VOL. 86
EBGEFIELD, S. C.? WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1921
No. 31
JOHNSTON LETTER.
- Campaign Meeting, Co-oper
a ii ve Marketing Discussed,
Seme Damage by
Lightening.
The first campaign meeting of
this County was held here Saturday,
the speaking taking place in the au
ditorium of the high school.
There was a full attendance of the
candidates all those for the house of
representatives being present. Some
that were not running this year were
not present. Each speaker pledged
himself for the best for his county,
and was heard with interest by all
present.
There was no'; as large a crowd
as should have been, and in the au
dience was a f ev ladies.
The interest in the campaign, in
a general way, was not very enthu
siastic, and while there, seemed to be
a large crowd present for the day,
judging for the various groups about
on the street, still the gathering at
the auditorium was not large.
The social side of the day seemed
to have been a great success, and in
a grove a very appetising barbecued
dinner was served.
From the crowds at the speaking
and at the barbecue pit, we would
say that interest was equally divided
.between the two.
A largely attended and very enthu
siastic meeting was held here Satur
day in interest of the co-operative
cotton market and an organization
was effected, this called the South
Carolina Farmers' Co-operative Cot
ton Market
The chief business was in the
election of officers, these being:
President, B. R. Tillman, of Tren
ton; Vice President, A. L. Clark, of
Johnston;' Secretary and treasurer,
W. E. Lagrone, Johnston.
Executive committee:
R. B. Smith, of Johnston; Walter
Wise^of Trenton; and Joe Payne/ of <
M?etmg'- Street. ,
There followed several discus
sions, i the chief being of the j
proposed cotton ware house, which
the farmers hope to see erected soon.
On Sunday evening a very severe ,
electrical storm visited the town and ?
for about an hour, there was almost j
a constant light from the vivid flash- ,
es. There was some wind and rain.
There were two heavy clouds from -
which the lightening played, and had ^
there been the one cloud, no doubt j
there would have been more disaster ,
from the electricity.
A bolt struck a three room tenant
house, belonging to Mr. P. B. Wa- .
ters. The two families occupying this .
were away at the time. The two ,
room house near by caught, and was
considerably damaged before the fire j
department got in operation. .
The buildings were a considerable .
distance from the hydrant, and time
was lost by the second trip back to .
headquarters for another reel of ,
hose. Mr. Waters carried insurance
on both houses.
Mrs. Walter Holmes, of Jonesville, ]
is the guest of her sister, Mrs. Joe '
Cox.
Mrs. H. N. Crouch and Mrs. L. S.
Maxwell have gone to.Glenn Springs
to spend a while. Mrs. Maxwell will
then go to Hendersonville, N. C., for
the benefit of her health.
Little Irene, the daughter of Mr. ?
and Mrs. W. E. Lagrone, has been
sick with fever, but is now improv
ing.
Mrs. Coleman, Mrs. LaGrone's
mother, is spending some time with
ber.
Mrs. Walter Hendrix and Fred of
Leesville spent Sunday with her
Aunt, Mrs. J. M. Turner. She was
accompanied home by her Aunt Mrs.
Kate Crouch, and Mrs. B. L. Adams.
Mrs. Frank Lan drum and children,
of Florence, are guests of relatives.
Mrs. Walter Ouzts has gone to
Charleston to visit in the family of
her son.
Miss Mertys Smith, who has been
sick for some time, has gone to the
mountains to recuperate.
Misses Geraldine and Natalie
Kammer, of Blackville, have been
guests in the home of their uncle,
Mr. J. Neal Lott
On Wednesday afternoon, Misses
Isabel and Bessie Bean entertained
for the Misses Kammer, with a pic
nic at Salter's pond. All enjoyed a
dip in the cool waters and then a pic
nie feast was spread.
Mrs. H. w! Crouch and Mrs, L. S.
Maxwell have returned from a weeks
stay in Augusta. .
Mrs. Ida Satcher, of Augusta, has
been visiting friends and relatives.
Mrs. Leora Wright Simmons has
gone to Greenwood to spend August
in the home of her brother, Mr. S.
P. Wright. From there she will go to
Hartsville, to again serve as matron
at Coker College.
Mrs. P. B. Waters and Willie are
at home after a visit to Miss Mary
Waters in Augusta.
Rev. W. S. Brooke is at Spring
field this week conducting a revival.
Miss Nannie Eidson, who is at the
Park Sanatorium, has written to
friends here telling of the need of
more beds, for the patients who wait
to come for treatment.
She asked that the people of
Johnston place a bed here, the ex
pense of one year being $100. The
matter is being pushed and $35 has
already been raised.
Miss Clara Sawyer has returned
from a visit to Mrs. Henry Clark at
Aiken.
Dr. Huggins and her daughter
have gone to Columbia for a visit.
Miss Canada, the daughter of Rev.
Canada of Edisto Academy is the
guest of Miss Rosa Padgett. .Miss
Padgett has been one of the teachers
at this school.
Mrs. Joe Cox entertained the
Bridge Club on Thursday afternoon,
in a very happy manner.
The top score was made by Mrs.
Julian P. Bland who was presented
with a pair of hand embroidered pil
low cases.
The guest prize, a set of tea nap
kins was drawn by Mrs. Frank Bland
and the consolation, a jar of apple
jelly, fell to Mrs. B. T. Boatwright
A dainty repast was served.
Miss Emily Siftley, of Orange
burg, is visiting Miss Lillian Mob
ey.
Mr. M. W. Clark went to ^atesburg
Sunday'to attend the funeral of Mr.
Kneece which took place "that af ter
loon. Mr. Kneece was the father of
bis son-in-law, Mr. Eugene Kneece.
Miss Carrie Mobley, of Thompson,
Ga., has been here for a visit to Miss
Marie Lewis.
Mrs Charlie Brunson, of Augusta,
has been visiting in the home of her
brother, Dr. J. A. Dobey.
Dr. and Mrs. William Halbeck
Framptan have returned to Charles
ton, after a visit in the home of the
latter's parents Mr. and Mrs. Halti
wanger.
Mr. Joe Haltiwanger, of Columbia,
and Miss Ethel Chapman and > Mr.
Chapman, of Clinton, N. C., have
been guests in the home' of Mr. and
Mrs. J. J. Haltiwanger.
Messrs. Albert Dozier and William
Haltiwanger are at home from a visit
to relatives and friends in Charles
ion.
The girls Auxiliary enjoyed a
Damping party about three miles
from town last week.
There was an empty dwelling near
by where each spread her quilt and
pillar, but all the meals were prepar
ed out of doors in true camp style.
One evening the young people
walked to Wards to enjoy the revi
val being conducted by Dr. Dorset.
Mrs. W. J. Hatcher is at home
from Atlanta, having been called to
the bed side of her brother, Mr. Dun
can, who was ill. She was accom
panied home by her niece, little Car
oline Duncan.
The B. Y. P. U. held an afternoon
picnic on Thursday at Salter's pond.
There were about fifty present,
and each one thoroughly enjoyed the
affair.
The girls provided a tempting
spread, and the young men furnish
ed iced lemonade and made themsel
ves as pleasant as they possibly
could.
Mrs. M. R. Wright has returned
from a month's stay in Columbia,
with Luelle Norris.
Miss Pearl Carver is now able to
be up again after an attack of ty
phoid fever.
Miss Helen Wright has .returned
from Rock Hill, having taken a spe
cial course at Winthrop College.
Mrs. Beta Wright is expected next
week to visit relatives.
Buy a FORD and bank the
difference.-Adv.
First County Gi
Held at Johnston Sat
Little Inter
About noon Saturday somethi
like 140 persons, there being 01
three women among them, gather
in the high school auditorium
Johnston to hear the men who a
seeking the suffrage of the voters
Edgefield county give their vie
upon the "burning issues" of t
day. Probably the attendance won
have been larger had the place f
holding the meeting been definite
announced in advance.
The meeting was called to ord
by the county chairman, Mr. J. ]
Cantelou, who requested all cane
dates who desired to address tl
meeting to come upon the platfon
and the five aspirants for legislatr
honors promptly responded. Aft
reading the list of candidates wi
have qualified for the campaign, M
.Cantelou turned the meeting over '
the local chairman, Mr. J. W. Co;
who in his prefatory remarks vei
truly said that men who are elect?
to office, even the best men, can n<
give us good government without OT
help. There is a duty for every cit
zen and the manner in which thi
duty is performed will have its effe<
upon the character of our laws an
their enforcement; The real troubl
with conditions today is found in a$
riculture. Our entire system wi
have to be changed and we must a]
ply our best intelligence toward co:
reefing this imperfect system. MJ
Cox said our tax system has been irr.
proved and law enforcement is gair
ing ground but we must give though
to other things than politics.
J. W. BIed?oe.
The first speaker.presented ,by th
chairman was Mr. Bledsoe,-arcajq^i
date for the Fouse from Johnsto:
who said he entered the campaig:
with one uppermost principle ani
that is to upbuild and not tear down
not to throw mud or do anything low
Mr. Bledsoe said, "I enter this rac
upon no man's demerits but am run
ning on my own merits, if I hav>
any, and will certainly not do any
thing that is low and degrading,
will not join any clique or allianc<
in order to gain 'otes, but will pu
myself into the hands of the Grea
Giver. I do not expect to go aroun<
hunting votes on Sunday but will en
deavor to reflect the principles
teach my Sunday School class every
Sunday morning."
This is a critical time, said Mr
Bledsoe, with many taxes yet un
paid. Public funds have been mis
appropriated in many ways and thc
legislature has created too many of
fices for pap-suckers. Too many com
missions have been created, said tht
speaker, including the tax commis
sion which does the work the comp
troler general did up to that time
He expressed the opinion that state
colleges are receiving more monej
than they ask for. He said he would
not take a brick off of any of the
state schools but declared that manj
of our best men are coming from the
denominational colleges, which dc
not receive a dollar of public money.
Mr. Bledsoe said Wofford College
has put more judges on the bench
than any other college. He made
known his opposition to farm demon
stration agents. -Said he, "Edgefield
county has farmers of experience
who do not need a demonstrator..
Economy should be practiced by cut
ting off a little here and a little
there.
Mr. Bledsoe said we have a good
school system but need a better one
and in speaking of schools advocated
the consolidation of weak schools,
making it possible for boys and girls
ito be carried through the 10th. and
111th. grades. Give them" that, said
he, and they will scratch for a living.
In refering to the great number of
tax executions now outstanding, Mr.
Bledsoe said, "Something must be
done for these men who brave the
galling winds of winter and the
burning sun of summer."
He said about half of the men who
go to the legislature do not know
what that body is doing, spending
much of their time in pool rooms
and do not even know what is con
tained in the bills they vote for. If
mpaign Meeting
day. Small Attendance,
t Manifested.
elected, he said he will not miss
roll call and will use all the powei
that God has given him to protec
the interests of the people. In closin,
Mr. Bledsoe said, "As your cotto:
weigher I have been faithful and wii
be faithful with everything else yoi
entrust with me."
C. T. Burnett.
The second speaker was Mr. C. 1
Burnett, a member of the EdgefieL
iar, who said we are facing a crit
ical time in South Carolina, due t<
the deflation following the war. Ou
main crop is cotton and the boll wee
vii partially destroys that, PeopL
have become dissatisfied with thi
present system of government. W<
need a change of tax system. Undei
the present system of government
Mr. Burnett said, home owners paj
70 per cent of the taxes. He statec
that hidden money and luxurie:
should be taxed and not - single mil
be levied upon property to support
the state government. County'expen
ses only should be provided for ir.
this way. He urged that people
should study to know the men theji
elect to make their laws.
Mr. Burnett stated that ?he is in
favor of making laws so simple that
they can be easily construed. He also
said lawyers should not be blamed
for getting guilty men off when they
accept money for defending a client.
He expressed the belief that men
should be elected to. the. legislature
^7fcb swill have their county's interest
at-heart first and then the.state at
large. He spoke, somewhat at length
concerning tbe; great cost of the Dix
ie^; Highway* ;.: the .-consi.TuctxpA^|
?^m^^raSrae'd^?' "htjavy ' bonded' debt
to "be placed on tbe county. The
speaker said this is supposed to be
a representative government' but
there has sprung up too many com
missions and boards that require an
increase in appropriations. In this
connection a vigorous attack was
made upon the tax commission. A
highway commission had to be main
tained in order to obtain federal aid
for road building but this commis
sion was costing too much. He refer
red to the board of fisheries as hav
ing been established in order to give
parasites a job which was costing
the state about $10,000 a year. Mr.
Burnett said first make reductions
where we can and then raise the nec
essary amount from other sources
than a levy on the real estate. He
said the legislature must eliminate
the drones that live, upon the taxpay
ers.
Mr. Burnett said he was the grand
son of a confederate veteran and a
veteran of the World War and would
favor a .liberal support of Confeder
ate veterans by cutting down some
where else. He said that if elected
he would do his utmost to serve the
people well and will not come back
with any other mantle except one as
pure as the snow from heaven.
H. H. Sanders.
The chairman next introduced Mr.
Sanders, a farmer of the western
section of the county, who is also a
candidate for the house. Mr. San
ders said he was no stranger in the
town of Johnston, having visited in
that community frequently during
the 16 years that he resided in Edge
field and always found the people
very clever and hospitable. Strangers
always greatly appreciate cordial
treatment. Mr. Sanders stated that
he is not appearing before the peo
ple as a great speaker, nor does he
come as" one claiming to know so
much. But he claims to be a man of
common sense and sound business
judgment. He said he had no politi
cal record or past to speak of but he
looks to the future and will endeav
or to do his full duty. He was
prompted to enter the race for the
legislature by the very discouraging
condition of our people but now is
the time for us to work and press
forward with greater determination.
The speaker said he never holds
back or stops for discouragements.
Mr. Sanders said he has the high
est regard for each one of his op
ponents and would quit the race
rather than wound their feelings. I
is asking for the support of the pe
pie in this race on his merits and w
appreciate that support. If the pe
pie elect him, he pledges himself '
stand by the things that are for tl
best interests of the people. .
Mr. Sanders referred those wi
do not know him to the people
this county among whom '.e has live
for the past 20 years. He was hoi
in the edge of Aiken county near ti
Edgefield line and his mother W?
born and reared in Edgefield count;
Having been a resident of the coui
ty so long he feels that he is entitle
to anything that any other son of th
county is entitled to. Since movin
from the town of Edgefield iou
years ago he has resided eight mile
west of Edgefield in the Antioch se<
tion, where he has engaged in fara
ing.
In conclusion Mr. Sanders said i
the people see fit to elect him h
will to the best of his knowledg
and ability protect and advance thei
interests.
J. O. Sheppard.
The next speaker was Mr. Sher,
pard, a candidate for re election t
the house, who said he would be un
grateful were he to fail to expr?s
his appreciation for the 233 vote
which he received in Johnston twi
years ago. It will be his purpose ti
continue to merit this generous sup
port. Mr. Sheppard said one of thi
outstanding questions of the day ii
law enforcement and that he stand?
firmly for the enforcement of al
laws. Another leading question i?
taxes and South Carolina is the on
ly state that continues to hold to th?
old-fashioned system, but a new daj
is dawning. Mr. Sheppard said the
new delegation went into office ir
1920 facing a deficit in the countj
of $120,000 which was put into s
boiid issue. The country's finance.;
to-day are on an excellent basis witt
the ftxcfiptibn Of un]^i??/j^t?,--;foi
which*" the delegation is not* respon
sible. He commended our county of
ficers for their good work. The coun
ty levy was reduced last year by
four mills and all expenses have been
cut to the bone.
Mr. Sheppard said South Carolina
has an antiquated tax system and
that he along with a majority of the
members of the house stood for a
reduction of the levy on real estate
and placing a tax on luxuries. He
exhibited a chart which showed what
a great decrease has been made. on
the levy on real estate. He said the
senate killed the luxury tax and hy
dro-electic tax bills which the house
passed.. The house made a strenous
effort to remove the tax on land al
together but the senate refused to
concur. Mr. Sheppard called atten
tion to the fact that the tax commis
sion had placed $175,000,000 dollars
of property on the tax books, which
has had a considerable weight in
holding down our taxes. Mr. Shep
pard said if it were shown him that
any commission now existing is bad
he will vote to abolish it. He said it
has been reported that he voted to
reduce the pension fund of the Con
federate soldiers, which is altogeth
er a mistake. The house voted the
same amount as last year but the
senate reduced this by $100,000. He
would vote to cut elsewhere but not
to cut the Confederate soldiers' pen
sion. Mr. Sheppard called attention
to the fact that South Carolina
stands at the bottom in the matter
of education. By way of showing
how the people's money is spent call
ed attention to the fact that in 1912
the appropriation for education was
$145,000 and in 1921 $1,500,000.
He called attention also to the great
increase in the number of inmates
of the asylum and the imperative
need for increased appropriations.
The last legislature reduced the
state levy from 12 to 7 mills and had
the senate concurred in the action
of the house a greater reduction
would have been made. Mr. Shep
pard said in conclusion that he had
always stood for the strictest econ
omy but was not in favor of impair
ing any of our institutions.
S. T. Williams.
The last candidate to speak was
Mr. Williams, the farmer-merchant
of Pleasant Lane, who is offering
for re-election to the house. He said
that 23 years ago he saw the first
road scrape equipped and used and
that he had hoped that in 10 years
Dial's Adv ice Is Secure Coal
Now.
Washington, July 29.-"Get coal
now. The situation is serious and no
one knows when the railroad and
coal strikes will end." *
This was the gist of a statement .
issued here today by Senator Dial
after a conference with Secretary
Herbert Hoover, of the department
of commerce regarding labor strikes '
and other matters.
At the conclusion of the confer
ence Senator Dial was asked for a
statement and said he had called-.to
see Mr. Hoover relative to the Char
leston navy yard matter and the coal
and railroad situation. Mr. Hoover,
Senator Dial stated, is very friendly
to the Charleston yard but as is usu
al in such cases he found the head!
of one government reluctant to in
terfere or give advice to another one
"As to the coal situation," Sena
tor Dial said, "I strongly urge all .
our people who can possibly do -so
to procure their coal supplies with
out further delay. Many people re
member the cold winter of 1917,' .
when war was going on and how dif- -
ficult it was to get coal for various
reasons. Now, with the total output,
of coal at about three and a half mil
lion tons a month and the railroad'
using two and a half million tons of
this each month, it will be seen how
necessary it is for our people to get
their supplies now unless they wist
to find themselves very seriously em
barrassed later on.
"I sincerely hope that some way
may be found to satisfactorily ad- fM
just .the present difficulties, both as
regards the rail and i coal situation,
but in the meantime I desire to re
peat how absolutely necessary it is
to secure coal supplies for both do
mestic and commercial purposes.
without delay."
- . ' ' -?
the roads woit?d-be :gxeatly. :imprpv::,;v- .
ed but that hi; had not ilound it soii i
Mr. Williams said that he wanted to
make an explanation to the Confed
erate veterans. He is a member of
the ways and means committee of
the house, in which body all appro
priations originate, and it was a
greed in this committee that no re-:
duction would be made in the appro
priations for pensions, but that the
senate reduced the amount to $500,
000 from $600,000. He said he re- -
fused to increase the salary of the
farm demonstration agent for Edge
field county last year as requested
by Mr. Johnson, the district manager
of Aiken, who said he would remove
the agent unless the increase . was
made. '
Mr. Williams said a politician said
to him some time ago that the appro
priations for the asylum, peniten
tiary and every school should be cut,
and he showed that increased de
mands upon these institutions made
it impossible for them to do on less
appropriations. He spoke in the high
est terms of the school which has
been taken over by the state in Mc
Cormick county for the support and
education of orphan children. The
Cedar Springs Institute in Spartan
burg, the seo ol for the blind, had
asked for increased appropriations
and the needs of this institution
should appeal to every man who has
a heart in him. Dr. Johnson, the pres
ident of Winthrop college, appeared
before the ways and means commit-?
tee and stated that 1,560 girls had
applied for admission into the college
but that only 1,287 could be re
ceived. Mr. Williams said he has al
ways been opposed to Sunday work
but that as long as he is a member of
the house he will remain at his post
of duty until the body adjourns to
keep some fellow from having ob
jectionable legislation passed during
the closing hours of the session, cit
ing an instance in which he helped to
defeat a bad measure. He stated that
he has always voted to save money
for the people, having voted last ses
sion to reduce his own salary by 25
per cent This alone would have
saved the tax payers $17,000. In con
clusion Mr. Williams called attention
to the fact that we are only paying
this year seven mills for state pur
poses and that the remainder of our
taxes is spent in the county, and the
delegation is not responsible for the
county expenses.