The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-12-04
HON JOHN l.. McLAUR1N
TO PETITION SINGERS


ssersou county members Of the Legis-
zature, grand jury and others sign
ing petition:
Gentlemen-Your request that I en-
ter the campaign for governor OF
South Carolina is valued by me more
than any compliment that ever re-
ceived. think it's true meaning lies
IN the fact that you feel the primary
system in this State is not meeting
the purpose for which it was devised
by calling into public service the men
best qualified. It's original purpose
was to keep the white people united
not to divide them into two bitterly
hostile factions, where the electorate
is debauched by the use of money
and the circulation of SANDER
The expense debars men of mod
crate means, and men Of refinement
shrink from entering scramble
where the methods OF the political
bIackguard and bully are at pre-
MUM The instinct of the people
often saves a democracy, and While
your choice Of me is open to DOUBT
fhe call itself is q wise step. L pc
,ieye that TIE conservative thought OF
this state should control its policies,
and that extreme men in both fac
tons ere unsafe leaders a this crisis.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to
tread" At my age I am not inclined
to hunt new responsibilities, but
never wish to srow so old Eor become
so selfish as 20 shirk them.
entered public life with certain
ideals have often fallen short OF
them. I am very human. but thank
God my capacity for following the
ideal increases with time.
The war will unsettle the POLITICAL
social and industrial status:
First. We need to strengthen our
primary system and unite our people
fo meet the situation at the close OF
the war.
Second. I'VE need a more modern
and businesslike state and county gov
eminent There are too many ohlcers
.suulicating work and piling up useless
expense.
Third, We need the warehouse sys-
eem developed to where it will be pre-
nared to store, grade and sell our
cotton crop when normal conditions
return It's mission as means mere
" to finance cotton has been accom-
plished.
do not mind making the campaign
7 believe such speeches as l might
he able to deliver would do good IN an
educational way. I confess, however
that / do dread the crucifixion oha'
would follow, if when elected 1 un-
ss,ertake to carry out the ideas herein
EXPRESSED. I have only to revert 20
whe storm of abuse and misrepresen-
xatioa that poured like hot lava on
INV head when | was establishing the
state warehouse and found it neceS-
sary to run counter to the selhsh
creed of the classes who were fatten-
ing upon extortionate interest, lnsur-
ance rates, etc.
/ could not do thing OF value
without the confidence and suppo
nj right-thinking men in both fact 5.
i would not be worth any more
anv other factional governor, and l
assure you that the empty honor does
not appeal to me. I have held many
ofices and ! know from experience
that there is nothing in them unless
YOU can use them in a big way LOT
the public good. 1 am not AFRAID OF
my enemies. 1 have ever tougnt
them 1t is my friends that I fear
for am very susceptible to influence
from them. 1 cannot answer your
request at this time. l have mace
some business connections and so
many of our boys are called to war
that before an free to incur other
obligations, those already made must
be considered. I am trying to leave
my personal ambitions out OF the
question. l have always deeply re-
sented the manner in which the rules
of the Democratic party were changed
so keep me from entering the pri-
mary. They were afraid to trust the
people to defeat me. intended al
some time to fight it out before the
..5 o.1, ,aoIacf;oo fO tho Sem