The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-07-30
LAURENS, 3. c., July 80, 1909.
About Legislators.

About Legislators.
1t is Of first of Importance that the
people of Laurens elect men of ability,
force and high character to the general
assembly. We should have Legislators
from this county capable of serving the
State and serving it well. We should
rejoice to see Laurens men in the
house proving themselves so distinctly
and conspicuously valuable to the
county and to South Carolina that in
the absence of violent factionalism
they would retain their seats from term
to term by practically unanimous voice.
The office of representative is not
one Of profit. No man makes money
by going to the Legislature. 1t is an Of
flee OF high honor which the ablost and
best men we have should be willing to
fill for the good that they could do for
their people-all the people Of South
Carolina.
In the olden times such men as Capt.
Robert Cunningham, Col. James III.
Irby and Mr.. Henry @. Young, and a
little later Mr.. Charles z. Sullivan,
and Col. VIM. d. Simpson, made Lau-
rens county's voice one to be needed
throughout South Carolina. No man
is too big to serve Laurens IL her peo-
pie call upon him. The time demands
men, strong, capable men who can
lead and whose trained judgment can
be relied upon. 1t Is at this ju%ncture a
tpfyfol onnci1a .o tton ,yhofho, A, ~ z, ,~o,
or that man believes ia this or That
little statute or proposition, for no is
sues have been presented this year
worthy of even sharp debate. 1t is,
therefore, an opportune time for the
people to call to the work OF legisla-
tion men whose personal weight will
be felt.
Six candidates are before the vot-
ers. From them we shall be able to
make up a ticket satisfactory to our
selves. We believe hat most OF them
are better material than the average
Nevertheless, we have heard it sug
gested that other men are needed in
the field. We think that no man in
Laurens upon whom a strenuous de-
mand should be made by a considera.
BILE number of representative citizens
would decline to run. AS a rule, men
OF mature years who have signal abili-
ties and have achieved marked success
in any line of life will not ask to go to
the legislature. But il they are i'm
pressed with the fact that a widespread
and general desire for their services ex-
lists they will not refuse, even if to con
sent involve a sacrifice. The one way
to so impress them is to make it clear
to them by solicitations from a large
number of influential people that they
are really wanted at the front.
***
A Word for McLaurin.
Had Senator McLaurin accepted the
federal judgeship he would have been
unanimously denounced as having
'sold out" to the republicans to get it.
But he has refused the judgeship, af-
flrming that he is unwilling by accept
ing to lend color to Il charge of treach-
cry even though conscious of it's fall
sity. Meanwhile, most of our esteemed
contemporaries continue to abuse Mr.
McLaurin, attributing all manner of
base motives to his declination.
THE ADVERTISER, unlike some of
the bitterest of Mr.. McLaurin's pres
ent despisers, has never had confidence
in him as Il public man, although in
in private life he is a very we'll be-
haved and agreeable sort of chap. 1t
seems to us, however, hat it is shame
full to abuse him for declining the
~judgeship. On it's face, the declination
was made from a crcditable motive and
in u Judgment it is small and de-
spicable to question his motives in the
absence of proof derogatory to them.
Mr.. McLaurin at least occupies incom-
parably higher ground than those
whose souls are too small even to har-
boz the conception of a worthy deed on
the part of an enemy. We say this
much because a sense of common fair
play bids us to say Notwithstanding
that we think Mr.. McLaurin in q gen.
eral way the most pitiable' failure in
public life-and~ deservedly SO.
*,A