's name in connection with
he place at Columbia Senator Nc
Laurln agreed that it would be n grace
'ul and proper tribute, and said he
would rather sec Gen. Hampton have
he place than any man living. lie
lcsitatcd, because he feared the pro-
position might be misunderstood. |
old HIM ! believed that Cen IIamp-
on could be gwen such strong as
that his acceptance of the
position would In my way hamper his
political action; that he could be satisfi-
~ VII 'i'"' l'oiiit' IttNC lCaSOll 10 DC |
icve that such assurances were gwen
% him. l bave been Gen. IIampton's
devoted and personal friend and adj
nircr through good anu evil fortune
Tor twenty-five years. Ny hope was
hat he would he gratilied by the voun-
AIRY tender of an important position at
his own home, which would promote |
his comfort and be an evidence of the |
honor in which he is held. Senator
distinct statement to me
after had suggested the appointment
was tina! he regarded Gen. Hampton 3 |
character and record as putting him
above and beyond ordinary political
AT this distance have no means of |
knowing whether in fight between
McLaurin and Asbury Latimer Gen.
Hampton would side with Latimer,
nor can | imagine why. | do know
that his probable political position was
not mentioned between Senator Nc J
Laurin and myself.
a. b. WILLIAMS.
COLUMBIA, May 4. The publication
OF the rumor concerning Gen. IIamp-
ton and the position he took upon the
matter was decided political sensation