The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-05-09
BETHEA THINKS NLAURIN
WOULD SUCCEED TILLMAN
Record.


Record.
Andrew J. Bethea, lieutenant gov
ernor, is of the opinion that the an
nouncement of John L. McLaurin,
State warehouse commissioner, for
lieutenant governor is nothing but the
beginning of a campaign to succeed
B R. Tillman as United States SEN
ator. Mr.. Bethea did not announce to-
day for reelection as lieutenant gov
ernor, saying, There is ample time
before the campaign opens for me to
give to the public my views, whether
l stand for this Office or some other"
Mr.. Bethea says the slurring refer
! eGce to the lieutenant governorship
made by Commissioner McLaurin in
the address to the warehousemen yes
terday is unworthy and shows lack
of appreciation Of many men who
helped to make illustrious the history
of South Carolina"
The announcement of John L. Nc
Laurin q Jas the chief topic in political
circles today, and many others think
as Mr. Bethea does that Commissioner
McLaurin is building up the nucleus
! of a political machine that will be
used to boost him into the United
States senate. However, Mr.. McLau-
rim said in his address that his mo-
tives were purely patriotic and many
persons think the former senator
would not risk the life of the State
warehouse system by projecting it in
to politics.
another interesting question that
has arisen in political circles since
Mr. McLaurin definitely made his an
nouncement is: What are the insur-
ance people going to do? Many poll
ticians think that they also Will put a
candidate into the field for some State
office for the purpose of answering
any attack the warehouse commits
sioner may make On the insurance
companies and to present their side
OF the companies in the Laney-Odom
controversy. Many astute political
observers are of the opinion that
should such course be taken by the
insurance interests it will cause the
issue to be sharply drawn and all
other questions will be subordinated
with John L. McLaurin championing
the cause of the people
The following interview with Lieu
tenant Governor Bethea will probably
further heighten the interest in the
political situation, particularly that
part in which he says that Commits
sioner McLaurin is trying to head off
other aspirants for the U2ited States
senatorship:
Il am not worried over McLaurin's
announcement for lieutenant gov
ernor. The Office belongs to the peo-
pie and not to me and he or any other
man who can comply with the rules
Of the Democratic party has a right
to run. There is ample time before
the campaign opens for me to give
to the public my views. whether
stand for this office or some other.
1T does rot take a Solomon. how
ever. to see that McLaurin's real pur-
pose is to head off Lever, Pollock,
Biease and others in an effort to sue
coed Senator Tillman in the United
States senate
Commissioner McLauria's state
ment that the office of lieutenant gov
ernor is an office no grown man
wants and no live man would have is
unworthy and shows lack of ap-
prec;ation OF many men who have help
ed to make illustrious the history OF
South Carolina. But distinguished
men like Christopher Gadsden. John
Drayton. Richard de Treville, d. X
Henaigan. W. D. Simpson, John c.
Sheppard. Eugene B. Bary and many
others of high character and ability
need no defense at my hands