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. / ' * 1 ' ■ V .5»>. . * i* 'ii r:jv.,v ' •. ' : VOLUME XXVII CLINTON, S. C., THURSDAY, JANUARY 20,1927 NUMBER 3 Parkinson Succeeds Douglas at Presbyterian College BOARD IN SESSION TUESDAY NAMED COLUMBIA EDUCATOR JOHN G. RICHARDS BECOMES NEW GOVERNOR OF STATE Liberty Hill Man Took Oath Tuesday As Chief Executive. Favors Abolition of Tax and Budget Commissions and Opposes Revaluation Plan. Columbia, Jan.' 18.—Governor John*SAMUEL M. WILKES G. Richards called upon the general assembly jn hia Inaugural address to day to support him in carrying out the program of government reforms advocated in the campaign last sum- DIES OF PARALYSIS € The oath of office was administer ed by Chief Justice R. C. Watts, of the supreme court, in the presence of members of the legislature, state of ficials and hundreds of spectators, in cluding Mrs. Richards and the nine daughters of herself and Governor Richards. By request of the new governor, the ceremonies were held on the steps of the state house instead of in the hall of the house of representatives as or iginally planned. After a prayer by the governor’s brother, the Rev. C. M. Richards, of Davidson College, N. C., Justice Watts administered the oath at 12:15 p. m., and the governor delivered his inaugu ral address, reading, from a manu script. The Bible used in swearing hhu- in once belonged to Governor Richard’s mother. Governor McLeod escorted the new governor to the Palmetto-flag-covered dais on the steps where the induction into office occurred. Chief Justice Watts, other members of the supreme court and other state officials, the governor's family and the legislative inauguration committee, all headed by. Lieutenant-Governor E. B. Jackson and Lieutenant-Governor T. Bothwell Butler, of Gaffney, followed in the rear of the two governors. The oath was administered to Lieu tenant-Governor Butler after the con clusion of Governor Richard's address. The stone steps of the state house American flags at intervals, were cov ered with spectators who sat or stood in a chilly breese for nearly an hour as the ceremonies proceeded. At times the delivery of the governorVmessage ’was interrupted by ripples of ap- . plause. The legislative escort was composed of Senators Greneker, of Edgefield; Summers of Calhoun, Hammond of Richland, and Representatives McCas- lan of Greenwood; Davis of Kershaw, and Stanfield of Aiken. Urging rigid economy, the new chief executive advocated abolition of the state tax commission, the budget com mission and the board of public wel- '*>-> fare, save for the latter’s child-placing A bureau, and the consolidation of other commissions while recommending ' steps to insure bi-ennial sessions of the general assembly as one method of saving money and reducing inter ference with business. In the field of taxation, he denounc ed the proposal for revaluation of property on a 100 per cent basis as “the creature of those who would place a greater share of the burden of tax ation upon the homes and farms, but advocated equalization of existing property assessments under machin- . ery already provided for, suggesting, however, that boards of assessors be / k . paid more and given more time to do their work order to increase their k’ efficiency. He further proposed legis lation for classification so intangibles may be taxed. Extravagance, both public and pri vate, was condemned by Governor Richards. He told the lawmakers they could cut down expenses, and re lieve business of uncertainty, by ‘short business-like, intelligent’ sessions, voicing the opinion that the constitu tional 40-day session is ample for com- |P|fr pletion of necessary legislative work. no uncertain language, he de nounced “nefarious” lobbies and called upon the legislature to take action to bar lobbyists from exerting their in fluence. The state’s record in education was lauded by the speaker. He commend- Funeral Thursday Afternoon For Prominent Laurens Citizen and Business Man. Laurens, Jan. 14. — Samuel M. Wilkes, 60, senior member of the bus iness firm of S. M. & E. H. Wilkes A Company, furniture dealers of Lau rens, died last Wednesday night short ly before 11 o’clock at his home on West Main street. He suffered a re current stroke of paralysis a few hours before his death. He had been at the store Wednesday afternoon un til five o’clock, and appeared ip good cheer and fine spirits: More than a year ago Mr. Wilkes suffered a partial paralytic stroke while attending a furniture exposi tion at High Point, N. C., but he had to some extent recovered and had been about as usual for the past few months. Funeral services were held from the residence yesterday afternoon at four o’clock, the exercises being conduct ed by his pastor, the Rev. E. D. Pat ton, of the First Presbyterian church, assisted by other ministers of the city. Interment was in the Laurens ceme tery. Samuel Marion Wilkes was a son of Thomas and Martha Hix Wilkes, and a twin brother of the late Eugene H. Wilkes. He was a member of the session of the First Presbyterian church, member of Hejaz Temple, Mystic Shrine, Greenville, and belong ed to the other Masonic orders of Lau rens. He was a public spirited, pro gressive citizen, and was regarded as one of the best furniture dealers ha ipper part of the state. The deceased is survived by his wid ow, formerly Miss Sarah Dorroh, of Laurens, and by two daughter, Mrs. W. Henry Franks and Mrs. Thos. R. Easterby, both of this city, children of the first marriage of Mr. Wilkes and Miss Juanita Frierson, and by one son, S. M. Wilkes, Jr., only child of the second marriage, which was with Miss Lillier Stevens, of Kershaw. Two sisters also survive him, Mrs. Henry Y. Simpson and Miss Leila Wilkes, of Laurens. * : -• •• ' • v The Land Setdement Move- X ' — ment of the Calhoun High way Association; Its Program By J. F. JACOBS, Sr. ACCIDENT FATAL TO LOCAL GIRL Miss Rath Ginn of This City, Instant ly Killed In Wreck On Cal houn Highway. Miss Ruth Ginn, 16, resident of the Clinton Cotton Mills village, was in stantly killed last Saturday night in an automobile wreck between Clinton and Whitmire. The young lady, Mr. Robinson of Whitmire, and two ne groes were riding in a small truck which became unmanageable and turn ed over. Miss Ginn was removed from beneath the truck and rushed to Whit mire for medical aid but died before reaching there. The remains were brought here and the funeral service was held Monday afternoon at the Bailey Memorial church, with Rev. A. J. Bowling officiating. Coroner Owings and Sheriff Owings soon arrived on the scene and held an inquest over the dead body Sunday afternoon. The verdict of the coro ner’s jury was that the young lady came to her death as a result of an accidental wreck, the car being driv en at the time' by Mr. Robinson of Whitmire. Mr. Robinson and one of the negroes was also injured but not seriously. The Calhoun Highway Association, originally formed with the Clinton Calhoun Highway Association as a nncleus, later spreading to cover local associations from Athens, Ga., to Raleigh, N. C., and to Wilmington, N. C., these local associations bound together in a general association, have managed to build thl Calhoun high way, and will soon have it open from end to end as a free bridge route across the Carolinas and into Georgia —the shortest route from the North east to the Southwest. It is now proposed to settle that route with new settlers. A great deal of the labor has gone out to the North and West. A great many farmers have either given up their farms, or are holding on to them in a losing struggle. Very few farmers are mak ing a success with cotton culture. It is therefore proposed by the Calhoun Highway Association, working locally through local associations, and these associations pulling together hi a general association, to undertake sev eral things: First, the securing of land settle ment by people who will appreciate the opportunity of cheap lands, long growing period, comfortable climate, excellent transportation, etc., and will settle upon these lands, covering an area of the counties through which the Calhoun highway runs. Second, to introduce if possible the Danish system of agriculture, which has resulted in making the Danish farmers the wealthy element of the population. This means development particularly of dairying, hog raising, and poultry raising. Dairying will involve the development of creameries and cheese factories in the towns and cities in the counties traversed; the development of slaughter houses to take care of the cattle production and hog production, and the develop ment of the poultry and egg market. Ginton is fortunate in leading the towns along this route in having an excellent poultry and egg market at the present time, with heavy ship ments, made here or shipped from oth er points by. the local poultry concern. Clinton will yet have to develop local factories for the use of diversified agricultural products proposed—can neries to take care of our surplus vegetables and fruits, a creamery, a cheese factory, and perhaps eventu ally an extensive slaughter house. In the meantime, Greenville is ready to take 50,000 hogs, and that slaughter house is near enough for the needs of Laurens county and adjoining coun ties, as regards disposition of the hogs raised. Laurens is proposing to es tablish a creamery, another in New berry will be followed by a third in Clinton. Chester already has one. So that facilities are being devel oped ip advance of the incoming popu lation, and the hog and hen theory of agricultural prosperity. Clinton was the leader in the for mation of the Calhoun Highway Asso ciation. Mr. Hanna, the president of Hie association, asks that Clinton be come the leader in the development of this expansion program of the asso ciation. It is proposed to extend the development of Mr. Hugh McRae, the Castle Hayne development, ten miles from Wjjminyton. along the Calhoun highway west tcPAtlanta, as it is al ready extended along the Calhoun highway east to Wilmington, develop ing farms along lines other than cot ton production, or if cotton is still carried, making cotton entirely a sur plus crop, and the farmers not depen dent upon cotton to cover their ex penses. j Mr. Hanna .plans to open headquar ters in Clinton, and to put out the propaganda of this proposition from Clinton; to organize the excursion to Denmark for the study of the Danish system, from Clinton, and to operate in all the details of the land settle ment along the Calhoun highway from Clinton as headquarters. This will give Clintnon great prestige as it received great prestige in the con struction of the Calhoun highway. Fifty towns all along the route look to Clinton as an enterprising leader. We must not fall short of what is expected of us. Mr. Dan Ravenel has been appoint ed chairman of a committee to raise the initial fund of $2,000.00 by selling 1,000 memberships in the Clinton Cal hcun Highway and Booster Associa tion, at $2.00 each, making a sum of $2,000.00. $1,000.00 of this sum will go to the general purposes of the as sociation. The otber $1,0004)0 will be used by the local Clinton Calhoun Highway and Booster Association in preparing advertising literature for this section between Whitmire am Cross Hill; or to make it a little more definite, for Laurens and Newberry counties, adjoining the Calhoun high way through this section; the secur ing of propositions to donate lands for settlers’ occupancy, or to sell at low rates, or to sell at nothing more than value. The object of the movement will be to avoid all attempts at inflation of values; to make appealing proposi tions to settlers; to advertise to northwestern Scandinavian settle ments to induce movement South of the Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, al ready Americanized, and through them to draw from the Scandinavian regions—particularly from Denmark —other settlers to whom the north western Scandinavians’ are related, thus developing the Danish system with Danish, Norwegian, Swedish American settlers, and with settlers (Continued on Page Eight) TAX PAYMENTS BEHIND 1925 University Extension Director To Assume Presi dency of Local Institution In June. Has Risen Rapidly In Educational Circles. County Treasurer Discloses That Col lections for 1926 Nearly $30,000 Behind Those of 1925. Laurens, Jan. 14.—Tax collections for 1926, for the period closing De cember 31, fell behind the collections of 1925 to the same date by $28,995.84, according to figures secured from County Treasurer Ross D. Young sev eral days ago. At the close o^the day on December 31, 1925, the treasurer had collected $334,905.54 and at the same date for 1926 he had collected $306,909.70. December 81 was the last day on which taxes could be paid without pen alty. On January 1 a one per cent penalty went into effect. On Febru ary 1 a two per cent penalty will go into effect and on March 1 a seven per cent penalty. The seven per cent penalty will be in effect until March 15, when the books will close and tax es remaining unpaid then will go into execution. From figures compiled with the as sistance of the treasurer, it is shown that property assessed for taxation in 1926 was less „than that assessed for 1925, that the tax levy was more in 1926 than in 1925 by three mills and that the amount to be collected was more in 1926 than in 1925. In 1925 the amount assessed for taxation was $9,891,423 and in 1926 it was $9,678,125, showing a decrease in valuation of over $300,000. The amount to have been collected, for all purposes, including statei county and -achool district, in 1925 was $530,- 235.58 and in 1926 Jt was $688,971.98, showing an Increaae to be collected of $3,736.40. In 1926 the total levy for state and county was 35 mills and 38 mills in 1926. Further figures made available by the treasurer showed that as a rule the reduction in assessments had been more general for real estate and com mercial stocks, and that the larger increases had been among the cor porations. As an illustration in in creases of the state, county and school district taxes paid by the two textile mills in Laurens, the Laurens Cotton Mills and the Watts Mills, ex clusive of the other manufacturing industries of the county, were approx imately equal to the total increase of $3,736.40 assessed in the county. ' The following was the tax levy for 1925, exclusive of school district spec ial levies: State Tax .... 5V6 mills pastern Star Chapter Names 1927 Leaders The James B. Parrott Chapter No. 9, Order of Eastern Star, recently elected and installed the following of- ed the 6-0-1 law, but recommended' fj cers to serve during the ensuing that aid for schools be appropriated on the basis of average daily attend ance instead of enrollment, saying that besides preventing the waste of money, it would be an incentive to a better attendance record in the schools. The state colleges should be maintain ed at the maximum efficiency possi ble,. operated as economically as pos sible, he declared, but the state should not undertake to expand them until its financial condition warrants the increased outlay. y “No man or woman,” the governor asserted in discussing education, “who denies or even questions the existence of the Supreme Being, and Irnan’e per- (Con tin u d •* Page Six) year Mrs. W. S. Denson, Worthy Matron. Geo. W. Copeland, Worthy Patron. Miss Julia Ferguson, Asso. Matron. Miss Roslyn Blakely, Sec’y. F. M. Boland, Treas. Mrs. P. B. Adair, Cond. Mrs. R. W. Johnson, Asso. Cond. Mrs. May Lea man, Chaplain. Mrs. J. I. Coleman, Marshall. Mrs. Stella Abrams, Adah. Mrs. Jack Anderson, Ruth. Miss Arva Henry, Esther.' Miss Minnie Moore, Martha. Mrs. W. T. Putnam, Electa. Mrs. Thad Johnson, Organist. Mrs. John Davis, Warder. Lea R. Stone, Sentinel. $1,017.29 NET FROM 400 HENS Greenwood County Man Finds Poultry Is Profitable Side Line. Greenwood, Jan. 14.—W. B. Nickles of Hodges, has found poultry a profitable side line to his eigh-horse farm. Several months ago County Agent E. L. Rogeir gave a de tailed account of the success Mr. Nickles was making with a flock of White leghorns and a few, Rhode Island Reds, but at that time, in the early summer, Mr. Rogers said the skeptical, those who did not believe in trying out diversi fied industries, predicted that Mr. Nickles w'ould find at the end of the year that he had lost money. But Mr. Nickles did not lose money. Instead he cleared exactly $1,017.29 from an average of 400 hens from Jan uary 1, 1926 to January 1, 1927, and has in his yard 100 more than he started with, which also can be added to the credit side of the chicken ledger at $1.50 each. The profit is $2.54 per chicken Mr. Nickles kept an accurate account of his sale of eggs and -chickens during the year, and the following figures we^re taken from his books. J£ggs sold .... .... $1,700.50 Mens and broilers .... .4.* 354.08 Total receipts . .. $2,054.58 Expenses .... 1,037.29 Net profit $1,017.29 County Agent Rogers says that Mr., Nickles sold his chickens and eggs on the local market at prices prevailing during the year. He sold practically no breeders or setting eggs. / . . w V • ' * v T " I -.ir, . / Ordinary County Tax .... Road and Bridge Railroad Bond Jail Bonds Road Bonds Past Indebtedness Statewide School (5-0-1) Weak and High School Constitutional School Total The following was the 1926, exclusive of school ial levies: State Tax Ordinary County Tax Road and Bridge Railroad Band Jail Bonds . Road Bonds Past Indebtedness Statewide School (6-0-1) Weak and High School Constitutional School .... 5 mills 5 mills 1 mill Vi mill 8Vi mills 2 mills 4 mills Vi mill 3 mills 35 mills tax levy ^or district spec- . .. mills 5*4 mills 5*i mills 1 mill Vi mill ... 10% mills 2 mills 4 mills Vi mill 3 mills Total 38 mills Gorge F. Dorroh Of Gray Court Dies Gray Court, Jan. 18.—George F. Dorroh, prominent farmer of this place, died at Laurens hospital early this morning. Mr. Dorroh had just passed his 71st birthday. He was nev er married. He had one sister, Miss Sallie Dorroh, who had always lived at the old home place With him. Mr. Dorroh was an elder in Dorroh Pres byterian church and was one of its strongest supporters. He leaves only two sisters, Miss Sallie Dorroh and Mrs. Mary Peden, out of a family of 12 brothers and sis ters. One brother died only last week in Leander, Texas. • Funeral services were held from Dorroh church Wed nesday morning at 11 o’clock by his pastor, the Rev. E. D. Patton of Lau rens. Dr. Burney Lynch Parkinson, direc tor of extension, University of Soufii* Carolina, was on Tuesday elected pres ident of the Presbyterian college of this city, and will take up the duties of that office in June. The announce ment was made by Dr. W. M. Mc- Pheeters of Columbia, chairman of the board, following a meeting of the trustees in Columbia Tuesday. Doctor Parkinson succeeds Dr. D. M. Douglas, who this month became president of the state university. The newly elected head of Presby terian college is 40 years of age, and while not a native of this state, hav ing been born in Tennessee, comes from South Carolina stock. He has risen rapidly in educational circles and has been sought often for important posts. At the time of his acceptance,; of the Presbyterian presidency, he had before him offers to become dean of a great Southern state agricultural and mechanical college, and to take up departmental work in one of the largest Western universities. Doctor Parkinson, when asked Tues day night about his plans, called atten tion to the fact that Doctor Douglas, while at the college, stressed quality rather than quantity. “It will be my policy,” he said, “to follow Doctor Douglas in this regard, and to try to maintain the same high standard of educational service he maintained dur ing his successful administration.” In coming to Clinton Doctor Park inson is answering his third call to Laurens county. In 1909 he became teacher of English in the Laurens high school, returning there in 1914 to take up duties as superintendent. Now he comes to this county as president of its only college. Ddctor McPheeters said in discussing the election of Doc tor Parkinson, “the board held a meet ing to accept the resignation of Doc tor Douglas and to take steps toward selecting a successor to him. At that time a number of names of men of high character and high standing in the educational field were mentioned. Following a discussion of these names, the board took a preferential ballot which eliminated some. Seeing little chance of decision then, and feeling that full facts had been presented, the board elected a committee of three, myself, Maj. J. D. Fulp of Greenwood, and the Rev. R. F. Kirkpatrick of An derson, to select from the three names that had received the largest number of votes in the preferential ballot, a president for Presbyterian college. “This committee met immediately upon adjournment and at once Doctor Parkinson was chosen. The chairman of the committee was instructed to communicate with Dr. Parkinson with a view to having him confer with the committee. This conference, when held, revealed that Doctor Parkinson was in thorough sympathy with the board in its views as to the ends which should be sought by a Christian col lege. The conference was mutually satisfactory but Doctor Parkinson did rot at that time signify his willing ness to accept the presidency of the institution. He said that before giv ing final answer to the overtures of the committee, he desired to look into the affairs of the college and to coun sel with friends on the matter. It was agreed that he should keep in touch with the chairman of the committee and that the two should arrange a sub sequent meeting with the committee. “This meeting was held January 12 and Doctor Parkinson at that time said that his investigation had been wholly satisfactory and he was pre pared to accept the presidency of Presbyterian college. Pursuant to a previous agreement, the chairman called a meeting of the board which was held at noon Tuesday in Columbia. At this meeting there were present 17 members of the board and a number of others sent letters of regret at not being able to attend. The committee, which was to select the president, re ported to the board, its findings, in which was expressed great satisfac tion that Doctor Parkinson had con sented to accept the presidency of Presbyterian college, if, at a personal conference between Doctor Parkinson and the board, a way should be open ed for him to do so. “Doctor Parkinson addressed the hoard, outlining his conception of the task to be undertaken, which greatly impressed the board by its sanity and breadth of vision. Not only his ad dress but also his fine personality commended him to those who heard x (Continued On Page Eight) & U V. .J