The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-11-06
MCLAURIN QUITS RACE
DONE WITH POLITICS FOREVER,
DECLARES SENATOR.
Issues Statement as Result of Chilly
Reception Accorded His Views
Given at Blease Conference.

McLaurin withdrew from the race for
Governor this morning and announc-
ed that he was done with politics
forever, as a result of the chilly re-
ception he met with at the Blease
conference last night. Mr.. McLaurin
was formerly United States Senator
and was a prominent lieutenant in
the Tillman ranks until they parted
company. From ten years of OBJ
scurity he emerged to fill out the
unexpired term in the State Senate
from Marlboro County and had been
understood to be in the race for
Governor to succeed Governor
BleaSe.
Senator McLaurin in Withdrawing
from the race for Governor issued a
formal statement declaring that he
believed factionalism had gone too
far and that the people would not get
together. He said he was out Of har-
mony with the Blease conference as
expressed last night, and maintains
that "Bleaseism is not higher or
nobler than Tillmanism.' He tells
the people that unless the factional
fight is halted, they will make a
little Mexico out of South Carolina,
and says of Bleaseism: This is
prostitution Of that great uprising
of the people in 1890" His formal
statement says:
Statement of Senator McLaurin.
Il will not be a candidate for Gov
ernor. There is no field for a man
of really conservative views. l think
factionalism has gone too far, and !
am thoroughly satisfied that the peo-
pie are not going to be permitted to
get together by the leaders on either
side.
The views | expressed at the con-
ference last night do not suit either
extreme, and l long ago made up my
mind never to advocate anything
which my inner consciousness teach
es me is wrong. l stand just where
| stood in 1890, for the people.
THAT movement gave the first real
liberty that the masses in South
Carolina ever enjoyed and l find my
self entirely out of sympathy with
the views expressed by the other
speakers at the conference. / do not
think that 'Bleaseism is higher and
nobler than Tillmanism.'
The spirit that animated Till
manism in 1890 was higher and finer
than the sentiments l heard express
ed last night. 1t is the irony of fate.
that |, who suffered most injustice.
from Tillman personally should now
be the sole defender of Tillmanism.
while some of the men who are
melting class hate and prejudice may
get into office, l know that power
gained by such methods is ephemeral
and that the State will suffer. l went
there like a man, said what l had to
say. l don't suit them. They don't
suit me, so l might as we'll be man.
That is better than being Governor
Through With Politics.
Il am out of politics once and for
ever, and feel like a load is lifted
off of me.
Instead of a conference of bitter
partisans there should be confer
ence of men from both factions, who
are not office-seekers, and a fight
made to control the next State Con-
vention. Then go on and elect man
Governor who will know no faction
and neither friend nor foe in the
administration Of public affairs.
IF we do not call halt we will
make a little Mexico out of South
Carolina and what for? Merely to
put this man or that into office. This
is; a prostitution of that great upris-
ing of the people in 1890 which, if l
cannot prevent, | at least will refuse
to assist"
The withdrawal of Senator McLaur-
in leaves Mr. Charles Carroll Simms.
of Barnwell, as the only out-and-out
Blease man in the race for Governor.
His stock went up among the Blease
men to-day following his speech at
the Blease conference last night, and
with the definite withdrawal of Nc
Laurin, who had been thought to be
bidding for the Blease support, the
tendency of the Administration fol-
lowers to rally around the Barnwell
man became pronounced throughout
the day.
Manning Stock Goes Up.
The declaring of war on the candi-
dacy of Richard |. Manning by Gov
ernor Blease sent the Sumter mans
stuck IN among the anti-BleaSe Deo-