Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-08-14
McLAURlN AT WESTMINSTER AND 0AKwAY
He Speaks to Two Thousand Peoplc-A Da,
OF Pleasure and Profit.
[Greenville News, August 10. I

Greenvilie News, August 10.
Senator McIIaurn returned yesterday
afternoon from Oakway where he went
to deliver an address to tho Woodman Of
the World who gave real old time pic
mic.
An account of tho meeting, which is
published below, shows this was a neigh
borhOOd affair, or rather intended as
such, resolved itself into largo proper
tions and was n representative gathering
of representative men from Anderson,
Pickens and Grecnvillo counties as we'll
as Oconeo.
At Westminster on Wednesday evening
two to three hundred people came up to
MIR. w. =. Andcrson's home, where Sena-
tor Mclaurin was being entertained, and
demanded speech.
He was introduced by Rev. w. D.
Keller and spoke for about ono hour
One feature of this serenadc was the
large number Of ladies present.
WESTMINSTER SPEECH.
Briefly ho skctchcd the cause of the
political revolution of 1890, having for it's
primary at which every white man in
South Carolina should have the right to
vote for whatever candidate hc desired,
and have that vote counted. This he
contrasted strongly with the old convcn-
ton plan when limitod few selected the
candidates for both county and State Of
fees and elected them, keeping in obey.
anco any belligcrcnts by holding up to
thom tho horrors of negro misrulc. I'm
der this plan We could not afford to dis
cuss issues as was done in other sections
of the United States, and thus the great
questions which were making tho history
Of the greatest nation in tho world were
loft to others, except in national cam
paign years, almost to such an extent
hnf xun II ri nl To, hn1in I,nt
they did not concern us or that wo had
the right to discuss and help decide them.
Having fought for the primal idea, the
wild yaporing of puppet committee of
81 did not concern him. He owned to no
dictatiOn except the votes of the white
men of South Carolina and knew no
arbiter except the wish of these so
expressed at tho polls.
Briefly he skctchcd the campaign of
1897, showing that it has been his on
deavor to secure for his State and sec
ton tho same privileges and benefits
that other sections of this great country
had been enjoying, trying to raise tho
State Of South Carolina from tho posi-
tion of an i'll favored stcp-chld to full
advantage as well as constitutional
theory. For these lo was assailcd by
his enemies as being untrue to his pco-
ple and party. IIo defended every vote
in both tho House and Senate and was
gratifled at tho hearty responses to his
devotion to duty.
Expansion was given clear and lucid
tho former of tho markets of tho Orient,
and tho necessity Of building up splcn-
did American merchant marine
Ilo closed with an earnest appeal to
give the boys of this section tho same
chance as is enjoyed by tho boys of other
great sections of this country.
During tho course of his remarks he
not only tho attention, but tho interest
and sympathy Of tho crowd that camc to
greet him.
OAKwAY MEETING.
Tho following account Of tho meeting
at Oakway is furnished The News by its
regular correspondent 1t is condensed
and much of the good speech made by
tho Senator il therefore but summarized
Tho meeting was monster ono and
tho interest manifested onght to bo a
source Of great congratuation. both to
tho Senator and his friends, and tho pco
ple who planned it and carried it out.
1t was q day Of general enjoyment and
profit. A splendid brass band, secured
by the way from across tho Georgia limo
furnished music, and there was not an
incident during the whole day to MAJ
tho pleasure.
One venerable old farmer, when asked
how ho liked it, said: at carried mo back
to tho days of Calhoun"
There was no stintcd or uncertain ap
plause when Senator McLaurin dc
nounccd tho star chamber proceeding OF
Tillman's committee Of 81, and thcii
crawling obedience to the lash of thcil
boss and master. Tho mon who com.
posed tho crowd arc not tho sort to be
tho followers Of one mans dictation, and
their hearty approval Of tho stinging re-
buko he gave tho puppct committees ac
tion forbodcs no good to them or those
who insist on rule or ruin. If the con
census of this meeting is any indication
of tho feeling of tho frcomcn of tho Pied
mont, Senator McI.aurin will not only