Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Pv J EXIXGTOX. SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY. JAXLAR\ -8. 1920. NUMBER 14. |*i VOBUME NUMBER 50. ^ ^ PROCEEDINGS OF I THE LEGISL ATURE p. The outstanding' feature of the leg[V islative session for last week was the passage of a resolution rejecting the *" woman suffrage amendment to the federal constitution. The vote was very decisive. One of the best & f speeches made in opposition to the {amendment was made by Dr. L. E. Dreher of Lexington county. Dr. Dreher made aai eloquent plea for the - " of the vestige of State's J/4 VOV A I rights which was still left to us. He gy-, stood just where our ancestors did in / <.; 1860 when they shed their live's blood ; for the preservation of local self-gov ernment. He opposed the general assembly passing the amendment without its submission to the people. He "believed the legislature was wasting time to d;scuss the measure because >' he was convinced that it would never '-prevail. The next question is what will be come of the resolution passed by the! house when it comes to the senate. There was one peculiarity about the | < house resolution. It was drawn up in - the form usually used for this purpose except that the customary form uses the expression "is hereby ratified," an affirmative vote meaning adoption and a negative rejection. By substitut. "???".oHftr'' and ttdontine mg " reject tw ??* w the resolution it is claimed that it will forever be debarred from being brought up again. The question is now will the senate put a like perpet. ual quietus on woman suffrage as an amendment to the federal constitution. Some peisons in close touch with the situatioji believe not, holding that while the senate, as at .present constitute^ is unalterably and over- i whelm&ngly opposed to the federa? - amendment, it will not consent to perpetual rejection of it. A resolution to ratify the amendment is now before ' the senate for action, having received ' an unfavorable report from the judiciary* committee. One thing seems certain, the senate will certainly not J vote to. ratify. The best the suffra- 1 gists can hope for is that the body will ' ~ JOPt follow the lead of the house and ! pScpe^^fiy" dispose ofl^'&rtliat they 1 may have another whack at it. Senator Ridgell has met with a decidedly favorable response to his ef- . fort to have a state administrative building erected. He has gone to the pains to have an architect submit a . sketch, with floor plans of the buildV. ; /-> V\ c/\ <rAAd that tllft I &U??, W 11ZV11 iVV/ZVVVA OV ft?vvu. v*?wv senate was willing- to vote for an amendment increasing the amount . asked at first to half a million dollars. The state is now paying a great j amount yearly in rents for officers\ who cannot find accomodations in the ; State house. Prospects for the success of Senator RidgelFs plans look bright. ! The legislature has manifested a disposition to get a little more work ; done and this week is expected to J show some good results. The appro- j priation bill will doubtless soon begin ; to take form, the ways and means! committee and the finance committee , having begun joint hearings on the ! bill. If any progress * has been made i towards good roads legislation from a ' ^ statewide standpoint nobody has heard 1 of it. Some county delegations are j introducing bills looking to the im- j provement of their roads, among the I rest being the two million dollar bond j issue for Richland county. The legis- ! lature must alwavs do some prelimi- | nary talking at the first of the ses- i sion to get acquainted with each oth- i er's views. Maybe this has been ac- ; complisbed now and something will j soon be done for the improvement of the roads. The senate this year is regaling it- j self "with water from Lexington i county?the Grey Rock spring, near Batesburg. furnishing drinking water > for the body. Mineral water springs in the Piedmont have usually enjoyed i this distinction. To all appearances the membes like the change. The water seems to be popular with the solons. Verv few bills have vet Dassed both houses. Separately the two houses have each passed a few bills, but none so far have run the gauntlet of both branches. ! Bffort will be made at this session ?o tighten up the law in regard to 11- , / WEEVIL MEETING DRAWS CROWD The boll weevil conference held in the court house lust Thursday was attended by a large and representative gathering of farmers. During the meeting several speeches were made by experts, which were followed by brief addreses from local county men. The visiting- speakers advanced a number of new ideas, which, if put into practice, they said, would help beat the boll weevil. Diversification and intensification were urged strongly by all of the speakers. Farmers were urged to plant only such crops as had proven a success, such as sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes. Cattle raising was another theme advanced and stressed. Several varieties of cotton, said 10 be the most immune from the attacks of the weevil, were mentioned, among them being the Cleveland Big Boll short staple, and Webber's long staple. Heavier fertilization and better cultivation weeru rged by the speakers. t? wawIc! makp twn blades srrow JL11 tf vaui^i . ? . ? ? wthis year where only oneg erw last year. The meeting was full in interest, anu those who attended felt fully repaid for having been here. SUPPORT RXDGFJiTi PDAN OR OFFER BETTER ONE In regard to the Dr. Ridgell Bill for good roads, it seems that/ objection is raised to the $100,000 appropriation feature and the provision of doing away with the office of supervisor. The $100,000 is to be used in matching the government appropriations and also in buying equipment for the four construction crews in the county In order to get the U. S. Government to invest in Lexington roads, our delegation was forced to meet it with an equal amount of money or work. This has tied up the chaingang on Augusta road which has badly hampered our present supervisor. If an appropriation could be made, it would release the gang for other work in the County such as bridges etc., and Augusta, road in Fork, and down to Orangeburg could be worked by contract. The Occonec County senator has just introduced a $400,000 appropriation for his county. If Lexington doesn't get the government money others are waiting. The capitation tax and road tax re turn to the township from wmch tney are paid. Hollow Creek township paid around $2,500.00 last year, this would drag: every mile twice each year with one of the four construction gangs. In regard to election by people, there need be no fear of that. The county commissioners would have the responsibility of selecting him just as trustees now select a superintendent of city schools. As a caution, you may wonder if a man objecting to this is not looking for a job. The idea iS to first give the man money, next relieve him of all^the financial end and vest that in the commisisoners. Then let him look after the four construction gangs, and chaingang. If you want good roads write to your representatives at once what your wishes are or call in person. "ROADS." HAS PURCHASED FARMERS' RURAL TELEPHONE OUTFIT Messi's. Scott Hook, W. Moody Harman and G. Jacob Lindler. enterprising farmers of Hollow Creek Township, were in town this week, and each purchased a Farmers Rural Telephone outfit and will shortly have the convenience of that service in their homes. BOX PARTY AT PINFATfcLE. There will be a box party, cake walk and other amusements at Pineville school house on Friday night, January AO. This entertainment is to be given for the benefit of the school and everybody is cordially invited. quor substitutes. A bill along this line has been introduced which will makeut harder to get extracts and other fluids which contain alcohol as a preservative. rtepresemauw runm-i ui burg- has introduced a bill to repeal the act of 1919 creating- a state pension board and have the funds disbursed as formerly. The bill provides a liberal appropriation for Confederate veterans. 400 BALES LOW GRADE PLEDGED At a. call meeting of the American Cotton Association (Lexington County Branch) last Thursday for the purpose ( nf ohrpinine ontions of low grade cot ton to make up the 300,009 bales to be delivered abroad, I.-exington offered 401 bales. The greater part of this cotton will bring 41c. This means to the farmer a gain of $32.00 on a 400 lb. bale, or a profit of around $9,000,000 on the 300,000 bales with best cotton at 39c. I wish to say that I feel sure this deal will be a matter of history in ten or fifteen days, and as the president. Dr. Crosson. remarked in his speech Thusday, it is now time for the farmers to assert their rights in the way of realizing proper profit from their labors. On the contrary, oniy a few days since I heard the remark that the Association has not accomplished its object. I am inclined to think that such deals as above must forever dispel any doubt from the minds of the most i pessimictic. It's no small task to undertake what the southern farmer has and I think this sale is only the beginning of many such to follow. .Let's think of an export proposition of 300,000 bales, weighing 400 lbs. (and they will average above that) at 41c, mak ? Q 9AA AAA onrl -rod limine" lllg <% U1 1?7,fcVV,VVV WI4VA * a profit in the transaction of $9,000,000 more by this collective marketing than would have been received if sold as heretofore. Let's give J. Skottowe Wannamaker a chance and have an abiding faith in the association and its purpose. CHALMERS E. WESSIN'GER. JUBILEE MINSTRELS DRAW CAPACITY HOUSE. t Those who attended the Jubilee Minstrel given by the local post of the- Ameircan Legion in the high school auditorium last Thursday night ?and it was a capacity house?witnessed the best performance ever seen in Lexington. There was not a dull moment from the time the curtain rose until the last act had been cast. The minstrel furnished two solid 'hours of fun hnd * amusement. -? tbe-i splendid dancing, the superb jokes and highclass music thrilled the audience from start to finish. Lexington people have paid $2.00 and more to see "play? not nearly *?? entertaining, and had it not been for the fact that the audience knew who the members of the cast were, every performer could have easily been accented as a professional stage actor. The cast includes the following well known local performers: Cyrus L. Shealy, Julian R. Cortey. Tom Sox, John Sox. Gus Barre. John Schneider. Willard Wingard and Lewis Roof. Ends, Sam J. Leaphart. Frank Wingard. Bert Whittaker, and Dr. Ernest Sawyer; clog dancer. Sam J. Leaphart; interlocutor, Jack Carroll. The delightful music was furnished. by Mrs. Mae Lois Van Ornier, both for the dancing and between the acts. Following was the programme. Opening overture?The Land of Cotton?by entire cast. Solo?They May l>e < 'Id but They i want to be Loved. Doc Sawyer, chorus. Solo?You Know What T Mean, by' Legs Wingard and chorus, j Solo?My Gal. by Slim Whittaker and chorus. Trio?Lullaby Land, Cyrus L. Shealy. Shorty Roof, and Tubby Leaphart. Ballad?That Wonderful Mother of Mine. Slim Whittaker. Ditty?Alabama Bound. (Walking the Dog). Tubby Leaphart and chorus. Monologue?Cyrus L. Shealy. The last act, The Coontown Thirteen Club, was perhaps the best. 1 It was the first annual meeting of the club, and every member took <v leading part. This meeting soon developed into what might be termed a "rough house." and when the curtain fell encore after encore went up from I the iLiidienee The minstrel will he given 111 the Chapin Higrh school auditorium nex< Tuesday night. commencing: at 8 o'clock. The local post of the American Legion is endeavoring: to raise funds to furnish club rooms in the new Corley building", \vl ieh are to be used for the comfort and pleasure of the young: men of the entire county who saw service in the late war with Germany, ft is a mostw orthy undertaking, and the people of Ghapin will have an opportunity to help in a eoori work and at the same time see one of the cleanest and best entertainments ever put on the stag-e. PRESENTMENT OF I THE GRAND JURY / Among1 the recommendations contained in the report of the grand jury, presented at the term of court held last week, was that of abolishing the 0II1CC OL CUUUIV SUpt'l'N 1SU1 , tiitr u.uiica now devolved upon that office to be discharged by four comissioners, one from each of the present districts, the .commissioners to be elected by the voters residing in the separate districts. It is also recomemnded that Lexington county- make provision for rural policemen, that a set of double entry books for the county be installed, and that the feasibility of erecting a bridge at Hope's Ferry over Saluda river be looked into.'\ The presentment follows in full: The State of South Carolina, County of Lexington. To Hon. J. W. DeVore. Presiding 1 Judge: We beg to submit this, our first presentment of the year 1920. The grand jury has acted upon an bills of indictment given us at the present term, and returned same to the court with our findings endorsed thereon. We ^tave by sub-committees examined the County Jail, Poor House and Court House and find them in fair condition. We have appointed all com? ~ r'Aiin+v Toil Pr?Ar HUliCCd IU iOlU tllC VVU11CJ (A.A.?y jl. VV* House, Court House, Chain Gang-, Public Schools, Roads and Bridges and have also appointed a committee to have the books of County officers examined. We recommend that a set of double entry books be opened in which all financial transactions of the County shall be noted, and that the Legislative delegation determine what officer of' the county shall keep same. We recommend that the office of $ County Supervisor be abolished, and 4 that four Commissioners be appointed, one from each of the Districts now in existence, to handle such affairs of I the County as are now handled by the Supervisor and Road Commissioners, such commissioners to be elected from / each' district by the people residing .in^such districts. We also recommend that provision be made lor the establishment of a Rural Police system for Lexington County and that the police or policemen be paid fixed salaries and no fees allowed. j We recommend that the MagisI trates of the County do not seek to shirk the responsibility of determining upon the probability of cases before them in which preliminaries are held and desist from passinng this respon sibility to the Grand Jury. In this connection we have been compelled to consider a number cf cases in which we feel, if the trial magistrate had accepted the responsibility resting upon hini, we would have not had to waste j our time in finding no bills. We regret the report that in parts of the County the law relating to the [ observance of the Sabbath is not enj forced, and we urge the magistrates j and all officials of the County, as well j as all good citizens see that this law I is observed. A previous Grand Jury has reported and we again report that within the County a great deal of unlawful, sexual intercourse is practiced, in. along and near the public roads of the County and especially those leading into Columbia and we request the peace officers of the County to use their efforts lo break this up. We recommend that the County Poor House be screened before summer. and ministers of the Gospel be invited to hold religious services at the Poor House. We also recommend that the Court crier be paid per day. and each Imliff lie mm id S:!.r>0 a daV. Wie also recommend that two base burner stoves be installed in the court room. We recommend that the feasI ability ot' erecting: a bridge at Hope's Kerry over Saluda river be looked into. In two previous presentments the (rrand Jury of this County two recommendations were made concerning one Duck Mills, an inmate of the Poor House, and believed to be insane, have not been carried"'out. and we put the proper officials on notice that we wish these recommendations carried out immediately. We call attention of the court to the fact that J. J. Seastrunk. a commissioner of the County from District NY?. 1, has resigned his office, and we recommend that the court appoint J. RESOLUTIONS BY 11 ! COUNTY TEACHERS! I - ?_l j.no ioi towing resoiuiiuxus hum- ucni adopted by the Lexington County } Teachers Association: Realizinng the unlimited influence of the teacher's work upon the na- ? tion. state, the community, the home, ti and upon the future mental, moral, n and physical state of the individual; v< and further realizing- that a work of j s< such outstanding-' impotance as pre- j T paring pliable youth to attain the j a: broadest sphere of usefulness in the j c; religious, political and social world d: and the highest degree of happiness tc for self demands the service of the ir most thoro, efficient and conscientious w I individuals who may be found among > ol j all our people?and being fully aware j 01 I 1 1 of the fact that the present unattrac- i m | tive features of the teaching profes- c< sion are so prominent as to prevent ! many of ou rbetter prepared and more fc | qualified men and women from enter- ol ing this profession at all, and to drive gi many of the more efficient who have aj entered out at their first opportunity st to get into a more attractive calling? w and on account of this condition being O] forced to recognize the pustification tl of the claim of an appreciable number tl of parents that their children are be- w ing forced to waste percious time sit- it ting under incompetent teachers: We, f( the members of the Lexington County a Teachers' Association strongly endorse r< immediate action to produce a higher minimum standard for preparation re- d quired of teachers; a more exacting a' and standardized system of teachers' tc examination, free as far as practicable from personal and political influence; c< and any steps tending toward the eli- a] mination of the persent overcrowding of schools?steps to prevent one r< teacher being required to teach from forty to seventy-five pupils in all 01 grammar grades. We also endorse consideration of a system of teachers' pensions after ai some definite length of service or in n; cases of disability. a1 We further favor increase in salaries as will make the income large cl j enough^to enable the qualified teach- n ers in our present force to make teach- tc ing their exclusive and lasting occupation: to appeal to the best of our r( young men and women when life's h work is being chosen; to attract and retain a sufficient number not only b< to relieve the present shortage of tl teachers but also d^eate a surplus of h applicants large enough to cause those I of our ranks who are only partially gi prepared for the work they are attempting, ito either better prepare ! X themselves or enter another calling: i ce and to give to this profession the dig- ! nity and respect it deserves. te We earnestly request consideration sj of the foregoing petitions by the Lex- ol ington County Delegation in the State fr 1 | legislature, and plead with every eitij zen for a reawakened educational in- a] i terest that will spare neither moral j or financial support in checking the * I present deterioration in the personnel ! I of the teaching corps; and believing' that every white child in South Carolina should have an equal chance for z i education and* self development, we u< j further plead for such school condi- n< j rions as will give everv child the op- s T I A A ~ f +oiirr^f O r\rA_ | puriuuit > ui i?nus is * fessional teacher, especially trained U1 - . . , ni for his work. JOHN S. SCHNEIDER. fr (MISS) ETHEL DREHER h< W. E. BRACE, ei 1 Committee. , 0 3 hi IIAULING FERTILIZERS i c< Many farmers have been hauling ct fertilizers during the past few days, ti taking advantage of thef act that the in weather is such that they cannot ai hardly do anything on the farm. As a | | }{ rule, it is believed that fertilizers will; be used more extensively this year than last, since it apeparj) that there will lie no danger of the potash troubles which occurred last vear. Deald< ers in fertilizers declare that they are i handling on the real and genuine Ger- i ' I - . - --- .u _ I <-'< man j mucis ;uhi many ui mens. i u i backing; this up with a solid sruaran- i i I to.?. G ' li ' I?. Adams to fill tin- unexpired term ai ! ot* J. J. Seastrunk as comissioner front tl such district. n< i Wo also recommend that tins pre- H sentment be published in the newspa- C pers of the County for the information of the public. tl Respectfully submitted, ir EUGENE L. HARTLEY, ra Foreman of Grand Jury. et Lexington. Jan. 21. 1920. tl ILL CONVICTIONS IN SESSIONS COURT What is believed to have been the iggest and best record ever made by ny prosecuting attorney in the courts f this State, if not in the entire cottn*y, was made by George Bel! Timmerlan, the brilliant solicitor of the eleenth judicial circuit, in the general ?ssions court for Lexington last week. wenty-one cases were disposed of ad a conviction was had in every tse. Not even was there a mistrial 11 ring the term. The prosecutin,: at>rney had things going his way, and 1 some cases the evidence did not arrant the verdicts, in the opinion C the trial court, and new trials were rdered. In the case of Jack Summers, returned negro soldier, who was :>nvicted of murder in the first deree, which carried the death penalty, >r the alleged killing of young HarId Suber at Peak, Judge DeVore ranted a new trial. The evidence ?ainst the negro was purely circum^ A4- enffioinnf fft ctllUctl, U.UU V> d O nut isuiiivivuw w arrant the extreme verdict, in the pinion of the court, it being thought lat the jury was possibly swayed by le argument of the solicitor, which as characterized by many who heard as being the most eloquent and >rceful argument ever delivered in murder case in the Lexington court )om. The total amount of fines collected uring the week aggregated $535.00, id terms on the cbaingang amounted ) 26 1-2 years. In addition three >aled sentences were imposed by the )urt upon defendants who were tried id convicted in their absence. Following is a list of the cases not ?ported last week: Frank Harley, negro, two charges t housebreaking and larceny, two ears on each charge. Isaac Perry, negro youth, assault tid battery of a high and aggravated ature, five years in the State Reformtory for colored youths. f Tillman Pinckney, Swansea negro Parged with the murder of his wife, tanslaughter with recommendation > mercy, three years at hard labor. Fred Lowman, negro, charged with ibbery and larceny, seven years at ard labor. Cfffron Chavis and Nathan ' Lam?rt. white, charged with having shot le pastmaster at Cayce, two years at ard labor or a fine of $125.00 each. jaOK summers, muruer, new mtu ranted by the court. John Jennings and William. Mcure, white, housebreaking and lariny, nine months at hard labor. The court adjourned on Friday afrnoon. Judge DeVore made a >lendid impression upon the people : Lexington, and made many new iends by his high judicial bearing. The presentment of the grand jury :> pears in another column. TTKACTIVE DIRECTORY IS BEING DISTRIBUTED The telephone directory of the Citi>ns Telephone Co., corrected to Jantry 15, 1920. is off the press and is 3W being 'distributed to the sub ribers of the local phone company, he directory is neat in appearance, id besides the names and phone umbers. contains advertisements om practically all the business ouses of Lexington, which subscribes will do well to read, and then go to lese enterprising merchants and usiness nien for their wants. It is the desire of the officers of the impany that the directory be used in tiling people on the phone. It saves me both for the party doing the callig and the operator when numbers re used instead of names. FAT,NT CHANGES IN RESIDENCES HERE. During the past week there have een a number of changes in resiences in Lexington. Mr. Thos. W. "endrix has moved into his home re- ' rntly purchased from W. W. Barre, hich lias jbeen occupied for a numer of years by Mr. W. H. Gibbes. Mr. lODes nas moveu into me juniper uiu ome in the eastern part of town, nd Mr. Claude Hook has moved into le home vacated by Mr. Hendrix [ ar the Methodist church. Policeman iirman has moved into the home of ol. M. D. Flarman on Main street. In this connection it may be stated lat there is not a single vacant house i town or right near town. The deLand for houses is greater than has rer been known, which goes to show r. lat Lexington is on a boom. n -Ji