Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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? ? ? ? * ? TUB WATEREE MESSENGER, , pvy ? ^ - ? Published Every Tuesday by CHAS. W. BIRCHMORE, Prop. | , Subscription $1.50 A Year In Advance Entered as Second CIsbs Matter at the Postofflce at Camden. 3. C. Tuesday, June 5, 1928 OUR CITY SCHOOLS The picture presented Friday even ing in the grammar school auditorium should not soon be forgotten. It marked the closing of another success ful year'* work in our schools. The lrage auditorium was filled to capac ity, and many could not get seats but stood around the doors and in the lobby. All this was a manifesta tion of the interest our community feels in education. Seated upon the rostrum were those who had some ?part in the program of the evening and the thirty-one members of the graduating class. To obtain a cer tificate from our high school nuans constant and persistent study on the ipart of the pupils, and it is no small honor to attain to this distinction, and we heartily congratulate the success ful contenders for this honor. Our magnificent school property, located In the heart of the city, attests the patriotism of her citizens. The faith ful an defficient work of the teachers is fully appreciated. The determina tion to press onward and upward in the training of the boys and girls, who are our greatest assets, is alto gether worthy of the splendid citizen ship of our community. We shauld all feel proud of our splendid school sys tem and doubtless every one does feel proud of what w<; have accomplished along this line. "THE STATE" RENDERS A GOOD SERVICE Some few weeks ago Gov. R-iohards requested The State newspaper to take charge of the raising of a fund to aid Ben Bess, the negro who had served thirteen years of a thirty year sentence upon false testimony. The State owes this negro something for his thirteen years of imprisonment but there is no fund available until the legislature meets and an appro priation is made for this purpose. Bess lost hrs home in Florence county while serving in prison and was in a destitute condition when pardoned. The State newspaper very readily as aiunM t.he t/jaV- o# raining money with which to care for Bess until the leg islature meets, and also estimated that $600.00 would be a sufficient a mount which will give him $60.00 per month. Funds for this purpose have been coming in steadily and the full amount has now been raised, which is due to The State's interest in this ^matter, responding to the request of ' -Gov. Richards, who was a personal contributor to this fund. The State newspaper can always be counted up on to aid in any meritorius cause and in this instance is to be h?artily com mended for what it has so well done. The State of South Carolina was not at fault in the conviction of this ne gro, but a white woman, who is de scribed as one of low type, and as she felt that she did not have much longer to live she made an affidavit that she had sworn falsely, which re suited in the conviction of Bess after a mistrial had been made at his first trial. WeH done for The State news paper. "WET" OFFICERS ELECTED BY "DRY" VOTERS The News and Courier, in a recent issue, commenting upon "a peculiar v hallucination" of the Pageland Jour ?nal, and a statement made by Judge M. L. Smith, says: '*The News and Courier is quite ?j sure that the time came for the Dem |ocratfc party to declare for the en forcement of all ,the laws long a*o indeed, ro it has declared repeat Its platforms.. .The News nnd r's complaint is that the "dry not enforced, that it iff not by the officers elected by 'Ohfbition majority in South , that, this majority, often drinkinig men as enforcers, the state of South Carolina has 'tieoren and hundreds of officers now, plllfh And low, who eaic not a rap for [prohibition, Wnd ifn many cases they ?? elected by the <'drys." News and Courier's ''com ./' is not without foundation, hav e been impressed along this inline that men who drink arc elected to enforce the prohi ?nd it seems to us to be latency. How can an offi * dtrtnks enforce the prohlbi t At any rate it would look ?tent to obtain the services if who does not drink to ths law. The News and charges constitute a severe kt of "Mores and hundreds H WOULD GIVE PRISONERS A ! CHANCE 1 Some time ago a white man, R L Thomas, of Spartanburg, wh, was 8 "entence tor assault and battery with intent to kill, was releas ed from the penitentiary. He claims that after applying f0r work and when it was found out that he was a convict he was turned away. "Citi zen", in a letter to the Columbia State deplores such a condition and says it is enough to make the public fall upon their knees, and ask forgiveness. This man after failing to get work, applied to the Governor to allow him to return to the penitentiary. This of course was unusual and naturally enough the Governor did not order him back to prison. He has sin, . found employment. But "Citizen " fepeaking of such cases says: "A convict is pardoned, paroled or his sentence expires. He applies for a job and is questioned by the pros pective employer until he reveals that he has been a convict and receives the answer, "Nothing doing." He on and on, suffering humiliation and rebuff, finally the end comes and *e piace a marker ?t his grave with an epitaph, "Here lies the bodv of an outcast." Could anything be more heartless ? | After a prisoner has paid the pen. j alty for hifj misdeeds and the Kov. ernor is satisfied that he has been sufficiently punished, I am in favor of his being restored to citizenship and (Will willingly join others to K've him a chance to make good." We agree with the State's corres pondent that the prisoners who are released should have a chance. I? this county, and perhaps in every county of the state, there are prison ers serving time on the chain gang. A number of them manage to got their sentences suspended, or they are paroled, or serve their time out and are released. But they are in most cases released penniless. ^me of them to our own knowledge are from other states. They are a good long distance from their homes. Thev need help when they are released, othrwise it is an invitation to them fi? u W1!onfir again. Something should be done for them when they are turned loose from the gangs. Many of them are destitute for clothes and without money to buy any with. ^ 081 and they must have ?ome clothes and if a helping hand is not extended them their imprison ment will prove a poor means of re formation. We believe that a reas onable amount of help should be giv tn them A fund should be available to help these young men get on their feet again. If they desire to return honie, give him transportation home If they are willing to work, aid them ?n finding employment, and in this way a young life may be d ? but little short of a crime to turn them loose to tramp ground the coun ry, begging their way or resorting to stealing And if they are stranded and have the st.gma of being convicts what do you expect them to do? -Like "Citizen", We will willingly jom others in giving them a chance. We have already done something a long that line and shall continue to do so when opportunity offers. '?A GRAVE PROBLEM" Under the caption, "A Grave Prob lem," the Spartanburg Journal, dis cusses the increase in crime among young white men, and quoting com ments made in the Messenger of last i week says: "Editor Birchmore. of the Wateree Messenger, lfike other earnest, thoughtful citizens, is impressed with the increase in crime and law viola tion among the white youth, which is confined to no county lines or sec tions. The .subject is one Well worth careful, thorough study and investiga tion. Itootlegging ,hntf /other viola tions of the prohibition law are the predominant charges upon which the youth alnswer when they are called into court. Under conditions as they exist today as regards enforcement, there is the potent temptation to the youth to make ready money easily without paying the price in years of toil and sweot, labor and self-denial. There is the Iglittcr and glamour of the romantijo and thrilling in taking chances with the law, and the weak ness of the Kit nation, is jthat t h?< bootlegger finds a clientele that pro fesses to stand for law enforcement, morality and piety, ih |many instanc es. In a jazz age, a motor age, an aviation age,, one cannot make much headway with the (up-to-date youth telling1 him. to keep, the straight, narrow path, recounting stories of the rail-splitters, the cord wood chop pers, the (ditch diggers and the count leas hosts of real men who paid the price of success by putting out to the fullest of their body a*id mind, while the great majority were out in quest of and indulging in the pleas ures, diversions and .dissipations that every era of our history has offered the growing youth." A MAP that has been 98 years in the making hk first American-built loco motive to enter actual service hauled its first pujjsen^er train on what is now a part of tne Southern Railway System. In the years that have followed, one of the world's great railroad systems has been developed in the South, serving that territory east of the Mississippi and south of the Ohio and Potomac as perhaps no other section of equal extent is served by any one railroad system. RAILWAY SYSTEM THE SOUTHERN SERVES THE SOUTH FROM THE NORTHERN' GATEWAYS AT WASH lVCTON, CINCINNATI AND LOUISVILLE . . . FROM THIS WESTERN GATEWAYS AT ST. LOUIS AND MEMPHIS . . . TO THE OCEAN PORTS OF NORFOLK, CHARLESTON, SAVANNAH, BRUNSWICK AND JACKSONVILLE . . AND THE GULF PORTS OF MOBILE AND N'F.W ORLEANS . . . THE SOUTHERN SERVES THE SOUTH. OUR COUNTY CAMPAIGN Recently we had something to say about the expenses of the county cam paign. They have been increasing from one campaign to the nJxt.and if they continue to increase in cost it will mean the elimination of some capable men or women who might be willing to enter the race but would be kept from doing so on account of the excessive cost, and thus defeat the real object of holding primary elections. A prominent citizen from the rural district said to us Satur day that he believed that the manag ers would be willing to serve this year without pay in view of the fact I that there are so few offices to be | filled. He then added at any rate | they would nerve for one dollar a day. | Surely there is enough patriotism in I our county to render some little ser jvice without being paid for it. Thero are, if we mistake not, thirty-fivo club precincts, and with three man agers to a precinct, one dollar each would amount to $105. We believe thai the managers should bo paid a sufficient amount at least to pay tor gas and oil where they have to use their cars. Two dollars each would mean an assessment, of $210.00. Each club precinct, should provide its own booth ami eliminate this cost. The printing of tickets should not take but a few dollars- say $12 or $15. We feel sure that the entire expense can j bo met with not over $300. In every i emmpaign there are candidates who can ill afford a heavy assessment, and certainty they are entitled to some consideration. The pledges we un derstand must bo filed on or before the 25th day of July. Wo feel that the county executive committee, I through its sub-ce>mmittce appointed ! to estimate the expenses of the cam paign, will take a reasonable view of it and arrive at an eejuitable basis ' for fixing *MCB?mentB. IMPROVE YOURSELF FIRST (Rock Hill Record) That wise philosopher, Diogenes, once expressed astonishment that the literary experts were so eager to learn all about the misfortune of Ulysses, a mythical hero, while they remained ignorant 0* their own. He also marveled that musicians should be so careful in stringing their lyres, while leaving all the habits of their souls Ml-arranged. Thoughts of others have run in the same groove. Hence the sayings: "Charity begins at home," and 'Know thyself." Shakespeare wrote: "I will chide no breather in the world but myself, against whom I know most faults." Whatley said: ''Though not al ways called upon to condemn our selves. it is always safe to suspect ourselves." We firmly belie\e that the best and surest way to do good is to im prove onesself. A good example is more eloquent than a thousand words. The members of the clergy who by their humility and quiet study set an example of spirituality are more effective preachers, even in their silence, than the sweaty, shouting exangelists who imitate auctioneers and barkers. If we Could, before retiring at night, review thp deeds and follies of the day, what a change would come over UK I HIS LAST COPY The Messenger is publishing in thin insue an article from Jan. L. Oar bery, under a Spartanburg date line, which will be the last copy from this good citizen, for Mr. Oarbery died on Thursday of last week. The an nounoement of his death will bring sorrow to a large number of friends throughout the state. Mr. Oarbery visited this county a number of times and took an active part in economic demonstrations. FV>r a number of years he made Rock Hill hi? hime. WHY SHOP A ROUND? Wc can give you famous Goodyear quality at a bargain price--. a bigger bargain thar you will ever get by shopping around. Before you buy any tire, investigate our prices on the new Goodyear All-Wcathcr Tread balloon tire? "The World's Greatest l ire." Let us do your VULCANIZING. Wc arc well equipped for this kind of work. MYERS SERVICE STATION Camden, S. C. the; lino of his special endeavors. In Ho was n useful eitizon, a delightful companion and a safe guido along the article we are publishing this wMk from his pen will be found some (rood sujrireBtiona.