The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-03-20
McLAURIN HEARD FROM!

the statement that Senator Nc
Laurin had requested his name
to be stricken from the Demo-
cratic rolls, or that he had sew
cred his afiliation with the Dem
cratic party, and as conse
ouence we asked our readers to
wait until the Senator could be
heard from. We realize that
McLaurin is marked for slaugh-
ter and every circumstance is
enlarged upon and grossly ex-
aggerated to arouse prejudice
against him; not so much be-
cause the opposition has merit in
their charges, but for the reason
that McLaurin's term is near its
end and his political shoes are
wanted. If the politici a n S
thought there was any chance,
they would have tackled Tillman
whose term had recently expired,
but they were afraid Of him, not
even daring to question his being
a protectionist or his reasons for
advocating the pensioning of
deserters from the confederacy.
The fact that McLaurin's time is
nearly out has brought forward
a whole raft of aspirants for the
place, and from now on we may
expect to hear most anything
which is calculated to do him in
jury with the people. With re-
gard to the latest move on the
political chess board,-the re-
port that be had requested his
name to be stricken from the
rolls of the Democratic caucus,
here is an authoritative state
ment from Senator McLaurin:
Washington, March Ex-senator Nc
Laurin Of South Carolina, in view of
the reports that have been published
regarding his absence from the eau
cuses Of the Democratic Senators and
the further report that he has formally
allied himself with the Republican
party, made this statement to The Sun
tonight.
II have not changed my party afflia-
tion, and still regard myself as Dem
ccrat. For the last week my wife has
been in hospital undergoing dan
gerous operation, and during that time
l have read no newspapers and have
transacted no business. Politics was
farthest from my thoughts. It was a
surprise~to me today when I learned
that the statement had been published
that had become Republican and
that my name had been stricken from
the caucus list of the Democratic Sena-
tors. Some time ago had a frank talk
with Senator Jones, who had noticed
my absence from some of the Demo-
cratic caucuses. I told him that my
absence was caused by my feeling that,
in view of the radical difference of
opinion on certain matters OF national
policy between me and the other Dem
ocratic Senators, my presence in eau
Gus might be wrongly construed. It
might be thought that I would use
some of the secrets Of the caucus to the
detriment OF the party in the Senate.
Moreover, it would have been useless
for me to attend and engage in any
wrangling about matters in which there
is wide difference of opinion between
me and the majority Of the Democrats.
I did not know until today, however,
that my name had been taken off the
caucus list, and have no knowledge of
it except from the newspapers.
There has been no secret about my
convictions on leading questions. If
some Of them happen to coincide with
those of the Republican party it does
not mean that I affiliate myself with
that party; it means that I conceive
those convictions to be right. I am
willing to stand on whatever record J.
have made, and I would not change
one policy or utterance for dozen
seats in the Senate. I am willing to
submit the issue to the people of my
State st the primaries"
Notwithstanding this emphatic
denial, the newspapers opposing
him are demanding his resigna-
ton anyhow; even the Columbia
State newspaper founded on
Haskelism, is among the loudest
to charge McLaurin with dis
loyalty to the Democracy. The
estate" does not want McLau-
rim to be permitted a voice in the
primary, it wants him drummed
out Of the party bag and bag
gage without a hearing. Was
there ever a display of more
adamantine cheek and unadult-
Grated gall? The Columbia
State, which did all in it's power
to smash the Democratic party,
and in its effort. it gave aid and
comfort to the gang who appeal
ed to the federal courts to bring
the negro into our politics, wants
McLaurin driven out of the
party because, he would not
follow a majority Of his party
associates on certain national
questions. A newspaper with a
black stripe down it's back should
not have much influence with the
Democratic party of this State.
McLaurin'S independentcOurse