The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-07-02
Senator John L. Nc Laurin
Breaks Loose Agu;71
Makes Whole Lot of Charges And at t''e
Same Time Makes Confessions Of
Efforts to Double Cross
his Friends
his Friends

posed his own real character.
When this campaign began, Cooper
announced on the stump that ne
would not criticise another candidate,
and a few days later said that he
would not have the office if he had to
win it by the faults Of his opponents
instead Of his own merits.
This was high and fair sentiment,
and he gained credit by it, but it was
hypocrtical 1t was mask to cover
the real man, for since that time, while
apparently friendly with me, he has
been slipping around behind my back
and showing to some of his support
ers letter given him by weak and
bitter man, imputing to me a crime
Of which I am not and could not DE
guilty.
I am informed that the letter given
to Cooper by John K. !Aull Of New
berry, who is the chief lieutenant and
adviser of Cole L. Blease, charged
that endeavored to sell out the DEM
mocracy of South Carolina in the fall
Of 1916 for the sum Of S45, 900.
If Cooper had been man, and il
he had believed this charge to be
true, he would have faced me before
an audience of South Carolina people.
pointed his finger in my face and
said: "That man tried to sell this
State to the Republicans In thai
case would have called him liar
if it had cost me my life. But lacking
the manhood to do this, and knowing
that it would damage me if he could
circulate it secretly, he slipped be-
hind my back and hid his sneaking
treachery with smile.
On its very face the charge is lie.
No man who knows me-and the ma
jority Of the people of South Carolina
do know me-would suspect me Of
selling my honor at an price. I am
not money grabber and I do not
need more than I have.
This letter has been shown to a
number of men who love decency and
fair play, and several Of them have
written me about It. Mr.. Kennerly
Mayfeld Of Denmark was the first to
tell me of its existence He had been
informed by Mr.. Crum, a supporter oe
Cooper to whom Cooper showed the
letter. Cooper told Mr.. Crum that ne
would not use the letter openly until
after the close of the campaign, so
that I would have no opportunity tc
reply and defend myself.
1 love a fight with brave enemy
who will face me in the open. 1
despise an assassin who knifes me in
the back under cover of darkness. |
will now tell the story Of that letter
from the beginning, and expose the
crookedness and rascality that
brought it into existence.
In 1914, when I was serving in the
State senate and Blease was serving
his last term as governor, I intro
duced he bill providing for what has
since become famous as the South
Carolina State warehouse system. I
knew the great god this system
would do. haG 20 MAKE the fight
for it single handed, and l knew that
/ could not win unless l made con-
cessions to the Blease faction In
order to win this support, and pre-
vent the veto of Blease, agreed to
to the selection of John K. Anll as
secretary if the bill went through
The bill passed and I, as its author,
was elected commissioner. I kept my
bargain and appointed Aull secretary.
He was efficient and did his work
well. I thought him friend?
In the spring of 1916 Blease came
to me in person and also wrote me