The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-12-30

QeCluS upOl1 u1Cti ssA
regardless of the political for
tunes of any man or set OF men.
AN AssAssIN's DAGGER FOR GOLD.
The Washington correspon-
dent of the News and Courier
under date 22nd inst. in a most
cowardly manner follows ex-Sen-
ator John L. McLaurin to his
retirement with a base SANDER.
R. NJ. L. employs the method of
a hired assassin to stab the char
acter of a man whose sin was to
change his vote upon a pending
question. The political enemies
of McLaurin maligned and SLAM
dered him until his proud, sensi-
tive nature could stand it no
longer, and he withdrew himself
from the political arena and
went into retirement. But in
the privacy of his life he is still
to be bounded and it begins to
look as if his enemies propose
keeping up the fight until the
grave closes upon him. Why?
Are those who misled the peo-
pie realizing that the people are
beginning to see the deception?
Are their consciences troubling
them2 Or is it a fear of the day
Of retribution? The contemptl-
BILE slander we refer to is as fol-
lows:
1t will be remembered that certain
Democrats voted with the Republicans
for the ratification OF the peace treaty,
by which the Philippine gold brick was
saddled upon the United States. Sena-
tor Lodge might throw some light on
the methods employed to bring about
the changing of at least one Democratic
vote on that memorable occasion.
At that timeit was stated that a GER
tain Southern Senator, who made a
speech against the treaty, experienced
change of heart few minutes before
the final vote was taken and voted with
the Republicans. That Senator was
certain of defeat for reelection, and 1t
was well understood. and was never dis.
puted, that he was to receive q Fedora!
appointment, life position, as 8 re-
ward for his patriotism and his friend
ship to the Republican party.
After the vote had been announced,
group of Republican Senators were
celebrating their victory and relating
some of the incidents of the struggle.
Referring to the Southern Senator, who
had changed his vote, prominent Re-
publican Senator, who is now actively
engaged in the Panama contest, ex-
claimed: 'sOh, but we got that vote
cheap
Time passed on, conditions changed
and mems minds changed, and the
Southern Senator who changed his
vote failed to receive the appointment
Sc solemnly promised him. It is not
necessary to mention names.
McLaurin was rendered the
position of Democratic member
of the Philippine commission by
the late President Mckinley;
did he take it? No. Later he
was rendered ajudgeship-a life,
time position: what did he do?
Refusedit. The charge is that
he changed his vote for a FEEDER
al appointment, this must be
false, as the positions offered
him were declined. We have
never seen where it is charg-
ed he sold his. vote for money,
b Ut if that charge were
made. we are in position
to assert that when he went to
the senate he was worth in cash
and property more than some OF
his accusers, and although well
of when he retired, he left a poor
man compared to some who have
been persistently bounding him.
R. NJ. L. may be like some 9th
ers we know, using his pen to
crafty one whose position in
Washington may mean something
for r. NJ. L., and as McLaurin
is no longer in position to aid
department. employees and some
of his enemies are, the keeping
up the misrepresentation may
keep McLaurin's influence from
being felt in 1906.
We believe John L. McLaurin
honestly changed his vote on
the Paris treaty, and also believe
the treaty should have been
supported, and we believe
he served his people faithfully
and honestly. We do not be-
lieve the palm of his hand has
ever been touched with dishon-
est dollar. What we cannot un-
derstand however is why Nc
Laurin's enemies should persist
in charging that he sold out for
Federal position, when it is
known, that two positions greatly
sought; for, were rendered him
and he declined both. j. &.
Jones, chairman of the National
Democratic party was one of the
gang who charged corruption
when McLaurin changed his
vote on the Paris treaty, and
said he was bought with a judge
ship appointment. Jones chang
ed his vote on the canal bill, and
| has been a constant seeker after
a. place on the commission ever
since. McLaurin declined ap.
pointments rendered to him.
Jones votes against his party
and then seeks a job. But RIM.
L.does not mention this; Jones is
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