Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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4 THE CHRONICLE Strives To Be A Cleon Newspaper, Complete Newsy and Reliable ®hp (Kltnfam QHjrmtirlf If You Don't Read THE CHRONICLE You Don't Get the News Volume III Clinton, S. C, Thursday, May 10, 1951 Number 20 ► Atlanta High Schoolers To Be P. C. Guests Saturday I Supreme Court in the highway bond I matter should have been carried to I Super highways in certain locations; The next step was to set up a pro-! we mean by “voting right’’? and highways not so super in other! gram for farm-to-maricet roads, ap- 1 the Federal courts since it passed | pj aces 9 why js that? We now have! parently controlled by the Legisla- over a constitutional prohibition that | Commissioners chosen by legislators i tive Delegation from a county. Now Atlanta Day—a big occasion when students from 15'Atlanta area high schools will visit the Presbyterian college campus—has been set for Sat urday, May 12. . The students will be special guests of the college for the finals of the South Carolina Intercollegiate Track and Field meet, one of the state’s top sports extravaganzas. Atlanta Day is sponsored by the Atlanta chapter of the college Alumni association. Joe Gilmore, Jr„ a post president of the chapter, is chairman of the special day committee, and is assisted by the Rev. Alex R. Batche lor, retiring president, and the new president, Benson Cain. A special bus has been chartered for the all-day occasion, leaving Atlanta at <:3b a.m. and making the return trip following the track meet. President M. W. Brown of the college, has expressed his pleasure and satisfaction over the coming of the Atlanta students as guests of the col lege to gain first-hand information about its campus and athletic pro grams. COMMENT ON MEN AND THINGS By Tho Spectator (side with Mr. Byrnes Mr. Sumner j Wells was never regarded as the abler man. • • * Did the South Carolina General Assembly “go off half-cocked”? Not by a jugful; it fired both barrels ful ly cocked and then brought in more guns. It wasn’t a parsimonious Leg islature; it didn’t do anything half way; it went all the way and then continued to go. Some Legislators being Deacons, others Stewards, some Elders, perhaps, may have mis- that if forced to go one mile you understood the Good Book, thinking should show the spirit of accommo dation by going two miles. So far from pinching pennies, our leaders showed a generous spirit that leads us to hope that when we have Med the people white we shall find a plan to pluck money from the air. The first over-generous act was the three per cent sales tax. This was supposed to be for schools. Since about ted millions may be used for salaries, about three million more may be used to pay interest on the $75,000,000 school bond issue. If the State should retire the bonds in ten years that would be an additional seven million and a half dollars, with less interest every year as the bonds are paid. That still leaves a few millions to throw around. What about that $76,000,000 bond Sumner Wells, one oi the bright men who served in Washington, has written • book in which he declares that our Governor Byrnes didn’t know his way around the world. Sumner may be right that Jimmy didn't know the countries bordering on the Black Sea; that is not such -woeful ignorance; he had a hun dred men who knew that Perhaps Sumner knows many such facts end yet may not know what to do with his facts. A fanner needn't be a surveyor, yet he may know what to do with the land; many a successful merchant does not know how to fab ricate the merchandise he sells. Most of us don’t understand all the details of a car, but we drive and drive well. Perhaps we drive better than the mechanic who understands every bolt and nut and screw. Sumner seems to be sour; he never rose to the dignity of Secretary of State though he was confident of . .. e . . his superior mind and his spacious It flatly vjolates the State knowledge One fact in Governor Byrnes’ career which no one has challenged: he has always been so alert intel lectually that he has never failed to land on his feet. Working side by Hmh THE ADVENTURES should be a conclusive restraint on our General Assembly. In this proposed bond issue of $75,- 000,000 for schools, we probably need the schools, but we need respect for law even more. If the Constitution can be disregarded in one matter of popular interest it can be disre garded in others. As a matter of respect for our Courts this $75,000,000 should be challenged in our State Courts; if validated by our State Courts a Fed- i eral question could be made out and * the (Aiallenge carried to a Federal 1 jurisdiction. When a State govern ment deliberately nullifies the ex-i press prohibition,of its constitution,: a prohibition on its right to involve th« State in debt, it might be said that it is violating that provision of the Constitution of the United States which guarantees a Repik>lican form of government to the States—that is a constitutional government. I haven’t the most complete con fidence in the use of the $75,000,000 Experience is a great teacher. What happened in the case erf the State highway bonds? The General Assem bly intended a great and progressive step; I gladly admit that; but when the Legislature, of its own mo tion, and without regard to the con stitution, authorized the issue of $65,000,000 in bonds to construct State highways what happened next? The Legislature began to take over County bonds for roads, and the total of County bonds, as I recall, was about $42,000,000. Some of these County bonds paid 44 per cent in terest and were non-callable. I think the State is still paying interest on some of them, though the State could have borrowed millions at one half that rate of Interest. The men who conceived the idea of the State bond issue thought of a great pub lic service, but we live in an age of exaggerated setf-interset or local interest. Those men who were pion eers of this great road program cre ated a State Commission to carry out the program. That Commission was expected to look over the State and to act for the State. Well, what have we? from a region. Such a Commissioner where are those roads built? You would never be able to guess that, could you? Have you ever seen such roads almost without farms and To hardly going to market? Of course. is enthusiastic where are we? for his region, so serve those who vote right or com- might eventually reach a mar- ^ mand a lot of votes. Well, what do I (Continued on page eight) Visit Charleston’s Finest Beach THE HOTEL WAYNE 205 EAST COOPER ST. — FOLLY BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA 144 BLOCKS FROM CENTER ST. PHONE 2506, FOLLY BEACH • Attractive Accommodations • Delicious Meals if Desired RATES: Single $3.00 up — Double $4.50 up Only a 20 to 25 minute drive from Charleston and Charleston’s Famous Gardens —p Presented by Pet Dairy Products Co. Join the Court of Honor...receive surprise gifts from Princess Petf Journey into The Land of The Ice Creem Star with H.R.H. Princess Pet and the Royal Mascots, every Saturday over... GIRLS and BOYS! Nr THMLLS-SUSPENSE-GVTS TINE IN WLBG Sat 9:15 AM. t i AAliated with Liberty Broadcasting Systest Constitution. The Constitution says: “To the end that the public debt of South Carolina may not hereafter be increased without the due considera tion and free consent of the people of the State the General Assembly is hereby forbidden to create any further debt or obligation, either by the loan of the credit of the State, 'by guaranty, endorsement or other wise, except for the ordinary and corrent business of the State, with out first submitting the question as to the ceration of such new debt, etc.; to the qualified electors of this State at a general State election; and unless two thirds . . . voting on the question shall be in favor... none shall be created or made.’’ Art icle 9: Section 11. That is clear enough. Any man of intelligence can understand it. I know that our Court validated the Highway bond issue of 1929, but read the Constitution for yourselves. In this we might inquire whether our highways have all been built; or whether we have spent $65,000,- 000. We have excellent highways and we receive good value for what we spend. The point I am making is not against the building of highways but I am emphasizing that our ten dency to kick^ the Constitution around like an old “hound-dog” is the wrong way. Our court undertook to make out of the bond issue a corrent debt: it is still operating, after 22 years! Well the corrent debt has been running now twenty- two years, which is strnog for any current debt or other floater. . If I admit, as I do, that we have received full value for our highway bond money, that does not argue that a government under a constitu tion should throw the constitution out of the window because we may fear the opposition of the people at the polls. If the right of the people to register their will is disregarded by the governing authorities we have denied the doctrine of popular sov ereignty; we have trampled on the basic charter oi the people. I think I am as unwilling ss are moat people to get tangled up with Federal courts in State matters, yet IsitUnkhi I still think the decision of our State r-t make every day a HOLIDAY at home or away Everywhere and oil the time, enjoy that lighthearted spirit of the summer holidays that Style-Mort Clothes help to bring you. On the beach, in the mountains or at the office, you’ll feel cool, comfortable and look smartly dressed in a Style-Mart suit or sport coat and slacks. •met tout $•• »M*»* wonderful Stylo Mart tuiti of - coal.- »Kopo ■- rotqmmg Menfono Nylon-Rayon fabrics, Gulftono Tropicals and tho now Ripplo- Ton# Orion* blond fabric*. (•Orion. Du font Acrylic hb'»l A complete stack of sport coat* and slacks >n tans, grays, bleat and nouelty wear at. SfORT COATS L B. DILLARD -Yew Clothier Since 1M7" f*