The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-02-07
Mr.. McIaurin'S Letter.

Mr.. McIaurin's Letter.
Bennettsville, S. c., Jan 27, 1913
Mr.. Editor: I take this method
of reaching the various people VINO
by petition and letters have request
ed me to become a candidate for gov
ernor. / promised them an answer
during the present month. At this
time I feel that I can perform bet
ter service by announcing clearly my
noiitical views than by becoming a
candidate for governor. 1t is proba-
BILE after I do that many who would
have supported me will not do so and
that conditions will make it best that
7 should not run for office. 1t is
evident that factional lines are
drawn in the senatorial race and
while believe that could be elect
ed by avoiding this issue do not
want Office on these terms. have
given the matter careful thought and
T want everybody to know before
hand Just how 1 stand. In order to
get the warehouse bill made law
had to reckon with the veto power
of the governor, and without the as
sistance of the faction then in power
/ could not have moved a step.
have always recognized this obilga-
ton and do not intend to forget 1t.
I would like to be in position while
4 yet have the mental and physical
strength to further develop the State
warehouse system by establishing di-
:, rect sales. would also like to or
ganize the machinery for State in
surance, not only for cotton, but 9th
er property. Izwould like to see
budget system for appropriations, so
as to fix individual 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 I go on the stump this sum-
mer shall unhesitatingly say that /
regard the election of either ex-Gov-
ernor Blease or Senator Tillmah as
a stupendous blunder. So far as the
State is concerned it will establish
more firmly than ever the present
factional lines and whoever is elected
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 before the war has
been bitterly hostile to the present
federal administration. Everybody
who knows him understands his at
titude toward the questions relating
to the war and that he will go any
length once he has the power to OBJ
struct the policies of Woodrow Will
son. He is bold and has great abil-
ity in certain lines, his advent into
the senate would greatly strengthen
La Toilette and a little group OF
willful senator's who are doing all
in their power to- hamper the conduct
of a war upon whose results depends
the future not only of America, but
mankind everywhere. I could not
make campaign speeches and dodge
this issue. I cannot by silence make
myself party to national calamity
of this character. Senator Tillman
is incapacitated by physical weakness
for the strenuous work now required.
am glad to be able to say that am
sincerely sorry for this, and in spite
of the unjust treatment that l have
received at his hands, were he ply
sically fit to perform the duties, 1
would rise above personal resentment
and say that he should be left where
he is. This talk about 'dying in
harness. is all rot. A broken down
horse dying in harness is cruelty
to animals; it is more merciful to
loose the traces, knock off che shoes
and turn him out in the pasture to
ruminate on things that have been
and are to be. 1t takes a strong
horse to stote" his side of the sin
gletree in these perilous days. 1t is
unfair to the balance of the team
when the load is heavy and the pace
80 fast to be handicapped by bog spa
vim and heaves in an old horse which
won't work at all unless he is in the
lead. The work is too heavy now for
a spike team, though that is better