University of South Carolina Libraries
Entered at the Postoffice at New berry, S. C., as 2nd class matter. E. H. AULL, EDITOR. Friday, February, 3, 1911. A WORD PERSONAL. During the past few days my name has been used in the press of the State in connection with the appointment to the position of commissioner of agri culture to succeed Col. E. J. Watson. One newspaper crried -an editorial stationg that etwo other gentlemen had been mentioved in connection with the position, and intimated that their names had been used as a blind, and th&t I was slated for the position. In justice to Governor Blease, Col. Watson and myself, I feel that I should say tlhat I have no knowledge what ever of Governor Blease's 'attitude in this mgtter. That I do not know whether he intends to ask Mr. Wat son's resination or not, and that if he does, or if Mr. Waltson should re sign, I have no knowledge as to whax wfll be Governor Blease's attitude as to his successor. I have had no con ference with him and have not discuss ed the matter at a1, have no knowl odge of what his intentions are, and lkave not -been an applicant for any position. E. H. Aull. THE CASE OF REPRESENTATIVE AYER. Editor Hartw-Ell M. Ayer, of the Florence Times, who is a member of the lower -house of the general as sembly, and who resigned his position as trustee of the Industrial School for Boys at Florence shortly after Gov ernor Blease's message asking f or an investigation into the matter of mem bers of the general assembly holding the office of trustee of a Statie isnstitu ton in violiation of the Costitutionf, says editorially in the Times: "G.overnor B1-eiase has 'inade a bad mnistiake in removing Tom Miller from the head. of the State colored college. He does not believe in negro educa.tion and in justice 'to his trace' Tom Miller urged 'that Mr. Blease was not the man .to be madie governor. He was forcibly removed iby the governor for "pernicious political activity." That same charge would take ma:ny a 'head' off that is in the power of the governor to remove. He has already practical ly forced the resignation of every member of a board of trustees of State institutions who holds any other of fice or appointment under the State, which is another mistake. The last constitution, which wanted ,to get -d1own 'to- business and correct -every ill1 under 'the sun in its provisions, erred in thie claus'se which Mr. B-1easie draws attention to, and 'the educational de patmit and friends of educaton all over thie .State 'have urged its repeal! in the interiest of 'the educational in stitu-tions of the State and 'a bill is now pending n 'the general assembly to repeal the unfortunaste mnistake of the constttion. Governor Bleaste says thlat mnwny of the men thus iholding two offices are his personal friends, but it seems to us that they might all be removed on the same charge that Tom Mill(ert was "pernicious political acti vity." -Howiever, if ther~e be ain easier way and more polite to cut a head off we do not blame the governor for ta.k-' Ing that way. It looks better." We have, in very truth, fallen upon strange tmnes if a member of the gen era! assembly--the law-making body of South Carolina--may disregard a~ clause in the fundamerntal law of South Ca'rolina, the constitution, of the State, simply because he thinks 'that clause "an unfortunate mistake," and upon even more unfortunate times if the gorernor makes a "mistake" when1 he urges the enforcement of the con stitution, because, forsoofh, those af-' fected think the clause w!hich is being violated is "an unfortunate mistake." But, coming down to the particular, case of Mr. Ayer, 'se take the follow ing from the news columns of our w'ell-beloved cote'mporary, the Colum bia State: "Capt. H{artwell M1. Ayer, of Flor ence. is a member of the house of rep resentatives fromn Florence and is al so a member of the board of trustees of the State Industrial School for Boys at that pla ce. 31r. Ayer has been a valuable member of the board and his, work for the institution needs no comn menr ' .s the special message from t" e nffice reached the IA" that message the inference was Isc plain that he was al- but called by name--Mr. Ay!er sent in his resigna tion as a member of the school board, "Last night Mr. Ayer said that IhE loved the work of the institution a.a< he had long since satisfied his own conscience ithat he was violating n; law in being a trustee while he wa< a member of the legislature, but ix order to tlet the institution suffer n< harm through his being a member oJ the board he had decid'ed to with When Mr. Ayer gave out that inter view he was evidently thinking of thai "unfortunate misitake of the consti M tion," which he seems to think thev is no harm in violating. Of course ha had :not read the act establishing th Industrial School for Boys, becausi that act sys, in Section 2, at page 134 of the Acts of 1906, in providing fo the appointment of the board of trus bees of 'the institution: "That no person shall be appointet a member of said board who holds an3 office of honor, trust or profit unde this State, or the United States (ex cept iiotaries public or officers in th( State mdlitia service); and if any per son appointed under the provisions D: this Act shall subsequently accept an. such -office, he shall ipso facto ceas< to be a member of said board." -No "unfortuntate n-istake of the con stitution" about that. That is the ac of tfhe legisaature creating the Indus trial Schoo1, passed by the getnera assembly. Mr. Ayer having accepted the offic of member of the house of representa tives from Florence upon beinq elIected subsequent to that act, he ha really ipso facto ceas!ed to be a menibe of the board, and there was really n use in his resignation, except for th fact that he was continuing to exer cise the duties of the position in vio lation of law. Nevertheless, even ii the face of this plein letter of the ver: law which created the school and pro vided for the Appointmen^t of he boar of trustees, Mr. Ayer "bad long sinc satisfied (his own conscience thar: he was violating no -law in being a trus tee while (he was a m'ember of the leg isl'at'ure." We have no doubt Mr. Ay'er made as excellent trustee, and he is a progres sive memiber of the gemeral assembly Personally, we would .be glad to se4 Mr. Ayer hold as many positions a hoinor and profit in this State a.s h< might desire. But ic is a question of ob'edien'ce 't< law by members of thie <1aw-makin.1 body.. Mr. Ayer lost no time in resigninig after Governor Blease's -message wan in. He could not have resigned muel sooner afgter- the message if he *het known of the provision of the ac creating the institution of which hM was trustee-te legislative enact mentt, i.n addition to that "unfortunati mistake of 'the constitution." His res ignation reided his case, and excep for his utterances since -we woub have been content to see the matter at to him dropped. But before we im pugn the mnotivies of another, even i: the other shou-ld be a governor whon we fought bitter.ly politically, wi should l-eave no doubt that we our selves are on the right side of: tha fene-the side 'of law. The case of Mr. Ayer is importan1 for another reason; it shows to whai lengths defiance of the written l'as will go even by law-makers once it is countenanced in minor particulars. THA T T. N. C. A. We have not heard of any move rent, since Mr. Jones's appeal, look ing .to that Y. M. C. A. building for Newberry. It is not too late now t, ask the Newberry dielegation to pass an act submitting to the people of the county the question of turning over the old court house for this -purpose upon ,the same conditions as were con taned in thie act last year, v/hica was of no effect because those charged with he duty failed to order the electibn. We believe if the matte-ir were prop e-rly preser'ed to the people of the county they would vole for such a dis position of the building. It ought t( be improved in some way, or torn :lown. nd it is too valuable a build ing to be torn down, and it could be utilized in no worthier cause than for a Y. M. C. A. building for the boys of Newberry county. Will not some one 'Waving the inter ests of the work at heart take up thc 0 matter and push it forward. A MARRIAGE LICENSE LAW. t Opposition to a marriage license law for South Garodina has been based e upon a misipprehension as to its pur pose and probable results. That at C last the legislature should have dis regarded the objections which have been raised against the -enactm-ent of n such a statute is gratifying. The meas - ure now anie;ds only the signature of Governor 'Blease to become law. We do not recall whether or not the gov- a ernor lhas expressed himself on this 1 isubject, but it is to be hoped that he will refrain from ithe exercise here of his power to veto.-News and Courier. 13 r We are su!rprised that the News and Courier does not recall the platform n e upon which Governor Blease stood i'n a hds campaign, and which was reiterlat- - ed in his inaugural address only 17 days ago. - Mr. Blease strongly urged 1 "either a marrage certificate, or the' registiation of all marriages in the ] office of the clerk of court in the coun- n ty in which the marriage takes place," -C 'saying be had been "advocating this for some years." We had thou.ght, judging by ;tthbe r News and Cour Etr's eddtorial upon the inau-gural address, bhat it had made a dtronger impressioa upon the News land Oouri:r's -editorial mind. We agree with the News and Courier tbat the Iaw is needed, and we have a been urging such a law to the extent I of our abdlity. We believe it will re Built dn great good to the Stute. S* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * r * THE IDLER. * * * * * * * * .* * * * * * * * * * I have not felt like writing recently. I have been waiting and watching and - thinking. You can see and hear many a curious things when you are still y yourself and do not go to sleep but _ keep your eyes and ears in proper trim and in a receptive condition. I 1 read once 'the life sitory of an old man2 B Who 'had seen 'much of the ups and a downs of .liie, and who was not born t - with a silv'er spoon in his mouth, and a _ who was not given to outward demon- il s'tration, of his religious convictions, and did not make big pretension, buti 1 Who possessed a heart and a soul and - who never turned away a deserving ' .appeal for aid. It may be fiction, but t there is a great lesson in the story. c On one occasio~n he soliloquized some- a rthing n this way: "I wa'n't consulted 'bout comin' in- ' y to this world, an' I don't 'spect to be 'bout goin out. . . . When I cum of age I went to the city an tpirned trader 'an' made a little money; got< Smarried an' cumn down into -an' I t bought a 'gold mine. I've got it yit. c i That is, I've got the hole whar I s'pos S-ed the min'e was. Most o' my money twnt into it an' stayed thar. .. . I t take some comfort livin' and try an' pass it along. The rwidder L-- calls t - me a scoffer, but she all'us comes to a me wh-en she's needin', an' don't allus| . have to cum. either. My life's 'been tlike most everyrbody else's--a streak o' lean an' a streak o' fat, with lean C Ipredomitnatin.' 'Twas a streak o' fat t Swh.en I found a good woman an.' she 1 - said 'yes,' an' a streak o' lean when C EI was bamnboozled by a lawyer into r Sbuyin' a gold mine. I've kep' that hole ~ ever since an' paid taxes on't, to prove a to myself jest how big a fool, a man can be an' -live." I was just thinking how few men realize 'how big and sitrong and valu able and helpful is the "streak o' 'fat" they are getting when they pers'uade some good woman to become a help meet to them and to share the sorrows ' and the joys of life. And >then how true it is thmat too often sczna b'ig shouting saint is v:ill!!ng to write down1 everyK other fellow a-s a sinner or scoffer who prgifers to go ai-rg '>.i-t1y and attendI to his own business and help those who ned~( hs h<p. Mos' me: buy a gold mine o:- a gold hrick or some thing like it at. some~ time or other in their lives. but so few keep it and pay thee' tax, as aC reminder and warning of "jest how big a fool man can be an' a live." -o This old philosopher contines hisi soliloquy arnd au'tobiography: d "I've never wronged nobody, no" - one much prayin,' and' when t> Al- 1 mighty calls me I think T'll standl jos h as good a ehancee o' gertin' a harp a wos skin'nin' [ ever got was dones b: S this ere lawyer- who never set down to meals 'icu askin' a blesin', an'h mehbe that's the rann I'm a scoffer. I've observed a good deal since I left the old farm, an' have> come to the belief that th.ar's a sucker C born every minit and two ter ketch Ibm. When. was rn oung I took hold the 1ig end o' thm log an' did the lift- 1 i'; bu;t now I take hold o' the little ad an' do the gruntin'! T'har's one I iing I've larned, and lamed it for t irtin, an' that is, thar's dum few peo 1(- in this world that cut a ham in thl( i'ddle. Most o' 'em cut few slices an'i at 'em thin." Thtre ore lots of suckers and e. z. iarks in this world and there is al ,ays somabody fishing for them and atching them or there would not be 3 D money millionairem. The fellow, s a rule, who does the biggest and ] >udest granting is carrying the i mallest part of the 'load. What I i rant to see in Newberry is not so ] iuch grunting 'but every fellow car- I ying his part of the load. There is I o telling how much we could do if ] very man and woman and child could ] nd would :tote hs load. Why. my park ] rould be built and that light would be ow in Friend street and the old part- : r burned buildings near the union , tation in Friend street and in Mainh treet would not stand there so long. ,very fellow is trying to buy a gold iine in some shape or other and most f them get a hole in the ground. Vhereas if the whole community ould gelt together and every one take is part of the load it would be easy o do anything. -0 I noticed in the papers the other day hat in the little town of Greenville ,nd >the small town of Union the mer hants had gone together and they had yrovided a rest room for the ladies vh.o come to town from the country. hav%e spoken of ithe advantages of uch a thing for Newberry a number rf times and we could utilize thle old ourt house building for that purpose vith mighty little cost and yet I reck n the objection is that it would be a ittle closer to some merchant than t is to another, and some fellow is Lfraid th'e- other fellow will get a lit le more benefit out of it. -0 By the way, t4at reminds me that I sead the article of Mr. A. C. Jones vith a degree of interest and have been ,xpecting the preachers and the good Yeople of Newbe-rry to say something hat soundled flike a movement, but lever a word has broken the aiwful tillness. Seems to me that about thir y-five years ago Newhberry supported Ivery'.live and active Y. M.' C. A. and ad a secretary and oncle -there was a novenment started to put up -a build ng and the money was raised-or sub cribed-one afternoon. We ought to vake up. If I 'had the money some of hese people havlei in Newberry I would La something with it for the general, v'elfare clause of the community. But reckon- that is the reason I haven't ot it. I resckon they get the p.leasure ut of having it. My pleasure would re in spending it. -0 I was over at the union depot the1 ~ther evening. City council has not ut up that light yet. It is up to coun. il now. If you fhave th'e light, as was rtate.d by Alderman Baxter last year, ihy not put it up? Why not do some hing worth while? And that precipice ong 'that old burned place is still here and is still a menace. -0 Wonder who owns this property, nyway, and the other old wood n hacks in Main sitreet. Wonder if ouncil shas no authority to remove hem as nuissances or menaces to other roperty. Or do the owners and coun i thin:k they are evidences of prog ess and prosperity, or are they con ideed as a abeaurty and a joy forever n. forevermore, Amen. The Idler. NEWS OF PROSPERITY. eeting of Sorosis.-Many Prosperi tians Saw "Buster Brown."-Per sonal and Otherwise. Prosperity, Feb. 2.--Mrs. .i. C. ohupert is spdn-ding this week in olumbia. Miss Helen Lathan, of Little Moun. iin. is the guest of Miss Mary Lizzie rise. Miss Bessie Bowers is visiting in 'ewberry. Miss Lillie Mae Russell has returned rom a short stay in Columbia. Col. E. H. Aull spott 'a few hours i town Tuesday. Mr. A. G. Wise is in Savannah for few days. Mr. J. D. Quattlebaum has. again one to the Western unulte market. Mrs. F. E. Schumpert spent Wednes ay in Newherry. Mrs. Pat Kennedy, accompanised by [,tser J. M. Cook, has returned to er home in Due West. Messrs. Hart Kahn and Carl Huff-j am of Columbjia. were the guests unday of M~r. Birge Wise. Miss Hag.tie Groseclose is visiting em parenats in Eh'rhardt., Mr. S. J1. Kohn is spending this -eek in Columbia. Mr. S. 21. Duncain will lecture to the ommrercial league on February 14. Miss Julia Schumper.t has as her ...uet Mi 1Nnlitt Dnabins of Whit Messrs. Vance Matthews and E. S. Cohn, of Little Mountain, visited in own last week. Dr. G. Y. Hunter attended the Corn ;Towers association in Columbia on 7hursday. Mrs. Minnde Curlke, of Winnsboro, s visiting her daughter, Mrs. J. S. Theeler. Mrs. Edna Morris, the contest man tger, is spending a few days with Viss Ellen Werts. The following attended "Buster rown" in Newbetry on Tuesday igh.t: Dr. and Mrs. G. Y. Hunter, Mr. od Mrs. J. F. Browne, Mrs. C. M. larmon, Misses Dells Bowers, Mary eiWalt Hunter, Mary Lizzie WIse, lit le Rebecca Harmon and Elizabeth 3rown, Messrs. H. J. Raw., W. E. Voseley, Carl Fellers, -and G. D. rown. Mrs. Joe B. Ha;rtman received on 4onday a telegram from her sister, rho was forme.rly Miss Frances Mil er, telling of the death of her husband, dIr. Martin Bogguss, in Trinidad, Col. Quite a nmber of our citizens joined he "fire brigade" in Little Mountain Puesday. Rev. S. C. Morris, assisted by Rev. F. L. Harley, of Spartanburg, is hold ng a slaries of meetings in the Meth >dist church. Little Miss Lillie Witherspoon was )perated on at the Columbia hospital >n Tuesday and is reported still criti :1ly Ill. The Young People's society will meet in Graoe Luth.eran church. Prof. H. L. DeOA, of Ndwberry, will leoture to the high schol Fridy af ernoon. Public invited to attend. Miss Blanche Kibler will entertain the Literary sorosis Friday afternoon. The topic for study at their meetinig SPECIAl Saturday I 14 qt. Blue and White Di White Buckets, one piece 50 cents values -- Be sure to look at our newl orated Crockery and John Ironstone Chinia just in. buckets, dough boards, ro! WE CAN SAVE YOU M ANDRSON ,1 EXCUlRSI( Southern Newber: [obile, Ala. and Re Account Mardi Gras ary 23-28, 1911. TicI ary 21 to 27 inclusive, turning March 11, 191 Pensacola, Fla. and Account Mardi Gras ary 23-28. Tickets 21 to 27 inclusive, go 11. Extensions. New Orleans, La. an Account Mardi Gras ary 23-28. Tickets < to 27 inclusive, good: Extensions. Atlanta, Ga. and ret Account Souithern C< March 8-10. Tickets 7, and for trains sch( lanta before noon of turning March 20. E: Convenient schedules. Superb s ervice on all through trains. For d ervations, etc., call on nearest South< JNO. L. MEEK, A. G. P. A. Atlanto HAS No SUBSTIT5TE POWDER Absolutely Pure The only bakin ouftwdsp made from R alrap O nream Of Tra NOALUM,AGUMEPISPHATE is "Inveation is not so much the re sult of labor as of judgmint."-Ros common. Capbilities of the Wireless.-MIds Has the aeroplane come to stay?- A Miss Thompson. Ourrent Events.-Mrs. Morris Lady Exhibitor (at close of baby show)-But, good gracious; this is not my baby, sir! Check Taker-Very sorry, madam; it's the last left. The checks got mixed up somehow. But I'll take care it shan't occur again. K SALE ,. 1 O'dock. h Pans, 10 qt. Blue and o a customer, 25c. 4 stock of gold band dec. sn Bros. English white Also a line of wooden ing pins and bread trays MNY. AND TROUBLE o CENT CO. IN RATES' *Railway I -y, S.C. urn - - .$16.60 Celebration, Febru lets on sale Febru with final limit re . Extensions. etu/n - $16. 10 elebration, Febru on sale February d returning March return .- $20.80 Celebration Febru n sale February 21 returning March 11. rn - - - $6.00 mmercial Congress sold March 5, 6 and4 ~duled to reach At the 8th. Good re ~tensions. ere. Pullman and dining ear etailed information, Pullman re rn Railway ticket agent, or address ALEX. H. ACKER, T. P. A.