The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-02-05
Mr.. McLaurin's Letter.

~ Mr.. McLaurin's Letter.
Bennettsville, S. c., Jan. 27, 1918
Mr.. Editor: I take this method
Of reaching the various people who
by petition and letters have request
ed me to become a candidate for
Governor. I promised them an an
swer during the present month. At
this time I feel that I can perform
a better service by announcing
clearly my political views than by
becoming a candidate for Governor.
It is probable after I do that many
who would have supported me will
not do so and that conditions will
make it best that I should not run
for Office. 1t is evident that fac
tional lines are to be drawn in the
senatorial race and while / believe
that could be elected by avoiding
this issue I do not want office on
these terms. I have given the mat
ter careful thought and I want ev-
erybody to know beforehand just
how / stand. In order to get the
warehouse bill made law had to
reckon with the veto power of the
Governor, and without the assistance
Of the faction then in power I could
not have moved a step. I have al
ways recognized this obligation and
do not intend to forget it. I would
like to be in position while 1 yet
have the mental and physical
strength to further develop the
State warehouse system by estab-
fishing direct sales. I would also
like to organize the machinery for
State insurance, not only for cot
ton, but other property. would like
to see budget system for appro-
priations, so as to fix individual re-
sponsibility for, the waste of tax
money such as is now going on in
South Carolina. have made up
my mind, however, that I 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 summer 1
shall unhesitatingly say that I 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 es-
tablish more firmly than ever the
present factional lines and whoever
is elected Governor will necessarily
have to lineup on one side or the
other. This 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 toward the
-
questions relating to war and that
Z he will 60 any length once he has
the 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 La Toilette and a
: "little group of willful Senators"
who are doing all in their power to
hamper the conduct of war upon
whose result depends the future not
only of America, but mankind every
where. I could not make campaign
speeches and doge this issue. I can
not by silence make myself a party
to a national calamity of this charac-
ter Senator Tillman is incapacita-
ted by physical weakness for the
strenuous work now required. I
am glad to be able to say that am
sincerely sorry for this, and in spite
of the unjust treatment that 1 have
received at his hands, were he ply
sically fit to perform the duties, I