Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-10-12
az RAIL AND AUTOMOBILE
Editor Takes a Jaunt and Tells OF
Things by the Way.

Editor Takes a Jaunt and Tells OF
Things by the Way.
Without previous appointment and
mainly Ter the purpose Of seeing what
was TO be see and hearing what was
TO be heard, the editor Of The Enqui-
rer took a Jaunt out of town last fri
day afternoon and returned Saturday
night. The jaunt took him to Column
bia by rail, and from Columbia to
by AUTOMOBILES; back TO Col
umbia by rail and from Columbia to
Rock Hill. Such observations and ex-
periences as seem to be worth o
ing follow:
had advised my friend, Hon. John
L. McLaurin, that / was coming to
Columbia, and by invitation l went to
his rooms in the state warehouse
building. 1t was my first trip to Col
umbia since MIR. McLaurin has estab-
lished his living quarters over his Of
fees, and I saw several things that in
terested me. For one thing, Mr.. Nc
Laurin has fitted up one Of the largest
rooms in the big warehouse quite,
handsomely. The walls have all
been calsomincd, there is neat mating
on the floor, and the furniture consists
of a desk, several chairs, a bed, and
dresser. There is a lavatory, Of course,
and a bathroom. The only pictures on
the walls are large photographs OF
on MI. McLaurin's Marlboro
plantation. Among these Is an ex-
tensive panoramic view Of his mill
pond, dam, cotton gin, corn mill, II
plantation home. There Is another
picture Of his plantation
house, showing several head Of fine
cattle browsing in the front yard, and
still another picture shows the interior
of his plantation library and office.
Under this picture of the office he a
written: where the State Warehouse
Bill was Drafted"
Mr.. McLaurin does not think about
much else than the state warehouse
system now. He is giving himself al
most entirely to the problems con-
nected Herewith, and he seems to be
more interested in the subject now
even than when he was in the senate
People who know how much OF his
time and thought he gave the subject
when he was in the senate would not
realize how it was possible for him to
give any more. But now he Is begin
ming to run upon new obstacles n
new problems as we'll as a new class OF
opposition. In the legislature the oppo-
sition came mostly from politicians
who were instigated and inspired
by opposing business and finan-
cial interests or h outside. But
to Mr.. McLaurin such opposition as
this was mostly a joke. Notwithstand-
ing all the mountains of prejudice that
had been heaped up against him In
years gone by, he was able to handle
the politicians like so many children.
He knew his subject with masterful
thoroughness; he knew he was
able to say what he wanted to
say, and without an equal in ability or
experience in the handling Of legisla-
tive procedure, he had everything his
way. That was especially true Of the
senate, although in the house where
he had to work through others, the
problem was more difficult. How 1t
all came out, however, the people Of
the state are very we'll aware.
1t is business and financial opposi-
ton with which Mr.. McLaurin is now
wrestling. He had just gotten on to
the facts of a formidable movement
against the state warehouse system.
He had already given out information
to the papers the night before Of how
big financial interests in this state and
Georgia were working to perfect a
tremendous combine to nip the state
system in the bud. He told me exact
ly how he had secured his information
and showed me satisfactory informa-
ton Of it; but for 81 that are en-
tirely satisfactory he does not desire
that I divulge the secret But Mr..
McLaurin was not at all worried. On
L. ~ fr,a n1nnon6 bUUhof
they are doing" he said, sis only still
further vindication of what / have been
doing. They have their millions behind
them; but already cotton producers
have placed about $4,000 worth Of
warehouse property at my disposal,
and I believe I have showed them
enough to convince them that 1t will
never do to let these private millions
get the BEST of us. I am just begin
ming to feel that there Is more in life
than I ever thought there was" he
concluded earnestly.
1t happened that Mr.. McLaurin had
an engagement to speak at Bethune,
about sixty miles northeast Of Column
bia, and had arranged to start for that
place early Saturday morning in his
car. l agreed to go provided l could
catch a Seaboard train at Bethune that
would bring me back to Columbia in
time to catch the train for Rock Hill.
We made quick time to Camden; but
on reaching there at about 8 O'Clock,
it vas apparent that we would be late
for the Seaboard train at Bethune, so
l decided to go back to Columbia from
Camden. Mr.. McLaurin went on to
Bethune in his car.
The road between Columbia and
Camden Is very good, especially that
portion of it lying in Richland county.
the Richland county portion is sand
and clay, and Is quite smooth. The
car went w IL at a pretty lively clip,
just how fast, it would not be prudent
to say. The Kershaw end Of the road
is not sc good, not having been sanded
so we'll, and having been cut up con-
siderably. The crops on the road are
generally not good. There are some
exceptions; but for the most part the
cotton crops appear to be very light.
There was very little appearance Of
general traffic during the trip. We
met a few bales Of cotton coming to
Columbia from the Richland end and
we passed a few bales going to Cam
den from the Kershaw end; but there
was not more than a dozen bales in
all.
While we were passing some fairly
good looking cotton fields Mr.. McLau-
rim said: MY crop is a failure this
year. 1 am not making half as much
as 1 made last year, and it Is largely
because I have not been there to at
tend to It," He went on to say that
he had discharged his overseer for in
efficiency and that John D., (his SOM
runs whenever he sees me coming"
Mr.. McLaurin is a farmer of very con-
siderable ability, and it is his habit to
stick close to his work. Having been
away from home practically all the
past spring and summer, and having
been compelled to leave his large
farming interests with others Of less
experience. he has not Jared so well.
1 asked hin some questions, however,
which brought out the fact that he
still has most Of last years cotton crop
on hand, as well as this years crop,
owes no money, and does not expect to
sell any cotton until next spring.
What he said about his short crop was
in a matter-of-fact kind Of way, and
not in the nature Of complaint.
During my short stay in Camden l
had the pleasure of calling on Mr.. and
Mrs. T. Baxter McClain, formerly Of
Yorkville. and also on Messrs. Mellow
Ill a~l NT;14r ~ th1 ~ pn1nn rhrnninln