The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-05-08

publican in Democratic disguise The
State Democratic executive commit
tee met and under the dictation Ct
my colleague In the Senate, form
ally declared that l was not Demo
liar action on the part Of the Demo
clatic caucus CT the United States
Senate. TIE policy Of my opponents
haf been TO belittle the real issues
into a personal quarrel between Till
i:an and McLaurin. This issue l am
not willing to accept, as do not pro-
pose to be influenced in my public
course by personal spleen or petty
jealousy. The public interests should
never be subordinated to purely per.
soral ends. Now, the proposition of
my political enemeis is to exclude
me from the primary as candidate.
snd to exclude all candidates Of Of
fee who entertain my vie~'s, and thus
prevent the people from hearing me
in justification Of my course and in
advocacy of the absorbing public
measures now confronting the Ameri-
can people. | am convinced and fore
warned of this purpose to exclude me
aid my friends, because | have read
the speech Of Senator Tillman, the
acknowledged dictator Of the Demo
cratic machine of South Carolina, de-
livered at Manning, in. which he di.
rects revision Of the rules and form
and oath of the party for the purpose
of excluding myself and friends from
participating in the primary. resent
the suggested exception Of myself.
for of course I would not make my
race for the Senate, or proclaim my
views under conditions which were
not equally applicable to those who
entertain and advocate my views, l
have an abiding faith that it will yet
Ce shown that the dictator OF the ma
chine is not the exponent of the views
If the majority of our people. The
primary system adopted in our State
through the farmers movement has
been prostituted and perverted into
a political machine for the purpose OF
excluding all candidates who are no.
in full accord with the views and
wishes Of the dictator. The question,
therefore is, will the people Of the
State submit to disfranchising the IN
telligent people and excluding them
from our elections?
With such system have no SYM
pathy and feel impelled by a strict
sense Of duty, to warn the people
against such tyranny as it encourages
and establishes. With these facts be-
fore me, and my convictions as to the
original purpose Of the primary sys-
tenn. l am driven to the conclusion
that it has subscrvel its purposes and
has outlived its usefulness. 1t is.
therefore, a matter CT no concern to
me what may be the action OF the
May convention cs to the rules Of the
primary and a rev. sion OF its pledges.
The suppression Of free speech
ard independence Of action by such
means renders it impossible for any
se'f-respecting citizen holding my
views, to become Il candidate in the
democratic primary i'll South Caro-
ma. 1t is apparent that the system
has been warped and twisted so as
to serve the one purpose of throttiing
free speech, free thought and liberty
of action. The primary system in
South Carolina has been sacrificed
upon the altar of partisanship and
personal malignity, and has there
fore become unpatriotic and useless
and should be ignored and finally
repudiated by our people with a pur-
pose similar to my own, to look hope
fully to the results OF fair and just
general election under our State and
national laws.
"A party yoke has been placed
upon our people and it has become too
Calling for further endurance, and
set I realize that many of my loyal
friends would even oEce more hold
II check their resolution not to again
enter our system Of primary elections
ii order to again vote for me, but |
Lave reached the point where | will
rot subject them to subscribing to an
cath to support men and measures
which do not represent their views
upon the issues of tie American peo'
pie.
Respectfully,
JOHN LOWNDES McLAURIN."