The Washington times., 1902-08-24
Struggle in Palmetto State
Due to Senator Nc
Laul-In.
TlLLMAN SAID TO CONTROL
Brief Glance Over Political Field How
McLaurin Was Forced Out of the
Race-Measures OF Machine to Per-
petuate Tillmarism.

ina which is nearing close is in many
'espects one Of the most remarkable in
he history of a State which holds the
'ecord for political hysteria and main
aims unique attitude even among her
iouthern sisters toward those great sub,
ects OF society. the laws of social
;rowth and Improvement, the rights,
claims and duties OF various classes OF
The community which may be classified
under the general head of social staus-
ties
The campaign meetings which have
been in progress for nearly three
months, were concluded on August q
and the primary elections will follow
on Tuesday These primary elections
settle the political rights of the candi-
dates and take the place of the general
election in November. which is pracu-
eally merely 4 matter of form. They
are Democratic primaries, but as the
Republicans Will have no candidates in
the field for either State or Federal
Offices the general election will amount
only to perfunctory ratification of the
nominations made at the primaries.
In Two Sets.
So great was the number OF candi-
dates for the six state Offices and the
seat in the United States Senate to be
shortly vacated by Senator John l.. Nc
Laurin, that the campaign meetings wer
divided into two sets. For the Federal
office there are six candidates, and 70,
she six State Offices and the office of
railroad commissioner, which is filed
by the Legislature upon the primary
nomination, there are ffty-three candi- |
dates.
The six candidates for Senatorial hon
ors are Col. William Elliott. who has |
been Representative in Congress from /
what is known as the black district OF |
South Carolina for about a dozen years:
John J. Hemphill, who also served the
State in Congress prior to the advent of
the Tillman dynasty; Asbury Latimer.
who has been and still is a Congress
man from the Piedmont section of the
State; John Gary Evans. ex-governor of
the State. VINO was defeated by Nc
.laurin for the Senate six years ago; d.
:. Henderson and George Johnstone.
"ho have both been members of the
State Legislature for many years.
Latimer and Evans have both been
Identified with the Tillman faction Of
the Democratic party since its organi-
zation in 1890. Elliott, tombstone Hemp
hill and Henderson have always been
politically identified with the old Hamp-
ton Democracy. which liberated the
state from negro domination in 1876,
and have been classified. up to the pres
ent campaign, as anti-Tillmanites
Avowed Candidate for Reelection.
1t will be remembered by those who
have followed the political history OF
the Palmetto State that about year
ago Senator John L McLaurin was an
avowed candidate for recollection, and
that he made several speeches by re-
quest in different parts of the State. in
which be vindicated his course in the
United States Senate. and launched >
what was termed the McLaurin move
ment, or Commercial Democracy. Nc
Laurin's views, in the main, found IA
vor with the old Hampton Democracy
of the State, which. for ten years. had
been as completely shut out from par,
ticipation in the political government of
the State and from all Offices. both
State and Federal, as if they had been
disfranchised or belonged 10 the Repub- I
lican party. which. in South Carolina e
means one and the same thing C
Ihis old Hampton Democracy, or. as r
II was called at the time of TIllman's
upon the political horizon .
the Conservative or anti-TilIman fac "
ton oil the party, is made up OF the mer- 4
;harts, manufacturers, bankers, profes-
slonal men, and the more intelligent :;
and well-to-do farming classes of South
carolina. This faction. when it last Z"
tested its strength in an effort to over p
throw the calling yoke OF Tillmanism. 81
polled $4,000 votes out of 4 total vote w
At the primary election of % 900 But II
hat was several years ago Each wear
since has added TO It's strength and has
lrawn from Tillman's followers. Each Je
rear the tyranny of Tillmanism has be- il
come more oppressive. if
Tillman's Power Waning. eI
TiEman's power is waning perceptibly. IL
wen in his strongholds Not even by ~"
nfammatory appeals to the prejudice -
md ignorance OF his devotces viii be he III
Ible 10 deaden much longer the natural i'
Instincts of State pride and the inborp -
owe Of The gentleman ai
So II was that when Senator McLaurin
Dpeared as a leader of that more pro ha
'ressive Democracy which repgdiates nj
Bryan and his Populistic heresies the IN
isfranchised anti-Tillman faction in -
iouth Carolina saw Iong-Iooked- %
or opportunity to rally around 4
tandard bearer who would represent ha
heir progressive ideas and at least en-
~ ihe foundation Of n movement FL
hich in time would redeem South &c,
arolina from the curse OF Till
1anism. as the Hampton straight out -
loyement had redeemed the state from tt
be curse OF negro rule in 1876 Nc tn
'aurin was not the strongest man who al
'uld have been selected for the lead in,
rship Of this movement because OF his
ast afiiliation with Tillman and his sell
sh oligarchy. But McLaurIn was evi-
emily IN earnest in his change Of heart. Ia
I'd II he had not been fraudulently de-
irred from entering the race as a can 'n'
ldate before the primary he would have OF
oiled over 10000 votes against a field ito
six others. This would. inevitably. mn
ave placed him in the second ,or
-imary as a contestant against the do,
ndidate receiving the next high en-,
st number OF votes. Having thus rie
monstrated their strength the Com "a.
ercial Democracy would have received sal
from the ranks Of all the de- oui
ated candidates and would have won ief