Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-07-12
Anderson, s. G., July 6, 1918

Ine Enquirer anu SHeSnlTeS Sldtc-
ment follows:
Anderson, s. G., July 6, 1918.
Editor Greenville News: In reply
to the news story carried in todays
paper. beg to say that I admit my
wish is a selfish one. but l sincerely
hope that Sheriff Hendrix Rector will
be defeated for reelection, although
I admit he is the best sheriff Green
Vile county has ever had. | want Ia
secure his services as n member of the
Tribune staff. / am said to he the
king Of sensational newspaper men
but If Rector should enter the field
and take a position on my paper 1t
would Immediately back me off tho
boards. Rector will break into the
newspapers even though 1t Is neccssa-
ry to have an attack" of appended
tis and go TO the hospital. which hC
recently did when he found no Other
way to get in his local papers.
I admit that I was In Grecnville
June 9th and had conference
with friend Rector. which took place
in his Office.
When ] read the News this morn
ing. called Rector over long dis
tance aid asked him what brand OF
liquor he was drinking last night
and he replied that he had quit and
joined the church. My reason fol
asking him this question was prompt
ed by a story attributed to presiden,
Lincoln. Jealous officers in the Yam
kee army were continually running tC
President Lincoln. complaining about
Gen. Grant drinking too much, Grant
being In supreme command of the
army and continually winning battles
Finally "Old Abe" grew tired Of these
sore" officers running to him, alf
one day asked one of them y he could
and out what brand ofi,,uor Gran
drank. Il think Fepffedg6e
"Well." said Old Abe, ''let me know
as early as possible, as want to get
a good supply for my other officers
So | wanted to learn from Rector
what brand of liquor he was drink
ing last night in order that I might
get q supply. 1 am certain | could
get out a far more sensational and
interesting paper than | now do II
| could secure some of the Rector
brand.
But back to Rcctors sensational
story: | told him that ! was very
much interested in McLaurins race
that had tried to get Supervisor
J. Mack King of Anderson to make
the race for lieutenant governor or
the McLaurin ticket, but on ac-
count of circumstances over which
King had no control, he could not
do so. although he was a great ad-
mirer Of McLaurin. AS l wanted an
up-country running mate for Nc
Laurin and couldn't get King, | had
come over to see Rector with the
view of getting him to make the race
A few days before going to see Rec
tor. I had a talk with McLaurin and
suggested that since King could not
make the race, l was going to sec II
could get Rector MS his running
mate, and McLaurin said he had nc
objection and believed that Rector
would make n good race. McLaurin
further said he had just bought new
Hudson, which he intended to make
the campaign in and to say to Rector
that IL he would make the race with
him, that he would be glad to have
him as his travelling companion and
that his carfare would cost him moth
ing.
Knowing that McLaurin usually
carries some one with him on his
trips, I told Rector that his car fare
not only would not cost him any
thing. but that as McLaurin was such
a generous man, 1 knew that since
he would be Of great help to him in
attending to securing lodging quar-
ters, etc., at the different points they
would stop at. that MtLaurin would
not even allow him to pay hotel bills
that by this arrangement helwould
be able to save about $4,000 which II
would otherwise have cost him to
make the race.
My reason for predicting this gen.
erosity on McLaurin's part Is that
he Is a free spender and cares moth
ing for dollar. being reputed to be
millionaire. McLaurin did not au-
thorize me to make any offer to Rec
tor except to say that he would he
glad to have him as his travelling
companion.
In my conversation with Rector
over the phone this morning. told
him that he had either misstated facts
or had misunderstood me, and he re-
piled that while the News's account
was not correct in detail. he had un-
derstood me to say about what he had
been quoted as saying. 1. e.. $1,000 in
cash. Hudson car and all expenses
which he had figured would amount
to $1,000.
Judging from this, Rector esti-
mates his influence as very valuable.
or worth about $3.50. On investiga
ton today find the best Hudson car
sells for $4.250, I. o. b. the factory.
This, together with the $1,000 cash and
$4,000 expense money would total S.
$50.
Mack King. whom I urged to make