The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-06-04
SENATOR M'LAURIN WITH
DRAWS HIS RESIGNATION.
WILL NOT BE HANDICAPPED
Yields to Governors Wishes But
Wants No Bossing from
Tillman.

| Columbia, S. c., June 3.-Governor
McSweeney today received the follow.
ing letter from Senator McLaurin:
Dear Sir:-Your letter of May 81,
in which you decline to accept my
resignation as United States senator
| is received.
"The ground upon which your decli-
nation is predicated, is that the peo-
pie are entitled to one year of peace
and freedom from political battles and
bitterness and that campaign this
year would be calamity to the state
to me torn asunder by a heated can
vass in an off-year in politics without
any possible good to come of it. AS
an additional reason you suggest that
any disturbance of the harmony of
the people in their work for the ad-
vancement of the material prosperity
oil the state might be retarding their
progress.
81 appreciate fully the :orce of the
reasons given by you and the effect on
| the people of the state Of heated
strife preceding an election 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 onto my commits
sion as United States senator and to
continue to serve the state as l nave
done in the past to the best of my
ability. But in retaining my seat in
the senate l will not consent tc be
handicapped or bossed by anyone
claiming the right to judge my lao-
tives and actions l propose to exer,
else my judgment on all national
questions under the influence of high
sense of responsibility to the people
and to. work for the upbuilding of the
political and material interests of the
state. l recognize fully my accounta-
billy to sovereign people and am al
ways ready to give strict account Of
| my official acts to them.
Your suggestions that it is not your
purpose by your official announcement
to prevent the fullest and freest dis
cussion of all public questions and
the education of the people along all
political lines, is in accord with your
patriotic course in reference to the
designations. The people are en-
titled to hear both sides OF these ques-
tions and to form their judgment.
Personalities and bitterness in Joint
debate would interfere with fair and
full discussion of them, and instead
OF educating would mislead and de-
ceive them. All that have claimed
is that this right of the people, and
my right to enlighten them on these
questions will never be questioned.
I'm my effort to do my duty, was
interfered with by the senior senator,
who inferred that my doctrines were
political heresies and hurtful to the
people. My wish is that all public
questions may be freely and fully dis
cussed before the people and l will be
content to abide by their decision
upon them. In consenting to hold onto
my commission l wish it understood
that it is in response to your patriotic
appeal that it is for the good of the
state, and not because feared to go
before the people and discuss with
the senior senator or any other man
the national issues of the day. l am
a public servant Of the people and it
is my duty and pleasure always to pro-
mote their interests in every way
can"