Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-04
Mr.. McLAURlN ACQulESCES
SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR WILL
RETAIN HIS SEAT.
Accepts as Final Gov. McSweeney's
Refusal to Accept His Resig-
natio&<

Senator McLaurin, us&eE date of Ben
nettsville. S. c., has wr1Aen Governor Nc
Sweeney the followingssetsr. acceding to
the governors requestsfh1k he withdraw
! his resignation:
Your letter of the 31stsof May. in which
you decline to accept my resignation as
United states senator, is received.
THE grounds upon which your declina-
ton Is predicated are that the people are
entitled to one year of peace and freedom
| from political battles and bitterness, and
that campaign this year would be a
calamity to the state, to be torn asunder
by heated canvass in the off-year in pol
itics without any possible good to come
of it.
LAS an additional reason you suggest
that any disturbance of the harmony of
the people In their work for the achieve
ment of the material prosperity of the
state might result in retarding this prog
ress.
Il appreciate fully the force of the rea-
sons given by you and the effects upon
the people of the state of a heated and
strife-producing contest for United States
senator this year. For the sake of the
peace, prosperity and happiness of the
people of this state, | am willing to hold
on to my commission of United States
senator and to continue to serve the state
as have done in the past to the best of
my ability
But in retaining my seat in the Senate
L VIII not consent to be handicapped or
boSSed by any one claiming a right to
judge my motives and actions. I propose
TO exercise my Judgment on all national
questions under the influence of a high
sense of responsibility to the people, and
to work for the upbuilding of the political
and material interest of my state l rec
osnlze fully my accountability to the SOW
erelgn people, and am always ready to
give strict account of my official acts to
them. Your suggestion that it is not the
purpose of your official action to prevent
the fullest and freest discussion of all
public questions and the education of the
people along all political lines is in ac-
cord with your patriotic course In refer
ence to the designations
The people are entitled to hear both
sides of these questions and to form
judgment Personalities and bitterness in
a joint debate would interfere with fair
and full discussion of them, and, instead
of educating. would mislead and deceive
them All that l have claimed is this
r1ght or the people and my right to en-
iishten them on these questions whenever
called upon.
I'm my efforts to do this was interfered
with by the senior senator, who affirmed
and hurtful to the people My wish is
that all public questions may be freely and
fully discussed before the people, and I
will be content to abide by their decision
upon them. In consenting to hold on to
my commission, / wish it understood that
1t is In response to yeur patriotic appeal
that 1t IS for the good of the state. and
not because l feared to go before the peo-
pie and discuss with the senior senator or
others the national issues of the day I
am public servant of the people, and 1t
| is my duty and pleasure always to pro-
mote their interests IN every way l can"