Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-30
Senator McLaurin Has Little Chance
for Reelection.
PARTISAN LINES TIGHTLY DRAWN
He VIII Be Fought as a Republi-
can Candidate.
OLD PREF JUDGES REVIVED

Special From a STAFF Correspondent
COLUMBIA, :. G. May 3o-Hcre Is Mr..
NcLaurin's station in a nutshell: As long
as he voted in the Senate I'm accordance
with his new policies for the industrial
south and retained the seat to which he
was elected as democrat he was answer
able only to his own conscience for his
course. Ostensbly he was a democrat
elected upon a specific platform. and his
votes for measures antagonistic to that
platform he could explain. But now he
resigns his seat in the Senate and asks the
people Of South Carolina to indorse him
not as an exponent of declared democratic
principles. but virtually as a republican.
1t is so understood in South Carolina All
that Mr.. McI.aurin advocates is insepara-
| bly, connected with repuhlicauism In the
minds of these people He is actually and
absolutely therefore demanding their ap-
probation Of his advocacy Of principles and
policies of the opposition party. That is
whore his trouble lies. and in that will he
find his defeat
Mr.. Tinman and his friends will never
for moment let Mr.. McLaurin go away
from that issue. They Will dingdong It
into the ears Of the people that Mr.. Nc
Laurin is insisting that they shall follow
him into the republican party. Ii is clearly
evident now that such will be the campaign
and the issue Mr.. McLaurin will have to
face. In that situation ii is almost hone
less to believe that success can possibly at
tend his efforts Mr.. McIaurin must know
this In his heart, and ii is safe to say he
would not have precipitated this issue or
placed himself in this predica meut after
mature reflection. The resignation scheme
was thrust upon him and Mr.. Tillman
jumped at the opportunity thus casually
offered to put his adversary at disadyan-
tage.
Hatred of RepubIicanism.
II is difficult to make an outsider under
stand the depth ana extent Of the hatred
which the people of South Carolina feel
toward the republican party. Republican,
ism is their perennial enemy. No glamour
Of national policy can possibly cover the
fact to them that republicansm comes
home to them in state and local affairs in
its most objectionable form. The appoint
ment of one negro postmaster is Of far
more gravity in their eyes than any
tional policy, however beuefiCent.
Let no man dream for instant that
the era of good feeling goes to the extent
OF making republicanism acceptable. The
lines are closely drawn and as harsh
ever they were In reconstruction days. and
every man in South Carolina who wants
to tell the truth knows it. l am speaking
now of the rank and file of the state at
large not Of the little cotere of manufaC-
turers, bankers and business men who meet
at the club and discuss the broader ques-
tions of the states welfare, but the rough
and ready old fellows who cast the votes
and swing the state. ReDublicanism in
South Carolina is a malodorous term. 1t
has obtained it's i'll favor, not from
quaintance with the broad and beneficent
policies Of the national party, but from bit
ter experience with local and state admins
trations. South carolinians recite long
lists of grievances and wrongs sustained at
the hands of men who paraded under the
flag of republicanism. although not repre-
senting 1t as it Is known In the nations
affairs South Carolinians bitter and
vengeful toward the republican party, and
their support cannot be bought by any
promise of prosperity, state or national,
that is to be obtained under republican aus
pices. Yet, in this state of feeling that
exists just certain the sun shines,
comes Mr.. McLaurin and asks the people
to follow him on a new road, at the be-
ginning of which his opponents have placed
the sign board, ITO the Republican Party"
and every man the state believes the
legend to be true.
McLaurin's Declarations Do Not Count
1t makes no difference that Mr.. McLaurin
declares to the contrary. He is stamped
as the advocate of policies distinctly re-
publican and is known as the dispenser OF
patronage given by republican President.
The situation is growing very perlous for
Mr. McLaurin. His adversaries are push
along lines very much to his disadvantage.
1t is almost certain that he will be COM
pelled to begin the campaign at once, al
though he has asked for grace.
The democratic state committee VIII
meet within ten days to fix the date for
holding the primary election. There
forty members OF that committee and
thirty-nine of them are said to be Tilman
men. Mr.. Tillman wants the primaries
held in August MIR. McLaurin has de-
clared that his health will not permit a
summer campaign and pleads for delay. In
Columbia it is thought the committee will
call the primaries to suit Mr.. Ttllman. IL
is suggested that Mr.. McLaurin may poss-
bly, have to abandon the campaign alto
gether in such an event and leave the field
to his opponent.
Mr. McLaurin's future upon the basis that
either he win be crowded out or will be
defeated. The popular idea is that In the
event of the retirement of United States
District Judge Simonton, now an aged man,
If his retirement occurs within President
McKinleys term, Mr.. McLaurin will get
the judgeship.
Tinman's Double Purpose.
Mr.. Tillman is supposed to have two OBJ
jects in forcing the campaign for the early
summer In the first place, because his
opponent has reasons for delaying 1t, and
in the second place, because, it is said, he.
does not want Mr.. McLaurin to have time
to build up strength in the state with the
possible aid OF federal patronage When
the primary election occurs there will be
two senatorial tickets, for the long
term and one for the short term. The
present prospect is that no one else will
enter the contest for the long term against
Mr.. Tillman. He and Mr. McLaRrin will
probably have the field to themselves. The
other candidates will run for the short
term or the seat now held by Mr.. Nc
Laurin. When the legislature meets, Jam
nary next, the legislators acting upon the
of the primary election will
elect the two men there chosen.
The state is intensely excited over the
situation, and If the primaries are called
for August the campaigning will COM
mence Immediately. 1t will be bitter and
personal contest. 1t is significant that
many of the very men who have been en-
couraging Mr.. McLaurin's policy who be-
i.,i a. IL ir