The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-06-21


Entered at the Postoaice at Manning as Sec
ono Class matter.
BE FAIR.
We are somewhat astonished
at The Charleston Post, news
paper we have always esteemed
highly, that it should, by its
headlines, pervert a news dis
patch into unfair stabs at a cltl
zen who processes to be working
for what he conceives the peo-
pies interests.
President E. D. Smith of the
South Carolina branch of the
Cotton Growers Association
gave out an interview relating
to the good work done by the
association, and The Charleston
Post, without giving to its read
ers the interview in full, gave
but a brief synopsis, with such
misleading headlines as the fol-
lowing: "Says McLaurin Broke
the Rule. Cotton Association
Rebukes Him for Greenville
Speech etc., then continues:
Senator Denounced and is Mix
ing in Prohibition Movement
There is absolutely nothing in
President Smiths interview to
warrant such headlines, hence
they are misleading, doing Mr..
McLaurin, President Smith and
the cotton association AMI injus-
tice.
Senator McLaurin was invited
TO attend the conference of pro
hibitionists in Columbia because
of his known opposition to the
dispensary.- He was no intruder
and he had a right to be there
without his motives being ques-
toned. The cotton association is
nota political movement, and Nc
Laurin's connection with it is as
an individual and a cotton plant
er. He holds no official position
in the organization other than a
member of a committee to seek
the assistance of the federal gov
ernment.
Because McLaurin is lending
his ability to help the cotton as
sociation, is that any reason Why
he should disfranchise himself
and not take interest in politics?
Has he not the right to accept an
invitation to attend a prohibition
conference, when he has for a
number of years disapproved of
the dispensary?: The Charleston
Post would treat McLaurin as if
he were an outcast and should
not be permitted to show his face
again. McLaurin does not de-
serve such treatment. He did
not retire from Office with the
smell Of corruption clinging to
his Official robes; no man has
charged him with pilfering the
treasury. His probity has not
been questioned. The most that
his violently bitter enemies have
charged up against him was that
his views upon certain national
questions were not in accord
with the leaders of the Demo
cratic party. This should not
cause him to be everlastingly
damned, maligned, misrepresent-
ed and even slandered. He
should not be treated as if he
had sneaked into the treasury
and carried away the rebates Of
a million dollars worth of whis-
key: his ability, integrity and
patriotism entities him to respect
and fair treatment, and when the
usually broadmlnded Post pre-
sumes to twist an interview into
that which it did not say, then it
is guilty of a discreditable busi-
ness which we were not prepared
to see in its columns.
There was a time when q GER
tain element. aided by certain
newspapers had the power to
WELD effectively the weapon of
Misrepresentation. but that day
no longer. thank God, is here:
The people are informed, and
when newspapers and politicians
make false arguments, and re-
sort to misleading practices, they
are deceiving themselves and not
the people.
We do not know that Mr.. Nc
Laurin ever Intends to again run
for Office, but we do know that
many, very many, who were mis-
led by the newspapers and poll
ticians opposing him, now believe
that a great injustice was done,
and if be does run for Office again
he will be strong factor. But
it matters not what his future
intentions are, we contend that
if he appreciates the friendship
of thousands of people through
out South Carolina. it is his
right and privilege to accept in
vitations to attend conferences,
make speeches and do any and
all things that an honorable gen
tleman and a statesman can to
educate the masses upon public
questions without having his mo-
tives misrepresented.
We herewith reproduce Presi-
dent Smiths interviaw- and will