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Should Patronize
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To Reach Consumers
in this Section Adver
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A Newspaper in all that the Word Implies and Devoted to the Best Interests of the People it Subserves.
VOL. ILL NO. 43.
GAFFNEY CITY, S. C., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1890.
$1.00 A YEAH.
THE BENIGHTED HEATHENS
ARE QUITE ABLE TO TAKE CARE
OF THEMSELVES.
A Correspondent Handles the Editor
of the Heasliftht Roughly and Tells
Him Something About the
New County Inhabitants.
If Mr. Gantt really thinks that
wo are a benighted, heathenish set
of people, clamoring for a thing of
which wo know nothing about, 1
think it would do him a great deal of
good to come up into the “benighted”
tail ends of Spartanburg, Union and
York, and gain a little knowledge of
which he shows a wonderful lack. It
is somewhat singular, but neverthe
less it is a fact, that our knee-pants
boys can advance a better argument
for the new county than the Head
light does against it. ()f|course every
body knows ^that Mr. Uantt is not,
nor cannot be, sincere injhis obstinate
fight against the now county for two
reasons.
1st. lie has not, as every sane man
knows, a solid mundut ion to stand on,
nor a just principle to support him,
in his unholy attack on the rights
and privilges of a free and independ
ent people.
2nd. In his desperate attempt to
frustrate the new county movement,
he masquerades himself’with good in
tent, and falls to the level of those
who use only vituperation and decep-
jion in an argument. We all know,
that in no period of the state's history
have the people been better quali
fied to grasp a public issue and di
gest it with that degree of perfection
desirable, than they are at the pres
ent time. And, for any man to in
sult their pride and manhood, by
calling them “heathens,” and a be
nighted people, irretrievably loses
their rsspeci and patronage.
If Mr. (lar.lt could do at some of the
debates that the hardy sons of toil
are having in the little school house
in the country, lie would be utterly
amazed at the fair and intelligent
language they use in behalf of their
cause,
You may say what y"U will and
think what you may, but, ever rest
assured, that wlien the good honest
people of the country work hard wll
day, then at night loose their hard-
carried repose by strolling otT to an
isolated school house to battle for
their country’s welfare, that there is
no foolishness in their motives. In
time of peace, as in war, the hard
ened muscles and callous hands, are
found in the forefont of the thickest
of the bat do for the advancement of
their country and tiie honor of their
fellowman.
The people in the Eastern portion
of Spartanburg have long since known
that they possess the oasis of the
county, and therefore pay into the
county’s exchequer more than they
get back.
The people of Northern Union
know that they spend all their spare
money in Gaffney, which money
helps to build up that place and by
so doing puts more money in Spar
tanburg’s treasury, while they pay
their taxes into Union’s treasury,
Gventy-scvcii miles away and get
very little benefit. While in the
“CUt-ofT” of York, those people know
that if they do not vote themselves
into the proposed new county that
their loss will be great in the near
future freiu t! fact that Hock Hill,
the wealthiest portion of York, will
at once proceed to secure to herself
a county, leaving tho remainder of
York to pay a higher tax than at
present. Hock Hill is bent on hav
ing a court house. If Limestone
county carries, blio will eventually
move Yorkvillc court house down
there in spite of thunder, for those
people in Hock Hill are ever on the
alert, an energetic aad persevering
people. They know a good thing
when they sec it. That is why they
went a court house. They are going
to do all they can to defeat Lime
stone county, not for any love of
upper York, but for the sole benefit
Rock Hill. They seek to hold those
people In the “cut-off” of York in
old ruts as a means to give them a
boost up the ladder of progress. So
you see very clearly that it is to the
individual and collective interest of
the three proposed sections to create
u new county for themselves, be
cause wo are door neighbors, our in
terests are indentical, then let us
join hands and build up a hitherto
neglected portion of country that has
paid out hard earned dollars to build
up other portions entirely out of our
rcncli.
Those who arc opposed to the link
ing together of our common interest,
endeavor to h< are us by telling (not
proving) that our taxes will advance
to an unheard of burden. They re
sort to this means because they know
that to be the “hands off” place of a
man. We know that this is not so
for the simple reason that the peo
ple in the three sections are not only
going to unite themselves, but bring
with them the same territory, the
same personal property, that has
heretofore been supporting them in
the old counties. Now if this prop
erty lias been amply sufficient
to support us in the three old coun
ties, with big salaried offices, why
in the name of common sense will
they not support us in a new county
with small salaried offices?
Mr. Guntt would have, us to be
lieve that we would have to pay an
enromous sum of taxes to liquidate
the indebtiness of the three old coun
ties. Certainly we will have to pay
our portion of tho iniebtiness of the
old counties just as we have always
been doing, but mind you, it is not
like'.Mr.Gantt would have you tojinfer.
While we are compelled by the
basic law of the state to help pay
the old indebtiness of the three old
counties, they are by the same law
forced to give up three pretty large
chuncks of territory with which to
pay tho old debt. They may whip
the devil around the stump as much
as they like, but these are facts they
cannot budge. Facts of which our
people are thoroughly conversant.
And, even our children point to their
foreheads and smile when .Mr. Gantt
makes the assertion that our road
tux will be doubled, etc.
Mr. Gantt also says that those two
cotton mills in Gaffney do not pay
any tax that is of any consequence
to the county, but pays a town tax.
This is a mistake. They pay ah
enormous county tax, but, none to
the town.
Then again, Mr. Gantt handles the
truth carelessly and facts roughly,
when lie says that it will be impossj-
sible for a farmer to get an office in
the new county—that Gaffney and
Blacksburg will he the dictators.
Then in the next breath he appeals
to the farmer not to vote for the new
county. Well does he know that if
the farmer does not vote this ne\y
county in, that , the towns are help
less. Mr. Gantt knows that the
farmers will have a monoply on the
offices, since tho ratio between the
two classes in the new county are by
far greater in favor of tho farmer
than it is in either of the old coun
ties. If the farmer ever wants an
office, he had better work with might
and main for the new county, for
three fourths of tho voting popula
tion in tho new county are farmers.
As long as Mr. Gantt is suffered by
the farmers to bamboozle them by
claiming to he tlitir only friend, just
so long will they be officeless i.e. in
the proposed “cut-off” of Spartan
burg. Wo know tins to be a fact
because whenever an election year
rolls around he gets up *his slate of
pets and the farmer is entirely
ignored. Was this caper not cut by
him this year? Certainly it was.
We hud a farmer candidate from this
section for onc’of the* county offices,
and notwithstanding Mr. Gantts
boasted friendship for the farmer, lie
gave him thegBrutus dagger. From
every quarter, wo hear tho farmers,
almost to a man, say that Mr. Gantt
gave our Alliance fraternity a sledge
hammer blow by becoming so unruly
that his excommunication become
imperative.- And now, to our sor
row, wo find that he lias greatly in
jured our Reform cause by constantly
kicking up a rucus about nothing
and appealing to the blinded pre
judice and the baser part of the hu
man mind to array tho farmers
against the merchants, class against
class, and would,if he’could,crack the
sacred bond ’twix father and son.
Tho farmers, merchant, and in fact
every body else, have for some time
had scruples us to Mr. Gantt’s sin
cerity in his voluminous vauntings
of friendship to the farmer, and now,
since his unreasonable attack on the
people for desiring the thing of which
the Reform doctrincs’liuve taught and
shown them tho supreme necessity,
he has turndown tho last curtain of
simulation, and now stands in his
true light before the people. No,
Mr. Gantt, you have no love for the
farmer of which you love to prate
about, except when lie rides twenty
or thirty miles to plank down his
dear dollar for your paper.
But Mr. Gantt gets very angry in
deed when he hears that Tillman,
“the great Gysttr of Reform” is
going to speak to the “heathens” in
the “benighted” new county. 1 sup
pose he is scared. Tillman might
poke a little sense into the
“heathens,” and Larry does not, by
any means want that done. Larry
does not like Tillman because Till
man regards him as a small potatoo,
and doesn’t give any heed to his
mandates. We remember how Larry
commanded and gave out orders for
Tillman to locate tho Winthrop Nor
mal Training School at Spartanburg.
But Tillman pursued his course as
though Lurry were not disturbing tho
air.
The people contend that Tillman
has the greatest right of any man in
the state to discuss this subject be
fore tho ,'public. Why? Because he
is the father of it.
When Tillman left his farm, Cin*
eonatuH like, and put on the politi
cal robe, he begun his fight for a re
formation of the county government
by advocating smaller counties. Ho
has fought and won the battle, jthen
why should ho not be the first man
to discuss the ^subject, not only
here, but anywhere In the state, es
pecially when tho people call on
him?
Then on the other hand, we think
that Mr. Gantt is the first man to
oppose the new county argument
since he fought the calling of a con
stitutional convention with all the
vigor and vehemence in him. So
Larry, if you want to cripple tho
cause of our new county you had
better play a different card, for your
little game of abuse last week
turned up scores of now county
trumps,
If you are really hard up for a
wind battle, just come down Dec.
5th, face the people whom you seek
to injure, try your hand a little with
Benjamin, and the people will cry in
unsion, “Lay on McDulI. and dumbed
FLAW PICKER ON THE STUMP
he be who first cries enough.”
HE SPEAKS FOR NEW COUNTY
AT DRAYVILLE.
Only Three Oppose It Between Here
and Asbury-—Ravenna Is the Hor
net’s Nest of the Oppo
sition—Notes.
V. M.
WHAT CAN THEY DO WITH THIS
The Auditor of Florence County Nails
a Falacy.
An opponent of tho. new county
asked Thk Ledgek if it was not true
that tho tax levy in now counties was
smaller than that of old counties be
cause the assessors have assessed the
property at a higher valuation. We
had to admit that we did not kqow
whether or nqt that was trite, but at
the samp tiiqe iyo promised to find
out; so, with that end in view, we
wrote to the auditor of Florence
county and asked him these two
questions:
“Will you please inform us if the
property in your county is assessed
at a higher rate than R was before
the new county was formed, and also
state if the rate is now higher than
in the old counties from which it was
taken?”
“Do your people desire to go back
into the old counties?”
To the two inquiries tho aud
itor wrote as follows:
W. L. Hakkrll, Auditor. i
Auurrou’s Okkick,FloscxcuCounty •
Flobshce, S. C., Nov. 18, 1896, t
Mk. Ed H. DkCami' :
Dkak Sju—Y'our favor of I7fh inst.
to hand. In answer as to rate of as
sessment for Florence county now
and when in old counties, would give
you the following statement, to-wit:
1893-94 assessed:
Marion, at about $3.98 per uere, on
an average.
kv Darlington, at about $4.31 per aero,
on an average.
Florence, at about $3.22 per acre,
on an average,
The above shows the two counties
from which Florence was principally
cut, there being only two other town
ships out of about fifteen, one from
Williamsburg, the other from Claren
don.
The people of Florence county are
all well satisfied and have no desire
to return to the old counties. Re
spectfully, W. L. Hakrkll,
Auditor F. C.
As will be seen from the above the
new county of Florence has the ad
vantage of 76 cents over tho old
county of Marion and the advantage
of $1.09 over tho old county of Dar
lington in tho matter of the assess
ments of lands. Florence’s levy of
12$ mills Includes a tax for past in
debtedness, and they build
their own court house and
jail as well. Cannot our people
run on a less tax than Florence
when they will have no court house
and jail to build ? Wo will have the
privilege of making our own tax
rates if wo go into tho now county,
while as it is wc don’t have any say
so in the matter. Thk Lkdgkk has
promised there will be no increase in
taxes, and that on the other hand
then) will be a reduction, and we
servo notice hero that the man, or
set of men, who succeed In getting
the offices of this now county must
not and shall not attempt fo have a
high tax rate. On tho other hand,
they must bo lower.
— • *-
Notice.
A public speaking will he held at
Maud, B. C., on Saturday Xov. 28th,
to discuss the new county move
ment. All are invited to attend, the
patrons of the Headlight especially.
ItKl-'OKMKRS.
— •
Eureka! Eureka!!
Why longefhunt for a name? Why
lose the now county because we can’t
get a suitable name for it? Cull it
Ganlcliawllipscomb. Nihil.
Draytonvillk, Nov. 23.—In all
this whole round, created world,
you’ll find opposition to any git-up.
If I was drawing a ten thousand dol
lar salary a year and spendin’ and
circulatin’ every bit of it in and all
over this county somebody would
kick about it. If I had tho power to,
and would invent some kind of a
fly in’ coutrapsiun to carry people to
Heaven in I wouldn’t git many loads
hauled off till somebody would be
wantin’ to mob me, even if 1 hauled
them free of charge. If I would
propose to create a new county and
build a hundred thousand dollar
court house and jail and pay every
man’s tuxes and furnish him a turn-:
out each court wceek to rido- to court
and buck, and give the people Uncle
Sara as security somebody would op
pose it; now, aint that so? We have
got one man, I am sorry to say.
right down here in thecoalin’ ground,
in our midst, who says lie don’t
want the new county because he
don’t want it—that’s a]l-^=liaiut got
no more reason for his oppositlon*than
a man has for deliberately stickin’
bis finger in the fire. I proffered to
senff him some new county litera
ture until after the election free of
charge so he could weigh both sides
of the question and be prepared to
vote intelligently on Dec. 8th, and be
loyal to his country, but no sir, narry
time would he accept it. Such fel
lers as that is a clog to the wheel of
enterprise and prosperity and a bur
den to liis community; not because
he is opposed to the new county, but
because be is not willing to weigh
both sides of a question to iimi which
is best.
But withal I am proud of the coal
in’ ground and her patriotic inhabi
tants. About 3U or 50 of her voters
assembled at the school house Sat
urday night to weigh both sides of
the new county question and bo pre
pared to vote intelligently for the
best interests of their country. For
the first time (outside of dreams) was
ole Flaw on the stump—to change,
and swap, and receive, and give, and
mingle viewsjrelative to new or no
new county. The parson was there,
and the people in ginnerul turned out.
The sentiment was about 1G to I in
favor of tho new county. Honestly,
a new qpunty man had to gft up qnd
make an anti-new pqunty speech ih
order to git material foj the debaters
to work on. The niost opposition we
had was one man sai(I he was in favor
ofjthe new coqnty pravidin’theyjput it
in the center and if not, not; and
in answer another feller said : “Who
ever beam tell of a court house and
jail bein’ built in an ole field. We
might want some peanuts to crack qn
indurin’ court tiine, and ef we got
’em we’l h^f tq gq to Gaffney after
’em and before we got back we’d be
ruled out.”
One opposer’s reason was, that the
people in the fork of Broad and Paco-
let rivers had to come too far to at
tend court about eighteen miles. He
don’t seem to realize that four times
as many people as live in that little
fork now haf to go clear from Broad
river to Spartanburg, about twenty-
five miles; and from the North Caro
lina lins near Broad river to York-
ville, about twenty-eight miles; and
from tho Spartanburg line near
Broad river to Union, about thirty
miles.
Gentlemen, be patriotic and vote
for the interests of the masses and
not for a personal whim. To have
the court house and jail in tho geor-
gruphical centre of the proposed new
county would be like having your
dwelling house in the center of your
farm and the kitchen and dining
room at one edge. How would you
like to git up in the morning and
walk two or three miles fur break
fast? How would you like to drive
three, four or five miles after court
adjourns to town, do your tradin’ and
then buck home?
Who ever hearn tell of a court
house and jail bein’ built out in an
ole field, away from a store, away
from a restaurant, away from a hotel,
away from a postoffico, and ohoveall.
away from a dcpqt or railroad? If
that aint a bright idea I’ll give it up.
But you say, ‘‘we’ll git all these
things after wejhuild the court house
and jail there.” (), yes, I hadn’t
thought of that. You mean to tax
the people to build the court house
and jail and tax ’em to git this rail
road an depot and naturally tho other
things will be added unto you, is
that it? Well if you do all these
things then it is that Mr. Gantt’s
booger boos will come upon you and
you’HJJremuin payin’your 17$ mills if
notjmore. Honestly I don’t think
there’s a man in the proposed new
county lines that, after looking this
question square in the face, would
thinkof having the courthouse and jail
in the georgraphical{centre. If he
woul(!|il would be tor self-interest and
not from ajpat riotic standpoint.
Now, this is what Flaw has to say.
If its not right I’m open to convic
tion.
LATER.
Ravenna, S. C., Nov. 24.—Gee-
miny whiz! I’ve got into the hor
nets nest of the whole plantation,
the “little foxes” that gobble the
grapes, the Aarons that build the
golden gods and impede progress in
the land of milk and honey.
Yesterday (Monday) I met two men
who declared their opposition to the
new county, and heard of one more.
This includes the entire Union road
from Gaffney to Asbury. One feller
says he is against it because a drunk
man in Gaffney called him a d—d
fool.
I tell, and prove to them, that out
of all the counties (36) in t,he state,
only seven pay 14 mills and over and
yet they contend t hat our taxes will
be raised. Gentlemen, if twenty-
nine counties out of tbirty-six can be
run for less than 14 mills, why in
the name of reason can’t the new
county be run on less than 14 mills?
Gentlemen, look this square in the
face with an unprejudiced eye; it is
solid facts. Saiudu is paying on
court house and jail and all hor taxes
put together are only 12$ mills.
But what I started to say in the
outset: This Ravenna settlement—
a handful in theooean, ns it were—is
tooth and toenail against the new
county, in spite of all solid proofs of
fered. Their main objections are,
that the handful of houses this side
of the river at Trough was^left out.
Tho factory operatives live in them,
and a majority of them move so often
that it would be impossible to collect
much tax from them, so you see tho
new county didn’t lose much tax by
leaving them out, but it is a great
bugaboo iu this immediate section,
though there are some strong now
countyites here, I find, and one lives
right on the line.
The biggest objection I find in Ra
venna settlement is because of leav
ing out at Trough Shoals this side
of the river, a number of operatives’
houses. I just want ta. aaj£ ri^in.
here that the tax on the property
would have been paid into the Spart
anburg county treasury even if they
hud made the river the line all the
way up, and tho new county would
have had to keep up the roads.
\ ou say : “The poll on the opera
tives would have been a big thing.”
If you had the experience old Flaw
has about cottop mill tax payers you
would readily say that not more than
one-half of them pay taxes as a gen
eral thing; the majority move so
often from one county to another
that their taxes would not amount
to a drop »n the bucket. Now, hon
estly. ain’t that a fact? I don’t be
lieve their taxes would have paid to
keep up those rough roads between
the river and Brown’s branch.
Flaw Fickeu.
•— ———
Tell Us Why, Will You?
Will some one toll us why it ia that
certain office holders and newspapers
in this anti adjoining counties are so
intensely Interested in the defeat of
the new county on purely patriotic
lines and at tho same time have not
a word to say about the move to
create a half dozen other new coun
ties in different portions of the State?
We never hear Ahem say a word
about Greenwood, Salem,Edisto, Dor
chester andjCalhoun counties, all of
whom are to hold elections on De
cember 8th, the same day we do, but
they are eternally harping on Lime
stone and Gaffney. Tell us, will you,
why they are so interested in us and
have no interest in these other elec
tions if they oppose it from a patriotic
standpoint?
No, gentlemen, the answer is easy.
They are working for self. If we get
this new county, which we firmly be
lieve we will, those newspapers will
lose some official patronage and sub
scribers and these officials will lose
some fees. That’s the whole thing
in a nut-shell.
A Cards of Thanks.
I bog to express my gratitude and
thanks to tho people of Wright
neighborhood for their assistance in
aiding me to save my house and
barns from being burned up Friday
night. But for their prompt response,
and manly efforts, great damage
would sure have resulted to me.
Respectfully,
J. L. ShAKE.
THIS IS QUITE FAIR.
Mr.
Hardin Invites the Opposition to
Point Out Flaws.
Blacksburg, S. C., Nov. 18.—Ed.
II. DkCamp, Gaffney, S. O. : I am in
formed that some people who oppose
the formation of the new county,
with Gaffney us the county seltT, inti
mate that the bond given to the
trustees by the people of Gaffney, to
secure the erection of the court
house, jail and other public build
ings, is deficient. No one can ques
tion the solvency of the bond, then
tho defect must he in form. No one
but a lawyer would be a competent
judge as to this; the bond is recorded
in Spartanburg, and if any of our
friends of the bar will be so kind as
to point out the defect—and in jus
tice they should do so to protect
their friends that they advise—I as
sure them that the people of Gaffney
will make the defect, if any, good. I
believe that the people of Gaffney
are honest in this matter. Idr*w
Uie bond, taking great pains with it,
^nd I know of no defect. I am told
again that the new county govern
ment will,, be more expensive than
the old county government we have.
If so, it will bo us we make it. If the
election carries in favor of the new
county—and I am satisfied now that
it will—I am in favor of each town
ship forming tho new county electing
five delegates, on a notice of ten days,
to meet at Gaffney, and that these
delegates make or draft the act that
is to be passed by the legislature in
corporating the new county. By this
means the whole people of the new
county will have a voice in the form
ation and practically make tho law
forming the same, fixing the salary
of the various officers, etc. Mr. Ed
itor. you will notice as a rule that
t hose who oppose the new county are
men who hold some office in the old
counties, are friends of some office
holder, or some one at the court has
a lien upon them. Where one acts as
a freeman, untrameiled and for tho
best interest of himself, his children
ami the people's good, he is iu favor*
of the new county.
*N. W. Hardin,
Chairman Board Trustees.
— — • •— • —
Only Four Out of Thirty-Five Oppose
New County.
(Correspondence of Tho Ledger.)
Dkaytonville, Nov. 24.—This
scribe was in the upper end of York
county last Saturday and attended a
sale of land, corn, fodder and wheat.
The sale was largely attended. I
found nearlv everybody present in
favor of the new county. In fact
out of a about thirty-five I only found
three or four opposed to it, and I
don’t think they will be op
posed to it very long. I thou at
tended services at Buffalo Church
and had tho pleasure of listening to
a very able sermon by the Rev.
Gower, of Lincolnton, X. C. I met
a number of old friends, acquaint
ances and relatives, all of whom I
was very glad to meet. I had the
pleasure of taking quite a number of
new subscribers for The Ledger
while there, which was very agreeable
to me, and I trust it will prove a
source of pleasure and profit to those
who subscribe as well as myself.
Ilurr;ili for Limestone county, that’s the
place for me.
For within her ' * irdors roam the fair,
free,
My family and I wish hereby to ex
press our thanks to the many friends
who were so kind to us during our
recent affliction and bereavement.
May tho unfailing love of our Father
richly reward you.
Yours truly,
Mrs. Addie Tillotson.
- -* •- —
“I escaped being a confirmed dys
peptic by taking Ayer’s Pills in time.”
This is tho experience of many.
Ayer’s Pills, whether as an after-din
ner pill or as a remedy for liver com
plaint, indigestion, flatulency, water
brush, and nausea, are invaluable.
i
a
i
l
*3
SJ
the brave anil
Rambler.
Taking a Deep Interest.
Cowi’KNS, S. C.. Nov, 24, 1896.
Mr. Editor: I am taking a deep
interest in our new county movement.
I see many advantages in it. I hon
estly believe that our taxes will be
less and the money that will be saved
to the people of Spartanburg, York
and Union—who now go so far to at
tend to their legal cases—cannot be
computed, while cases in court can
then be tried with dispatch. It will
bo best for us all. You arc a hustler
—pile in your licks and counjt me in
the fight “while the lamp holds out
to burn.” J. S. Oglesby.
— —- -
Yes Too Big.
Tho Carolina Spartan of last week
week says:
“The county criminal court is get
ting to be a big thing. The grand
jury remains in session longer than
a week and they have not been fool
ing away their time. Then the
docket had over a hundred cases, the
settlement of which imposes a heavy
burden on the county.”
Now create smaller counties suited
to tho necessities of the rapidly in
creasing population of this county—
divide the business, it will cost the
counties and individual both less.
_. ► —
A cup of muddy coffee is not whole
some, neither is a bottle of muddy
medicine. One way to know a reli
able and skillfully-prepared blood-
purifier is by its freedom from sedi
ment. Ayer's Sarsaparilla is always
bright and sparkling, because it is an
extract and not a decoction.
||
'll
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MK
V