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2. R. AULL. ]En-OR. Entered at the Postoffice at New befty, S. C., as second class matter. - TUESDAY, JUNE x4, 1904. The Labor Question Again. Agriculture is the big wheel that modes *all the rest of the business ma chinery, and yet it seems less atten tion is paid to that branch of busi ness than to any other. With the far mers. patience will cease to be a v,:ture. after awhile, and the demand will be made that our law making power must be put into the hands of the far mer. They are tired of half-handed laws enacted as a sort of sop to the farmer to keep him quiet-they want .hws that will accomplish the desired results. Meddlesome people at home. as well as emigrant agents. ought tc be made - to feel the strong arm of the law, and when this is done, much of the annoyance caused by unreliable labor will be done away with. If the last legislature, instead of making the penalty'kfor breaking contract thirty days on the chain gang, had made it ninety days, such a penalty would go a long way toward remedying the dif ficulty-now experienced by farmers. .'It seems that in dealing with this ques tion, our law makers have had more regard for the law-breakers than for the 'employer. What the farmers ought to demand of their representa tives is the enactment of laws that will protect them from the annoyance . and inconveniences under which they 'io suffer, and the candidate that will not promise to work for this end has no business asking for the suf frage of the farmers. Some aspirants ior legislative honors are mighty zealous about protecting other inter iests, but they don't like to be dictated to in reference to the farming inter ests. This labor question is a serious one with the farmers, and they have a right to dictate to their representa - tive as to what ought to be done; nor will the gnew emigration law remed% the evil. With the proper safeguards thrown around the labor. the negro is the best laborer on the farm the south can have. Let the laws compel the' employer -to treat him right, with severe penalties for those who meddle with him while under contract, and farming ~operations would then run smooth, and everybody be in good humor, and better returns from the farm would be the result.-Laurens Herald. The above is true and yet unjust ir some respects to the members of the legislature. It is unjust in that it ~. charges members of the legislature wvith a lack of interest in enacting laws for the benefit of our farmers or such as they may desire on the ques tion of labor contracts. Some amend ments were made by the last legisla ture to the labor contract laws already on the statute books and all the menm bers of the legislature. so far as we could ascertain, were anxious to do something to relieve the situation and at the sa4me time do justice and right The only suggestion our friend makes is that the penalty be made ninety days for violation of contract. The trouble about that is that unless you amend the constitution so as to extend the jurisdiction of magistrates you would have to take all these cases to the general sessions court and nec essiate attendance on these courts and cause delays. The law was amended in several particulars and we think decided im provemnent was made. A conviction and sentence of thirty days does not release the laborer from his contract and if after service of the thirty days sentence he refuses to go back and work c-:: ce.:ur:et he can he broug:: -:: .d sen:t for another thirty days and so on until the con tract is completed. That is better, it seems to us. than to send him up for ninety days all at one time. If there are any suggestions that can help to improve the law let us ha'e them and we feel sure all the mmers of the legislature will be glad to make the improvements in the law. but do not charge them with be ing indfferent to the interests of the tarmers. Col. T. B. Crews. the veteran edi tor of the Laurens Herald celebrated his 72d birthday on June 7. by a fami ly reunion at the home of his son-in law. Mr. John F. Bolt. His childrer and grandchildren were present. \W wish him many more returns of birth days and happy reunions and abun dant success. He has been in the newspaper business for more than a half century. The Greenwood Journal, a prohibi tion newspaper. insists that the voter! of that county require candidates foy legislative positions to declare them selves on the dispensary question. I1 adds: "We trust that the subject will b< taken up by every county in Souti Carolina. and that the good people of the state will see to it that we have a se of law-makers in Columbia whc will not connive at nor make any com promise with this iniquitous business The time has come when the Palmettj state should no longer bear the dis grace that has been placed upon hei by forcing her into the, liquor busi ness." There can be no objection to a dis cussion of this question or any othei question for that matter. It has beer fought out in every campaign for gov ernor since the law was enacted unti two years ago. when all the candidate! were on the dispensary side. It ha! won every time. The place to test it however. is in the legislative branch As between prohibition and the dis pensary, the dispensary is preferable unless you had reached that point ir human progress where men wouU not care for whiskey. Prohibition i a theoretical dream of the idealist. Sc far as we have been able to gathei information, prohibition does not pro hibit and though Greenwood is a pro hibition county about as much liquoi is sold and drunk there as in New, berry and the prohibitory law is sim ply encouraging and inviting a viola tion of law. There are some things about the dis pensary laws which we do not and never have endorsed. but looking al practical results we must conclude sc far as this community is concerned it is much better than the old barroonT system and we believe better thar prohibition by statute would be. In this matter we believe the besi plan is to take the lesser of the twc evils. EVANS-MOBLEY FIGHT. The Statements of Messrs. Evans and Mobley in connection with the diffculty between Messrs. WN. Boyd Evans and John G. Mobley this statemer,t ha! been prepared for publication: As to the diffculty I had yesterday with John G. Mobley I wish to giv< a simple statement of the affair. I left my home on the morning oi June 9 (Thursday) and wvalked leis tirely alonig down towards my ofiee and turning the corner on Sumter and Washington streets I looked up and saw, about ten steps from me. Mr. John G. Mobley walking towards me accompanied by one of the guards at the penitentiary. whom he introduced as his cousin. Mr. Mobley. Mr. John G. Mobley addressed me with these words: "Good morning. this is my cousin. Mr. Mobley." I told him that I knew Mr. Mob He then said: "Where are those papers?" I asked him what papers he referred His reply was: "What have you said about me?" My answer was: "Nothing except as to the requisition papers in the goernors offce for forgery." He then repeated: "Where are those papers?" I aid Poably if you will look ,at the proper place yoU will find them." With that he raised something that he had concealed behind him wrapped in paper and struck at me across the bead. I warded off the blow with my left hand. catching it on my shoulder and ioose part of my coat. striking him in the face with my right hand with all the force I had. We immediately clinched. I caught the whip he had and threw it on the ground. all the while he attempting to gouge me in the eyes. Immediately we were separated by bystanders, who were attracted by Mr. Mobley's loud expressions. Some one in the crowd said: "Turn them loose." which they did. and as we went together again I struck him a full blow in the face. At that time the sheriff arrived. and caught me by the arm and said: "Come on to your office." Someone caught Mr. Mobley and took him to the sheriff's office. Shortly afterwards I was placed under a peace bond. At the recorder's court the next morning I was dis charged and Mr. Mobley. was fined. These are the facts, to be weighed by the public. W. Boyd Evans. Mr. Mobley in Reply. To the Editor of the Sunday News: I have read the statement made by W. Boyd Evans, as to the difficulty between him and myself and pro nounce it to be absolutely false, as will be shown by statements of well known and reputable gentlemen statements to the difficulty itself and to the records of the false charges made against -ne. which records have in some way been improper!y obtain ed by Mr. Evans. A number of years ago, for the pur poses of revenge, a requisition for me was issued from Georgia. This mat ter was thoroughly investigated by the courts of this state and I have been completely vindicated by the courts. The requi:. ion referred to was re cently seen by gentlemen of the high est standing in the hands of W. Boyd Evans, who was showing it secretly, attempting to create a false impres ;-ion and concealing the truth. When I became aware of his das tardly.conduct I determined to pun ish him severely and purchased a cowhide for the purpose. I went to him unarmed and demanded the papers. which he at first denied any knowledge of. and then became eva sive in his answers. I then applied the cowhide to his person a number of times and continued to use it on him uutil it became twisted and unfit for use. and I threw it on the ground. He did not strike me a blow, but commenceed backing off from me as I struck him with the cowhide and con tinued to do so after I threw down the cowhide and was striking with my fists. I Free ! INTERNA' To every purchaser of If you don't want it all your Iget the 25 lbs. free for youl i. See what a cattle rais< GILDE] His manner was as cowardly as hi course had been in the whole matter. I endeavored in this way to inflict upon him the severest punishment for the unjustifiable assault he has made u no my character. John G. 'Mobley. Sir Hcnry Irving announces that he will retire fr6m the stage. but adds prudently that he will make a fare well American tour. 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What do you think of this wor'd.. anyhow?" "Bless God. I ain't got time to think! Six chillun, house rent, en de grocery bill, takes up. all my spare time!" If the world owes every man a i ing some men might have a hard time proving it to a jury. *ES 'he Day With Us m filled with splendid + d low. Not low + high at any price, e new and stylish + "SS GOODS Jties. We can show Etamine, Crepe de. hair,HenriettaSerge, * ther Stylish Fabrics. + red Dress Goods is 1ntion. Black Silks, * ds priced low. DEPARTMENT 3 thing you need in $ cl here at prices to + Ve want to call your + andid Colored Cotton + . The cotton dress * are more beautiful + iany of them are as e as the finest silk + Our Millinery de- $ its usual high stan lew Sandals, New Boys' Shoes, New + keep good shoes at Honorable methods, d merchandise, your + + /ER'SI CK FOOD: )od we will give 25 lbs free. * ur friends for 100 lbs, and . 5 cents; 25 lb. Pail, $3.50.* COW IN THE WORLD CATtE BREEDER REPORTS. d Co.. Minneapls Mimi. nsayat aefundit to avauableFo er returs for the aount invested thnts trecomend it to highly toayfamro au it t thwe presentime rw~ are feeding it to dero t a ne aftng rs a e.o 'is ppard from Herb., Seeds. Boots and Barks. JNTER.