The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-08-28
THEY STICK TO IT.
The Executive Committee Does
Nos Regr~s Askirg
M'LAURlN TO RESIGN.

They Were Not Mislsd ard ThsY
Consider the Suggestion
as Reflection on
Their intelligence.
The following correspondence ez-
plains itself:
On the 9Th of August I issued and
sent to each member Of the State Dam
ocrstic executive committee Who voted
for the resolution condemning Senator
McLsurin the following circular letter
referring to an interview with W. D.
Msydeld, published iu the State:
1T is charged in the public prints
that twelve Of the executive committee
who voted for the resolutions condemn
ing Senator McLaurin had been heard
to express regret for their part in the
performance the day after the meeting
and clsinedas so excuse for their con-
duct that they had been nisled.
''Will you be pleased to inform me,
by return mail, If you have expressed
any such regret?
''Have you ever stated that you were
misled in the NATTER"
To tbis letter have received the
fol,oWins answers from the members OF
the committee:
JOHN G. RICHARDS, OF KERSEAW.
Il have your connun icssion Of Au-
gust 9, in which you call my attention
to the charge in the public prints that
twelve Of the State Democratic execu-
tive committee, who voted for the reso-
luton condemning McLsurin, had
been heard to express Eeg.et Tor their
part in the performance the day after
the meeting, and claimed as an excuse
for their conc uct that they had been
misled." And in which you also ask
me the questions: Will you bs pleased
to inform me by rsturn mail if you
have expressed any such regcet?'
''Have you ever stated thst you were
misled in the matter?
I'm reply I will say that I have never
regretted my part IN the performance,
snd vas not 'nnisled,' nor have evsr
made such statement to any one.
Il introduced the resolution after
mature deliberation and went to Colum-
bia to attend the meeting Of the COM
mittee with the firm determination to
take snch action. There was no at
tempt on the part Of any one to mis-
lead. [ submitted the resolution to
several members os the committee and
to other prominent Democrats who
we're rot members before the meeting
and it wss with the practically unani-
nous endorsement Of these South Car
olina Democrats that the resolution
was adopted.
1t was not thousht for q moment
that Senator McLaurin would resign,
for ne know that the same lack Of
self. respect has caused him to retain his
seat il the United States Senste with
full knowledge Of the fact that he Wss
not in sympathy and accord with the
National Democracy and with the people
who gave him his commission, would
cause him to disl egard aoy action thst
the committee might take.
THE purpose Of the resolution was
to stamp condemnation upon his fore
head with the oGcial seal Of the party
that the world might know how South
Carolinisns regard asd deal with those
who betrsy sacred trust.
ALLOW me to say in this connection
that the charge that the committee
Transcribed its authority and attempt
ed to usurp the rights Of the people is
simply ridiculous. Any pTi7ste citizen
has the right to ask the resignation Of
an official wherever, in his judgment,
the conduct Of the official Wsrranss such
action. 1t is self-e7ldent proposition
then, that the executive committee Of
the psrty have . much greater right.
''An6 if Senator MeLaurin had ten
dered his resignation in compliance
with the request Of the committee as
expressed in the resolution and entered
the primary that would have been or
dered Immediately, the rights Of the
people would have remained inViolate,
and the opportunity :gi7en them to re
cord their will q year earlier under
present conditions. So We see that the
charge is untrue and made with an
evident attempt to deceive. Respect
fully, j. G. RICHARDS, JR
TEoNAs q. KETCBINS, OF FAIRFIELD.
''Rs7e been away from home for
several days and On my return ind
yours Of the 9sh. =
In reply would ssy I have rever had
OF expressed aDy regret for the way |
- voted On the "McLlurin resolution"
and under the same circumstances
would vote tbs same way now.
- have ne7er stated that was mis-
led in the matter, because l vas not.
Furthermore, I was not 'coerced or
rricked' in the matter. l voted DELHI
eya:ely and with my eyes open.
Il said then that did lot think it
was the right time to take action IN
the matter, but if brought squarely up
would certainly vote for tie resolution.
Yours very respectfully, -.
Thomas &. ketchins."
W. W. WILLIAMS, OF AIKEN.
''Yo1r circular letter Of August 9
duly received.
From my knowledge Of the pers enc!
Of the State committee an surprised