The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-06-02
McLAURIN IN SADDLE?
Runored in Washington Former Sem
ator Will Reorganize G. o. p.

vile, will be the leader in the recr-
ganization Of the Republican party in
South Carolina and will control the
patronage, according to telegraphic
advices received in Columbia today,
telling of conference between Mr..
McLaurin, President Harding and &.
Bascom Slemp, of Virginia, in which
it was decided that the former sena
tor would head up the plans for re-
organizing the G. O. P. in this state.
1t is stated that no appointments
however, will be made unil after
the meeting of the republican ma
tional committee, in Washington, on
June 9Th, at which time a new chair
man will take charge of the G. O. p,
John T. Adams, of Iowa.
The Washington advices are to the
effect that neither Mr.. McLaurin nor
Mr.. Slemp, who has been entrusted by
President Harding with cleaning up
things in the G.. 0. P. ranks in the
south, would make any statements re-
garding their conferences, though it
was learned from an authoritative
source that McLaurin has been placed
in charge and that Joseph Tolbert,
the present state chairman and ma
tional committeeman, will be almost
entirely a fgure-head.'
1t is stated in the telegraphic ad-
vices from the capital that Mr.. Nc
Laurin's visit to Washington was os-
tensibly to discuss with the president
the cotton situation in South Caro-
lima, in which Mr.. McLaurin and also
the president are deeply interested.
At the white house, according to the
advices, it was ascertained that J..
Skottowe Wannamaker, president of
the American Cotton Association, had
written to President Harding some
days ago to this effect:
'Senator McLaurin has given long
and careful study to the financing and
marketing of agricultural products
and is regarded as one of the best eX-
perts in America on this question. He
has thoroughly familiarized himself
with the situation and I beg that you
favor US by granting him an inter-
view.|
Nm letter to Senator 'McLaurin Mr..
Wannamaker said that he did not be-
lieve it would be possible to secure a
lowering Of the re-discount rates
to four and a half and five,
on agricultural and commercial
paper and four on Liberty bonds, ex-
cept through presidential action. This
is what Mr.. McLaurin discussed with
the president. It is known that Presi-
dent Harding has been very sympa-
thetic towards the southern farmer
and that he recently indicated that he
would use his influence toward help
ing the situation. He is said to have
so expressed himself to Mr.. McLaurin
in the white house conference yester-
day.
In the Washington advices some of
the Democratic leaders in the national
capital are quoted as saying
that Mr.. McLaurin might attempt
a repu blican drive in this state, count
ing On the friendly feeling Of the ad-
ministration towards the south to
help in breaking down the old wall of
prejudice against anything G. 0. P.
With the negro left out of 1t it is said,
there will likely be many good South
Carolinians willing to join a new
Republican party.
Republican leaders in the national
capital are quoted as saying that John
T. Adams, who is to be the new chair
man of the Republican national COM
mittee after June is call right" in
his attitude towards the south and is
in favor of cleaning up the ranks of
the republican party in Dixie.
Tolbert, the present Republican
leader, has been in Washington for
weeks and has been doing some ener-
getic log-rolling. 1t is stated in ad-
vices from the capital that Tolbert
has been hard at work on cabinet
members and that he reached one
cabinet member with his argument OF
Irregular" standing with the Republi-
can, party, pointing out that he de-
livered his delegation for Taft in 1912
and for Hughes in 1916. Despite his
hold on the lone cabinet member, Tol-
bert has failed, it is stated, to put his
| men over.
W.. H. Andrews, of Georgetown,
| former state Senator J. A. Banks, OF
St. Matthews, and J. Mortimer, OF
Bennettsville, have been with Mr.. Nc
Laurin in Washington. "They may