The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-02-01
Considers Election of Either
Tillman or Blease Stupen-
dOus Blunder.
HE MAY BE A CANDIDATE
But He Does Not Say i'm Signed
Statement Whether He Will
Enter Race for Governor in
Coming Election.

Hon. John l.. McLaurin former
United States senator of South Caro-
lima, and who has been mentioned
repeatedly as a probable candidate
for governor in the coming election.
gave a signed statement to The
Charlotte Observer Monday in which
he declines TO say that he will be a
candidate for governor, rather elm
mating himself from the race by de-
claring that Whoever is elected
governor will necessarily have to
line up on one side or the other" of
the present factional lines" and
this 1 absolutely refuse to do"
His statement in full is as fol
lows:
Il take this method OF reaching
the various people who by petition
and letters have requested me to be-
come a candidate for governor.
promised them an answer during the
present month. At this time l feel
that l can perform a better service
by announcing clearly my political
views than by becoming a candidate
for governor. 1t is probable after
do that many who have supported
me will not do so, and that condi-
tions will make it best that should
not run for office. 1t is evident that
factional lines are to be drawn in
the senatorial race and, while | be-
hn hn ,l, -.
avoiding this issue, l do not want
office on these terms. | have given
the matter careful thought and
want everybody to know before hand
just how | stand. In order TO get
the warehouse bill made a law | had
to reckon with the veto power Of
the governor and without the assist
ance of the faction then in power
could not have moved a step
have always recognized this Obliga-
tion and do not intend to forget it
/ would like to be in a position
while l yet have the mental and
physical strength to further devel-
op the state warehouse system by
also like to organize the machinery
for state insurance not only for
cotton but for other property.
would like to see budget system
for appropriations so as to fix indi-
vidual responsibility for the waste
of tax money, such as is now going
on in South Carolina. / have made
up my mind. however, that | am not
going to keep my mouth shut nor
compromise my convictions for the
sake OF any Office on earth. Should
/ go on the stump this summer
shall unhesitatingly say that | re
gard the election of either ex-GOv-
ernor Blease or Senator Tillman as
stupendous blunder. So far as the
state is concerned it will establish
more firmly than ever the present
factional lines, and whoever is elect
ed governor will necessarily have to
line up on one side or the other.
This l absolutely refuse to do.
"Outside of the local issue the
consequences are more far reaching.
The attitude OF Governor Blease be
fore the war has been bitterly hos
tile to the present federal admins
tration. Everybody who knows
him understands his attitude to-
wards the questions relating to the
war. and that he will go any length,
once he has power. to obstruct the
policies of Woodrow Wilson He is
bold and has great ability in certain
lines. His advent into the senate
would greatly strengthen LaFol-
lette and little group of willful
senator's who are doing all in their
power to hamper the conduct of a
war upon whose result. depends the
future not only of America but OF
mankind everywhere. could not
make campaign speeches and dodge
this issue. | cannot by silence make
myself a party to a national calam-
itv OF this character. Senator TILL
man is incapacitated by physical
weakness for the strenuous work
now required. I am glad to be able
An xFfhat otx o.