The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-08-21
Piedmont in Error

such light, although he is not claim
ing an alignment with anybody. He
feels that every man should do his
full duty in this war emergency. He
mas stated his position fully and
frankly, and accords to each and every
man the right of his own honest con-
victions.
The Piedmont itself refers to the
fact that Senator McLaurin has been
ignored, when it says: "To some of US
it has been a mystery why McLaurin
was not called to take a prominent
part in the work of the state defense
! council" The Piedmont might go
back a little and wonder still more
why Senator McLaurin was not called
upon to take a prominent part in the
civic preparedness commissions worsS-.
The Piedmont appears to nave done
Senator McLaurin an injustice in even
intimating any political tinge to his
letter to the chairman Of the state
council of defense.
The Yorkville Enquirer, friend OF
Mr.. Blease, Mr.. McLauri and the
Greenville Piedmont, te -. the Pied
mont to task for it's attitude in taa
matter. Says the Enquirer:
"Of course, it ought 10 be under
stood by this time, if any man hits
Blease he is going to get hit back, and
if the return blow is not harder than
the blow that provoked it, it will be
through no fault of Blease. But it is
the letter of John L. McLaurin that we
are discussing right now, and oar
proposition that the letter is charao-
teristic of the man. John L. McLaurln
is not for any man, faction or party;
but for his state and nation, and he is
willing to work for or against any
man, faction or party in the interest
OF his state and nation. >. The Green
Vile Piedmont, usually one of the lev
elest headed newspapers that we know
of, takes the letter as an evidence OF
a break between McLaurin and
Blease; but we do not see it that way
at all. He is strictly along the line
that McLaurin has been following
since he has been in public life cad
ing to what he thinks i: ne highest
welfare of the state and nation"
The Milk in the COcangt
The sitaution seems 20 narrow itself
down to this: Whether OF his own 'vo-
lition or not, Mr.. Blease is still the
recognized head of the Reform party
Of the state, and as such he is ready
to support every pasrictic endeavor
on the part of the citizens Of the
state. Senator McLauriu is to be given
credit for the same purity of motive.
There he's been no agre an'ert between
Messrs. Blease and .IcLsurin, and
therefore thele can be no. violation
Of agreement. If there ara any can
didates for Office as yet, they have not
announced themselves. Mr.. Mcl.aursn's
friends do him an injustice when they
nreach that any letter Of his written
from a patriotic standpoint would lead
to "split," thereby leading 70 an in
ference that there may have teen
some agreement and that Mr.. McLaur-
in has broken It. They a.so 10 h1r.
Biease an injustice in creating a pos
si5.e inference that any step taken by
Mr.. McLaurin ir what he considers
the interest of patc'.''ic duty might be
displeasing 10 Mr.. Please. Mr. flease
wants every man to d. mis- duty.
ORGANIZATION the Watchword
What is up to the reform party OF
Scut.. Carolina nov, Irrespective OF
personalities is organization South
Carolina needs above all else, II
she is to contipne her democratic rci-
maries, that ner state democratic ex-
acutive committee shall, he so con-
stituted that its action will He apovA
reproach. The people OF he state are
getting tired ii stolen elections They
want fair count to decide the issues
arising in the party, aid - see to It
that every mans ballo; Is honestly
counted. Therefore, the duty hetcre
the Reform rarsy of the state now S
to get together am SEE to 1t that Eext
April it has representation in the CLUB
meetings and .neaGa:..er in the May
convention, and upon the s'.%.e COM
mittee which Will b: created by that
convention, to The end hat when the
majority of the people o. South Caro-
49,. ho1IoIo eo, rocn and ia.