Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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. If Clinton, 91 Thursday, November 3. 19fifi THTf CLlUTON CHRONTCLB II FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW Before Voting on Nov. 8th ., • ’ i The October 5, 1966 issue of The Laurens Advertiser contained a Letter to The Editor from a gentleman from Owings, S. C. This gentleman presented his arguments why he felt everyone should support three of the Laurens County Demo crat nominees for office. He, like everyone else, is entitled to his own opinion. Before trying to convince others of the '"purity" of his chosen candidates, he should have spent a little time checking public records. Claims may sound inspir ing, but public recorded facts speak the loudest. The writer had "three virtues" that he tried to assign to three candidates. His attempt to assign one virtue per candidate seemed a little awkward. It seemed artificial that each candidate so neatly fitted his "mantle of honor." Mr. David S. Taylor was assigned the "virtue" of being "one of the most experienced leaders in Laurens County in the field of education." This was a "slap in the face" to those dedicated educators who have given a lifetime of service in their field, to place David Taylor above them when his oniy known experience in this field has beeh to attend P.T.O. meetings. Mr. Taylor has had varied experience in other fields that the writer did not mention. During the Presidential campaign in 1964 Mr. Taylor wrote a Letter to The Editor in The Laurens Advertiser in which he heaped praise upon his idol, Lyndon B. Johnson. His description of Lyndon contained such high sounding phrases as, "man of integrity, clear mind and sound judgment and man of purpose and conviction." If Lyndon B. Johnson is Mr. Taylor's ideal, then does he really represent the views of the people of Laurens County? Mr. Taylor's name has also been listed in the papers os a director of Laurens County Community Action, Inc., (Anti Poverty —nationally infamous group known for wasting taxpayers' money). Mr. Bill Dobbins was assigned the "virtue" of being "widely known as one of the most influential men in the Senate in the field of reapportionment." This statement really showed the writer's failure to check public records. The Feb. 3, 1966 edition of The Greenville News contained an eight-column-wide story and headlines relating how Rep. Marshall Abercrombie of Laurens had publicly upbraided Dobbins on the floor of the House of Representa tives for Not Fighting for Laurens County in this matter. There was one virtue left and one candidate remaining so Paul Culbertson automatically was given the distinction of being "one of the Most Knowledgeable in the field of local gov ernment." His experience as Mayor of Laurens was listed. Let's examine his experience. After serving 6 years as Mayor, ?he voters of the City of Laurens rejected Mr. Culbertson in favor of a candidate who was running for the first time. The voters of the City of Laurens preferred an inexperienced, political unknown over Mr. Culbertson and all his local gov ernment experience. Doesn't sound like the voters of the City of Laurens thought very highly of Mr. Culbertson's ex perience. , The gentleman from Owings goes on to explain that we must select "experienced men." There are some things in which experience is not the only quality desired. Some people are still interested in such ideals as Character and Integrity. The most experienced politician in the U. S. today is Lyndon B. Johnson. There isn't a political trick in the book that he doesn't know. But does the country need this kind of experience. The gentleman from Owings stated, "there is only one way an intelligent and concerned Laurens County can vote—and that is for the nominees of the Democrat Primary." He is saying that if you do not vote his way you're unintelligent and unconcerned. On Nov. 8th thousands of Laurens County voters will vote differently to the opinion of the gentleman . from Owings. A close examination will prove that their intelligence and concern is just as high as anyone in Laurens County. FACTS SPEAK LOUDER THAN POLITICAL STATEMENTS In fetter to editor... State chairman of "Veterans for Johnson Committee" outlines stand This picture was taken on the Senate floor dur ing the reapportionment battle as Bill Dobbins so gallantly represented Laurens County. “Wideawake representation.” Examine these facts taken from public records The Letter to The Editor from David S. Taylor shows who he holds as his idol! i . • Bill Dobbins now tries to take credit for Laurens Countyvre- maining in a Senatorial District by itself. Read the True Facts of how he voted differently on this issue/ and his feeble ex planation for not standing up for Laurens County. Editor, The Advertiser Laurens, S. C. Dear Sir: On September 15, I was ap pointed state chairman of the “Veterans For Johnson Com mittee” by the Honorable John W. Mahan, National Chairman, 1025 15th Street, N. W., Wash ington, D. C. We, as Veterans and Ameri cans, must remind the people of South Carolina that the Demo cratic Party stands on its rec ord of meeting the needs by serving the people. We must continue to defend freedom with firmness, coupled with a patient effort to move tp#ard world peace. The Democratic Party offers a man of calm and deep assurance, a man of clear mind and sound judgement, a man who can decide and who can face crisis without faltering, a man who can lead, and a man of purpose and conviction., The man in the White House; must be understood the first time because for him there Is no second guess. President Johnson understands the com pelling need for restraint in the use of the greatest power ever assembled by man, and has pledged to use this power for peace. The Presidency requires coolness, clarity and above all, there is no substitute for exper ience. President Johnson has exemplified in a few short months that he possesses all of these characteristics. It is my sincere belief in the principles of the Democratic Party and President Johnson that I gladly accept this re sponsibility. Kindest personal regards, I am Yours very truly, David S. Taylor, Chairman’ S. C. Veterans For Johnson j "Below i* an article that appeared in THE GREENVILLE NEWS, Greenville, S. G» Thursday, Feb.. 3. 1966" * I .I.’." . . . ‘ ... ► * Charges Dobbins Didn't Fight For Laurens Seat During Reapportionment Battle Rep. Abercrombie Tongue-Lashes Sen. Dobbins By DOUGLAS MAULDIN News Staff Writer COLUMBIA—State Rep. Mar-| shall Abercrombie of Laurens; launched a scathing verbal at tack against Sen. W. C. (Bill) Dobbins Wednesday, charging that the Laurens senator failed to fight for his county’s Senate 1 seat in the touchy reapportion ment battle. Abercrombie charged in a speech on the floor of the House: that Dobbins didn’t lift a finger j to defeat a 59-senator plan ulti mately passed by the Senate and which put Laurens into a three- county senatorial district. The Laurens attorney told the House, “If I had a senator over there who would stand 4ip and fight against the 59-senator plan, 1 I wouldn’t be here today. I apol ogize for him. 1 “He sent the 59-senator plan over here and didn’t lift one finger against it. We didn’t know anything about it until he sent it over to us,” Abercrom bie fumed. INCLUDES DOBBINS Abercrombie included Dobbins' in his remarks as he expressed: staunch opposition to recommitt ing to a free conference commit tee the compromise 50-senator plan already adopted by the House. The House member said the Laurens House delegation had looked out for the county’s in terests in the Senate by stand ing up and fighting for first a 46-senator plan and then the 50- senator plan. Under both these plans Lau rens, with a population of about 48,000, was left in a single dis trict with one resident senator. Under ‘the 59-senator plan, which the Senate had passed dear lives in the Senate. and sent to the House, Laurens, Union and Newberry counties were given three senators. Each county would have been assured of a resident senator, however. CLAIMS “NO DESIGNS” Abercrombie said he held no designs on Dobbins’ Senate seat. “The senators over there are on their last ground,” he said. “They aren’t going to be king pins anymore. We’re going to set up a council form of (coun ty) government It should have bean done a long time ago. lliey’re bidding on for their Abercrombie also criticized stories in The Greenville News, questioning their accuracy con cerning Dobbins’ actions in the Senate and suggesting that die News reporter had formulated new Senate rules he had never beard of before. The representative charged (bat Dobbins through the news “tried to put the onus on me,” making it appear the House might approve the 59- senator {dan. it had earlier re jected overwhelmingly. Dobbins had opposed recom- mital of a compromise plan to the free conference committee because, he said, he was not certain that the House might reverse its earlier stand and ap prove thq 59-senator plan over the 59-senator plan. SAYS CONSTITUENTS OPPOSE IT Abercrombie said after leav ing the floor that his Laurens constituents are opposed to rec ommitting the 50-senator plan to the Free Conference Com mittee. The aoion said that when he asked Dobbins bow Laurens came out in the 59-senator plan just after it was passed, he learned about the three-county ■district. He said Dobbins said that somebody had to comprom ise. Dobbins reacted calmly to his colleague’s remarks. He told a reporter, “remarks made in the House of Repre sentatives today to the effect I have not protected the interests of Laurens County are false, and it is obvious that the per son who made these remarks has not been informed what has taken place in the Senate since Dec. 13. “I have fought to keep Lau rens County in a district to it- self in every possible way known to me and agreed to comprom ise only when it became evident to me that I was beaten by parliamentary procedure. “In the interest of preserv ing the dignity of Laurens Coun ty and the General Assembly, I do not care to cater into any public argument with this per son over the false accusations be made against the from Laurens Counts.” 1 Paid for by Laurens County Citizens who are interested in having The True Facts Known. (Picture and articles photographically reproduced) * i