Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-12-10

MeLAURIN TO HIS PEOPLE.
Tells Marlboro Folks How He Feels
and What He Thinks.

Pee Dee Advocate.
Col. John N. Drake, the county
chairman, presided at the senatorial
campaign meeting in the court house
last Wednesday at 1890 p. m. He
presented Col. J. P. Gibson, who brief
ly introduced Senator John L. Nc
Laurin, who spoke for thirty minutes
and was roundly applauded throughout
| his address.
Senator McLaurin said he deeply
appreciated being sent to the senate
without opposition. All other places
which he held were obtained by bitter
fights that left their stings and scars.
1t seems to me, he said, that have
accomplished more by the cheaper and
flasher qualities Of my nature, and
got more censure for the best efforts
and most unselfish acts.
Since I retired from the United
States senate, I have come back and
been one Of you. believe you know
that 1 am now better man and will
d
esty Of which I was incapable till
taught a lesson by being chastened and
my ambitions laid in the dust. (Ap-
plause.)
No Place Like Marlboro.
1 do not believe there is a county
where right and justice. and true citi-
zenship is on a par with Marlboro. I
love this county as could love no 9TH
er spot in the Union. I once sold my
property here and left, with the inten-
ton never to return, but couldn't stay
away.
If I had the wealth Of Rockefeller
and every comfort of life, and knew
that the people of Marlboro believed
me dishonest and were afraid to trust
me, 1t would be fly in the ointment.
will go to the senate to represent
Marlboro county. I will do the best I
can. I shall be only one member Of
the legislative body. I have too much
sense to go there and try to run things.
If I did, I would queer" myself in "a
hours. go not as United States
senator, but in the humble capacity Of
representing one county.
Marlboro is entitled to the distlnc-
ton of having been the first county
to set the pace for unity and peace af-
ter the late bitter campaign. I will
not be elected as the candidate Of any
faction. go as the representative Of
the people Of Marlboro county, and re-
sponsible only to them and my God.
(Applause.)
We came very near going to pieces.
1t was only the sober second thought
that saved us. Both factions should
take every man and measure on its
merits in a cold, calm way, and de-
eide what is best, and then track the
line. will do the best can.
Past Political Career.
1 went into politics when I was
mighty young. I was pulled before I
was ripe. was patted on the back
and made a fool of, to a certain ex-
tent You knocked it out Of me, though
you had to hit me hard lick to do it.
thank you for it,-but don't do 1t
again. daughter and applause)
Not "My Friends" Alone.
Any man can come to me, be he
friend or foe. I will treat them all
white, whether they voted for me or
not. It is the only safe way. I believe
in standing by my friends, but in the
discharge Of my official duties, 1 shall
be the representative Of every man,
woman and child, both white and
black. (Applause.)
It will be my duty to help pass laws
to protect the whole citizenship Of
the state and build them up industri-
ally and otherwise.
l want Marlboro, the first to take
a stand for non -partizanship, to create
a wave of peace and unity that will go
from the mountains to the sea, and
give US the best government we have
ever had. (Applause)
The proudest epitaph that / could
have on my tomb would be, not that I
made money, or was a United States
senator, but Here was an honest man
who was true to his country and his
duty"
The consecrated South.
Since I left the attorney generals
office, 1 have not bothered much with
state politics. My thoughts naturally
turn to national politics.
l made a prediction at the Knights
of Pythias convention here that Is
coming true. said that believed the
south had gone through period OF
suffering and waiting, like the chill
dren in the wilderness, and had been
set apart to step in and save the ma
ton. The Yankees will trust a south
ern man quicker than each other.
In the north and west there are
continued contests between capital
and labor, with strikes and riots and
dynamite. The south sits calm and Sc
rene, and the nation is looking to the
south to save it.
They have selected southern man
for president and he was elected, not
only by southern votes, but carried
nearly every state in the Union. Gap
plause).
The test will come when he at
tempts to carry out the pledges made
to the people. There are divisions and
dissensions among the Democrats as
we'll as among the Republicans. I be-
lieve Wilson has the judgment and
backbone to solve the problem, but he
will need the help Of all true citizens.
You will find me giving him all the aid
in my power (Applause.)
McLaurin VS.. Melaurin
/ hardly know how to make a politi-
cal speech without somebody to op-
pose l can only do like the man who
appealed from a sentence Of Philip.
ITO whom can you appeal?" asked
Philip. The man replied, Il appeal
from Philip drunk to Philip sober"
The only way for me to make a