The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-03-27
WHAT DAMNED MeLAURlN rs A VIRTUE
WITH HIS ENEMIES.
we remember corr

WITH HIS ENEMIES.
If we remember correctly,
Senator Joseph Blackburn OF
Kentucky, was one of the Demo.
cratic Senators that questioned
the party fealty Of Senator John
L. McLaurin, and claimed that
McLaurln was catering to the
Republican president for polltl-
cal favor in the shape of an ap.
pointment on the Philippine
Commission, or judgeship. Nc
Laurin made a speech IN the
Senate along party lines, ana IN
a few days conditions changed,
from partisan politics to loyalty
to country. The country's flag
had been fred upon by a foreign
foe, and with his conception of
American loyalty, McLaurin laid
aside the party game and re-
fused to permit himself to be
tried by a party caucus led by
men in whose craftsmanship he
had no confidence. The leading
forces of the Democratic caucus
then were J. K. Jones, B. Il.
Tillman and Joseph Blackburn.
He knew the purpose was to OBJ:
struct the administration, and
that such obstruction was NOT
for the good Of the country, but
solely to enhance party interests,
at any rate, John L. McLaurln
chose to cast his vote contrary
to the wishes of these self-as,
sumed party leaders: and for do,
ING so he was ostracised, stigma
tized and crucifed. He Was
charged with selling out, with
having been bribed with the
promise of Office; even the la,
mented Mckinley was slandered
by these reckless politicians who
had formed a conspiracy to de.
stroy McLaurin. Jones was the
national chairman and was very
loudmoutnedin claiming that Nc,
Laurin had deserted to the Re
publicans with the Philippine
commission as the price. Presi-
dent Mckinley did tender Nc,
Laurin one of the Democratic
places on this commission, which
he declined. Then Jones said it
was for a federal iudgeship.
President Roosevelt did offer
McLaurin such a position which
he also declined, and again the
lie was given to the charge that
she sold out to the enemy" but
{ all the same the people of South
Carolina so idolized Tillman at
the time, it would have been
useless for McLaurin to have
attempted a defense. he retired
from the political field, and the
people of South Carolina lost
from the Senate man who
was conscientiously serving his
State, country and constituents,
was no sensationalist, nor did he
use his high place to advertise
a private business on the side
for money making purposes. If
ever man served his country
unselfshly it was he. J. K.
Jones, the party chairman. who
aided Tillman to destroy Nc
Laurin changed his vote on the
canal question and begged for a
place on the commission, but he
didn't get it. nor was he sent
back to the Senate by his people.
They discovered his hypocrisy
in his connection with the round
bale trust, and now comes "Joe"
Blackburn, another OF the Dem
ocratic party's sponsors defeated
for reelection to the Senatee ac-
cepts an appointment on the
Panama canal commission from
President Roosevelt, and gives
it as his opinion that Kentucky
will go Republican next time. It
was the rankest kind Of party
disloyalty for McLaurin to use
his influence with a republican
administration to fill the ap-
pointive Offices in the South with
white men instead of negroes,
for that is what he done, nothing
did he ask of the administration
that would help him personal
ly. The president having
confidence in his ability and
integrity offered him an
appointment which he de-
clined, but those who conspired
with Tillman to destroy him
could and did accept any and
everything a republican presi-
dent would give, and the main
conspirator, Jones, actually beg
ged and pleaded for a job. Till
man is the only one of the bunch
who has not hung around the
president for a crumb from his
table. He does not have to, as
his job is good for six years
longer; but as much as he has
said about Roosevelt, if ne lost
his place in the Senate and a
nice juicy plum was offered him
ne would do like the rest, take
1t and be glad to do so.
SCRAP BETWlxT DEVIL AND SAINT
We now look for a rna,,.u u-ar