“M” is for McLaurin, John Lowndes (1860-1934)

“M” is for McLaurin, John Lowndes (1860-1934). Congressman, U.S. senator. A native of Marlboro County, in 1885 McLaurin met Benjamin Ryan Tillman and became one of his most ardent supporters. In 1892 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In Congress, McLaurin was a strong advocate of free silver. In May 1897, he was appointed to the U.S. Senate and in August won a special election to complete the remaining five years of the term. In 1899 McLaurin voted for the ratification of the Treaty of Paris ending the Spanish-American War. In 1902 Tillman, now a U.S. senator, accused McLaurin of selling his vote on the treaty for patronage in South Carolina. McLaurin called Tillman a liar and the two senators exchanged fisticuffs. Tillman then used his influence to end John Lowndes McLaurin’s political career.