Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-05-08

| lina I, on my own motion, requested
him to consider General Hampton
name in connection with the place at
Columbia. Senator McLaurin agreed
that it would be graceful and proper
tribute, and said he would rather see
General Hampton have the place than
any man living. He hesitated, because
understood. told him that believed
| that General Hampton could be given
such strong assurances that his accept
ance of the position would in no way
hamper his political action; that he
could be satisfied on that point. have
reason to believe that such assurances
were given to him. have been Gene
raj Hampton's devoted and personal
friend and admirer through good and
evil fortune for twenty-five years. My
hope was that he would be gratifled by
the voluntary 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. Sem
ator McLaurin's distinct statement to
me after I had suggested the appoint
ment was that he regarded General
Hampton's character and record as
putting him above and beyond ordina-
ry political considerations. At this dis
tance 1 have no means Of knowing
whether in a fight between McLaurin
and Asbury Latimer. General Hampton
would side with Latimer, nor can i'm
agine why. I do know that his proba-
BILE political position was not mention
ed between Senator McLaurin and my
SELF"
SENATOR M'LAURIN's STATEMENT.
This interview with Senator McLau-
rim was published in the daily papers
Of Monday morning:
1.-THE place, so far as am aware, has
not been rendered to General Hampton.
do not profess to be able to control
the appointment. was approached by
a devoted friend Of his, who Is not
much more than an acquaintance of
mine, and asked If I would endorse
General Hampton for postmaster at
appreciated by him at this time. un-
vacancy occurred, If the general de-
sired to accept the place. I was assur-
ed by this friend that he thought it
would be acceptable. I urged the re-
tention and reappointment Of General
Hampton as railroad commissioner, and
had both written and personal acknowl-
edgments Of his appreciation Of the
efforts which kept him in office long
time after his term expired.
Nobody expects to buy General
Hampton, and the headlines Of The
News and Courier are as insulting to
him as unjust to me. I mentioned this
matter to a friend Of mine in Columbia
and it met with his hearty approba-
ton, and he volunteered to ascertain
whether he desired the president to ten
der him the position or not. Everybody
connected with it was Influenced by a
delicate and true regard for General
Hampton, and to drag the matter into
the papers for political purposes Is In
thorough keeping with the bushwhack-
ing tactics employed by those who OBJ
ject to fair argument on public ques-
tions.
II am not and refuse to be dragged
into the papers by every canard by my
political enemies. I will speak to the
public, not the papers, and make my
position on all questions thoroughly
understood at Greenville on the 22d in
stant This particular incident Is clos
ed so far as l am concerned, but am
confident that the friend Of General
Hampton's who first approached me
will corroborate what I say, as I be-
lieve he was acting in the utmost good
faith though entirely without the
knowledge Of the general"