The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-21
M'LAURIN FOR DIAL.
HATRED OF BLEASE FOR THE
PRESIDENT WELL KNOWN.
Former Senator Says There is NJ a
Man Closely Associated With Form
er Governor Who Docs Not Know
of it-Comes Out Squareiy Against
BIcaSe.

Columbia, Aug. 16.-"Surround
Ex-Governor Blease with the protec-
ton afforded by senatorial privileges
and he can and will do vast amount
of harm. There is not = man closely
associated with him who has not
heard his bitter denunciations in pri-
vate conversation, and who does not
know his intense hatred of President
Wilson," says John Lowndes Nc
Laurin of Bennettsville, in a letter to
Ashley C. Tobias, secretary Of the
Democratic executive committee. MT.
NlcLaurin was writing Mr.. Tobias for
the purpose of instructing that his
name be left off of the Democratic
primary ballots.
The letter of the Marlboro man
follows in full:
Aug. 14th, 1918.
Mr.. Ashley C. Tobias, Secretary,
Democratic Executive Committee,
Columbia, S. G.
Dear Sir: In response to an IN
curry from you, I requested that my
name be left. off the official ballot
Since coming home and getting
clearer understands of the g
! ton 1 find that my friends are en-
barrassed. and wish to relieve them
entirely You will, therefore, omit
my name in preparing the official bal
lot.
The overshadowing issue in this
State is the situation precipitated by
Senator Tillman's death. Shall we
or not send a man to the senate who
can be relied upon to support the
policies of Woodrow Wilson. Now
that I have no interest except as a
private citizen it may have some
weight to express myself A United
States senator just now is very I'M
portant individual. We have sedl-
ton laws which suppress the private
citizen, but the United States sena-
tor can say what he p1eases and it
aoes all over the world in the Con-
gressional Record. He cannot be
held to account for it. 1 do not like
Mr.. Dial personally, nor do think
that he is by any means the choice
OF the people of South Carolina, but
as between him and Ex-Governor
Blease, I shall certainly cast my bal
lot for Dial. This world is IN su-
preme agony and its eyes are turned
upon the United States; it is her mis-
sion to save civilization. It is not
merely a c-le ion of the military de-
feat of Ger ny. We will do thataeer-
tainly with the next few montdF. IL
is the daw1 Of new world era; Rus
sia, the Balkans and the Orient are
in a seething ferment and stable gov
ernmcnt must be established there
before a lasting peace can come. BY
common consent Of mankind every
where, the nations have adopted
Woodrow Wilson as their mouthplece
and spokesman. Before it is. all over.
we may have the United States of the
world; at any rate, the world can26h
get along now without Woodrow
son. He may have to accept thru
term. He must certainly be placed
IN some dominant position where ne
can still utter the thought Of Chris
tendonl It would be a shame and
disgrace to send q man to the senate
VINO had bitterly attacked Mr.. Wilson
personally and who was utterly un-
able to appreciate his wonderful
breadth of vision until an unholy de-
sire for office caused the scales to
fall from his eyes. Surround eX-
Gov. Blease with the protection af-
forded by senatorial privileges and he
can and will do a vest amount or
harm. There is not a man closely
associated with him who has not
heard his bitter denunciation in pri-
vate conversation. and who does not
know his intense hatred of President
Wilson.
Yours respectfully,
Jno. Lowndes McLaurln.