The Camden chronicle. (Camden, S.C.) 1888-1981, June 06, 1941, Page PAGE SEVEN, Image 7
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It Would Seem "Under-TheTable"
Now Well Crowded
, . .. ? * . ,fi
My dear Mr. Redfearn
Three weeks ago, upon ill advice
of one or two of your friends, you
stuck your neck out, when you were
meddling Into something you had no
business. When I mentioned selfish
politicians und their henchmen in my
jirst statement to the people, I in no
' way whatsoever directed it to you,
1 had always had a high regard
for you and Vour ability. But it is
said, that when you step on a fellows
toes ho la going to yell and now
I believe that is true.' What puzzles
me though is under which group do
you come? A selfish politician or
their henchman? I would never have
thought you were either, but since
you have admitted being one, I wish
you would go a little further and tell
the people which. As was clearly
seen in last week's article, yon are
trying to draw your neck back in,
but bofore you get It all the way, I
would like to add one more laurel
around It for you to juggle. I do not
know how the -Other county officers
feel, but on Thursday, May 22, In the
Senate Chamber In Columbia, the
Senator expressed his regrets at your
ever having put anything In the
paper. He seemed to be sincere, too.
In your article last week you could
find little argument, so you resorted
to the weak strategy of calling me
all kinds of '"complimentary" names.
You called jp^a Hitler, Ooering, liar,
simpleton,- crV*y man and graolous
knows what else. That is all right?
I do not feel hard at you, I'll be all
those things in your eyesight, und
like it. Now, you be what you can.
In the eyesight of the people. 1 will
be willing to do that, and still feel
like I am getting the better bargain.
Mr. Redfearn, you know when a fellow
calls another names^ In such an ungentlemanly,
unchristian way as you
did, he either has little argument, or
I is weak up the baclfbonerRegardless
of your tactics, I will never resort
to mudslinging. In order to
further my political ambitions. From
our past experience in campaigns, the
people ought to know which of us is
the professional mudslinger.
I certainly am glad to hear that you
I have changed your tune in regard to
free textbooks, since the last time we
discussed them. I wonder what has
brought about this radical change in
you. Maybe now we will be~*able to
get them next year for these poor
children, that you confess to love so
much. Why are you so anxious for
the state to furnish them? Could it
be because you are hoping that tbe
state won't he able to do so soon?
Textbooks are textbooks and it does
not make sense to say that you?favor
the state and not the county giving
them, when the county is able to
and should furnish them. Another
thing, probably one which you have
never thought of, if we can get control
of our textbooks, we can save
our people hundreds of dollars by
knocking out this racket of changing
books every year or so. I rejoice
very much in the fact that we won't
get any more opposition from you on
litis matter.
Furthermore, I am glad you have
'softened up in regard to the chain
gang guards. I thought "you would
see your mistake in this matter.
You accused me of not having intelli:
genre enough to know the difference
betwoen them and the county offi
cersr I do not know if that is?a proper
way to measure my Intelligence
or not but I say this?in my
eyesight those guards are Just as
Important as the county officers, even .
Including you. In fact, if I had to
make a choice betwoen them and
some of the countjr officers we have,
hb to the services they are rendering, r
I vould take the guards two to one.
A b to the amendment to the Constitution,
you and yotur lawyers could
not Interpret properly, did ypu see
any information In the whole constitution
as to where the director of a >
township had any right to set a salary.
Mr. Redfearn, you must bear in .
mind that your office is not a constitutional
office. It is only an office
created by the legislature and can
be abolished at their wilL You must
learn that you are responsible to the
legislative delegation and not them
t0 you, if law means anything to you.
You complain about having no mofo
money now to run the chaingang
than you did in 1984. Did not you
ffet the amount you asked for? Yes.
Did we cut you one cent? No, and
you don't dare to dispute it, so why
should yon be throwing that up now?
Why did you refuse to come back
0n the straight-salary-for-the-county
officers issue which was up for discussion
and which you wsrfe so bitterly
opposed to? Art y?f ajxrat
to change your views On that Issue
too? I hope yon and the others are
because yon know and the people
"to T -
. Btarted all this friction, and kqpt the
! delegation from working out a supply
I bill. I can tell why you didn't come
back. Those two bills of which 1
! spoke of last week and which yofl
did not know had passed through the
house and sent to the senate put a
damper ' on that. When the 8enator
killed thoso bills that would cut fees
In half, and abolished the tax execution
penalties, he demolished all
argument you had that we were hurting
the poor people of this county 1
don't blapio you for staying quiet
about that now.
You have referred to the prohibition
question and accused me of embarrassing
the preachers. If you had
heard or read my (ipeech or know
what you were talking about, you
might not be so misleading. The
people know how I voted and If you
were so Interested you would know
too. I have no apologies to offer on
the stand I took In regard to this. In
fact, I am proud of 'It and If I had to
do It over I would do the same thing.
Wouldn't you? Don't worry, I'll account
xfor myself on that Issue in the
next campaign. You wanted ' to
know If I Was a Democrat? That all
depends. Are you one? If you are
one and if there is llot but one kind,
I don't think I would want to put
myself in the class. I do try to
think of the majority of the people
and not Just a 'ew, and I believe that
is a democratic principle. So draw
your own conclusion.
Mr. Redfearn, I always give honor
where It is due. You did a pretty
fair Job of beating around the bush.
You tried to answer very few of the
' questions I asked you. Why don't
I you leave the .allbies and blunders out
land shoot the straight facts. I can
take them and enjoy it. When I asked
you if you did or did not know the
surplus last summer?how much you
thought the surplus was?why you
refused to correct the old members
of the houBe when they were misinformed?you
resort to calling me a
liar and haven't answered yet. You
never even mentioned^ the sections
of the constitution in regard to who
had a right to levy taxes and in regard
to taxing the people and not
letting them know about it. You refused
to answer why you borrowed
money and taxed the pepple to pay
lb? Interest, when yo^ haJP money
In the banks drawing no Interest. You
denied knowing anything about the
delegation giving you authority to
borrow $8,000 to build the Armory
and then you wouldn't do it. You
called me a poor simpleton and referred
to a section of the 1940 supjay
bill, which had no -.connection.
Now, let's see who is the poor simpleton.
Look to Act 1233 on page
2{>68 of the statutes at large approved
April 24, 1940. No, please be.Bure
and make a note of this, read the act ;
carefully, and let me know In the next
letter who is the poor simpleton. I
know you. won't forget this. I am
amazed at A man of your intelligence
and business ability letting such a
modern act slip by. And too, it -til:
right next to the 1940 supply bill,
which I bet you know forward and
backward by now. I Just wanted to
mention these things, in case you had
forgotten them.
You expressed your opinion of my
ignorance in dealing with the finances
of the county. You said I had an opportunity
to?see-the audit. Yes, I
kept it several 'days and studided it,
and I must admit that it was a great
help to us in turning up a surplus of
money In the county that the people
knew nothing about. But let me ask
you this ' question and I think it 4?
reasonable. What good do you thirty
an audit that closed on June 30, 1940,
would be to a fellow who was trying
to find what the conditions of the
county was in January of 1941? d
you know that was when we tried to
find out. I may be dumb, but don't
think I am quite that dumb. Why do
you we have a county treasurer
and auditor f I* * representative of
the people can't go to the court houee
and find out in any nfonth of the year
what taxes have been collected, what
our assets and liabilities are. then ,
there Is surely something drastically (
wrong along the line somewhere.
Now, the resolutions you speak of.
You say I have resolnted more money ?
in my short time than any former i
delegation ever did before. All right, i
let's do a little arithmetic and see i
whether you told the truth and 4
whether you gave an incorrect state- <
ment. From last June when thejer J
islatnre adjourned, np until Novem- 1
her. which fs five months, there was ;
over $20,000 resoluted. Is that not j
true? All right, from November up ,
w wr-rtW. ?. !
reeofatedT ~not over fl^OO. Is th?r .1
correct T Chock tto report.
If It u not. Whoo I too* orlthmotlc
In Wkx* Sy OT?r
' J? . - r^? 4 "
times as much as $1,800. I don't
known what kind of arithmetic you
took in school, but whatever kind it
was, has sadly left you, or you have
jumped it. Maybe that five miles
you walked every day was too great
a strain. No, you either swallow that
Incorrect statement that you made
and digest it, or prove that I am
wrong. I did sign three resolutions.
The first one for $1,500 for the airport
and I had a legal right to do" so
as it was specified in the act of 1940.
The next one for $60 for the cotton
festival, which I am not begruding.
And the last one of which you speak
so fondly was for rent on a N. Y. A.
building for the negroes. I guess I
did g^o under the table with a negro,
but I couldn't help it, Mr. Redfearn.
When you and the negro went under
ahead of me, each pulling me by the
arm, and the Senator coming under
behind me, what chance did I have.
I promise though, I won't do it again.
While speaking of resolutions, you
did not think of mentioning those
illegal resolutions, you and the Senator
tried to cram down our throats.
Why don't Vou dispute the ruling of
the Attorney-General of South Carolina?
Maybe, you will.
You have seen fit to poke fun at
my being poor and my education. Mr.
Redfearn, I know that I am a poor
fellow and never had too much of an
opportunity to get the education I
wanted, but I hate for a person higher
in the world to rub It in. I realize i
I do-not enjoy the conveniences and luxuries
of life as you. Where you
drive new - cars and have an extra
one for your family, I can only drive
a dilapidated one that belongs to me 1
and the finance company. Where :
you have a modern city home with i
all the conveniences, I can only live ;
in Hy farm home and get by $he best i
I can. Where you own far^ns and <
dairies and have someone jdo the 1
work, I can only run a one horse 1
farm and help do the work myself. j
Where you have a big business with j
clerks and secretaries to depend on t
for a living, I have to get mine the I
bSst way possible. Yes, I am poor 1
and can't help It, but have I ever been I
to you or jou* relief for help? As '
to my eduoatiofe^ Idealise I did not i
attend Yale of Harvard, but what I 1
did get means more by me, than a j
Yale education would to your type. <
fee, 1 worked two days a week and 1
every summer for five years to get a '
tour year course, but there Is one con- <
solution?I never had to go to yon or 1
any other man to help me through. I 1
ednfftt that I am poor, poorly educat- 1
wC but with all the odds against me, l
I would not swap places with you, 1
aven with your brilliancy, wealth and <
prominence thrown in. ; I am sure I
rou are ashamed for bringing up per- ?
tonalities instead of Issues, but you
ays too proud to admit ft. You ask I
what I have contributed to the wel- 1
rare of the people in the county, j
Nothing I must confess. In less than**
I year I hare been In puttie life. Tou^
a.. i ' " -. - ~ "" ~~ ?-Vs
and one or two others stood in the
way. Now, it is my turn. What
have you done in the last ten years
that contributes to the welfare of the
county? Please tell me. I have never
heard anyone bragging about what
you did, except you.
You accuse me of blasting the old
members of the delegation. I think
you have the wrong slant on that.
The people of this county know that
I spoke in the highest regard for Mr.
Estridge and Mr. Clyburn on every
stump in this county. I don't know
of any couple In this county that I
think more or than I do of Mr. and
Mrs. Lewis Clyburn and they will tell
yon, that- we have always been on j
the best of terms. You don't have
to believe me?ask them. And as
for you trying to get them to feeling
hard toward me is unfair and unwarranted.
^Qnn't try to shift my blasting
to them. You are the one I am
blasting for doing them the same way
you tried to do us, but failed so
miserably. As to my ever bragging
about you on the stump, do you have
any record f I do say now though
that I could very conscientiously
boast of one-half of the board and be
proud of it.
Why did you pick such a logical
time to shut off the W. P. A. work?
You had no right to cut off the sewing
rboms, the lunch rooms, nursery
school, housekeepers aid and the W.
P. A. library. You know that the
same amount that was appropriated
for these projects last year, is again
appropriated this year. Every one of
these projects is taken care of in the
1940 supply bill and we have,Just fallen
back on that same bill for the
year of 1941. Yes, the money is
there, so why did you cut those protects
off? I can tell you the reason
and X am not afraid to do so. Yon
91d It for selfish, political reasons and
the people know it, even some of
those working on the W. P. A, Yes,
rou were willing to drive those people
sway from their only means of
a living?yon were willing to tee
them with empty stomachs, with bare
fecks and without A shelter, in order
to promote your own selfish motives,
fop were willing to d,o It and give
hem the impression' that my colleague
and I were to blame. Yes,
rou were willing to sacrifice the security
of the poor people of the county
In order to stick a dagger in our
fecks. If I had to have these principles
about me in order to satisfy
my conscience, I think I would crawl
In a hole, pull (t in behind me, and
tot try to dig out. By the time this
foes to press, I hope you will have
Krt those people hack to work in
crdsr to prevent xAj colleague and I
'rom having to bring any action
igainst you from higher authorities,
rou know wo can do it The only ,
project that yon had any right to
ivvp ill tne rota won* ana we are i
roing to provide ierihat Wo protided
for It once, as anyone cduld see t>
"i ' Iklr
in this paper but in order to save the
financial welfare of one or two of
your cohorts, you helped to turn it
down. Now, as we make another
attempt to provide it, don't be led to
think that we are doing It to save
your neck. We are only trying to
save the necks of those poor people,
you and your crowd put on the chopping
block. The same way you did
about the hospital money. In previous
years, it had always been paid in
advance, quarterly, but what happened
this year? You would not pay
them when you had the money to do
so with and then tried to lead the
authorities to think that my colleague
and I were holding it up. You ^ now
the hospital money comes from a
perpetual fund, and it should never
be stopped whether we ever had another
supply bill or not. Just mentioned
that as another example of.
your tactics in politics..
You very boldly referred to my being
a lieutenant for an ex-politician
and a politician but refused to name
them. I challenge you to name them, *
whomever they are. I think they will
be able .to take care of themselves. I
I challenge you to open my eyes. You
refused to open the eyes of the people
in 'rgeard to some of the things going
on. No, my friend, I do not have to
run to somebody to tell me what to
do. I do not even have to get someone
else to write my articles, neither
do I have to sign the articles of someone,
who is ashamed to do it himself.
That is one reason that you fellows
hare it in for me so. Just because I
wouldn't come by your offices Tuesday
mornings, beforp going to the
legislature, to find out what I could
and could not do, and report back on
Friday. No, Mr. Redfearn, I am not
In the habit of taking orders.
Yoti contend that we are trying to
disrupt your present form of government.
I would not doubt if that Is 1
not true. But, if changing the fiscal '
pear, if putting ; the officials on J
straight salaries, if trying to let'the '
people know how much money the
county spends and had is disrupting (
the peoples* government of this county.
then woe be unto democracy, j
What you are worried about Is that
we are trying to disrupt this thing of
'ring rule' controlling the county gov- j
eminent and put It back Into the (
hands of the .people. ;
I am not mad with you or any j
other county pfficer. My hand of
friendship is eatended to all of you, \
that Is, if you want it. 1 am not and '
do not'expect to try to force it upon .
you. You can make the choice. As '
I have told the Senator many times, I
am willing to meet aQ of you half-way
but I will not let any of yourun over .
me, although I might be the Ignorant,
crasy, poor simpleton that yon have
spoken of so highly. As to fair dealings,
I don't think i would hare mentioned
it, if anyone had been as
nice to me, as, we were to yon and
then I turned my bank upon them.
Since your recent actions I think it
- ,:. -IV -j&IA:1 1'
| hopeless for you to learn a lesson
! in fair dealings. But there is one
lesson that I hope and believe you
will learn and that is to keep your
nose out of other peoples affairs.
Everybody knows you had no business
taking sides in ours and the Senator's
dispute.' It was a friendly,
non-personal one and you should have
stayed out of It.
If y.QU are Interested In continuing
this newspaper battle, let me say,
stop beating around the bush. Answer
questions I have asked and then ask
me yours. You can ask me questions,
personally or politically. I am not
ashamed of any act I did, and I trust
you are. the s&me way. So answer
my questions. You know the ones
you have dodged that I asked before. -Answer
them, not for my benefit as I
already know, but for the peoples'?
they want to know. But if you insist
on beating around the bush, I want
to make one suggestion: When you
get behind it again, stay there; and
don't let someone fool you into coming
out.
As to your idea of running for governor
or the U. 8. A. Senate, let me
give you a little advice. Run for
governor, as I hear Edgar Brown is
going to run for the Senate. And if
he ever got' a hold of you, I am afraid
this little battle we are having would
seem like a pleasant dream to you.
With my continued best wishes and
personal regards, I am
Sincerely yours,
Ji-Clator Arrants
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COLUMWA^b^^s??!^ SUMTER. ^ .
BAJES8UKG vuuwiw^ . 8CAU OF HUBS (
o 10 AO SO 40 50
CAROLINA MANEUVER AREA
I FOURTH CORPS AReA RfNTS BOARO
* * FORT JACKSON. S.C. 184-1
1 .. .v.1 .
The landowners in the eight counties
in North Carolina and the eight
counties In South Carolina have
shown a wonderful response to the
request of their respective Governors
that they grant the Army permission
to maneuver over their lands during
October and November. It is very
gratifying to know that the landown
ers are taking this attitude.
The county maneuver directors,
and their committees In each county,
are working day and night in an
effort to complete this sign-up campaign
by June 16th. The directors
report that, with few exceptions, all
landowners, that have been contacted,
have readily signed the maneuver
????i^??Jb????I??a?w
right form granting the Army per*
mission to maneuver over their property.
Major A. R. Wellwood, Executive
Officer of the Fourth Corpa Area
Rents Board, Fort Jackson, S. C., reports
that there are 5,353,000 acres
in the Carolina Maneuver Area and
that maneuver rights have * been
granted on 3,892,836 acres which is
72.6 per cent of the land in the area.
The landowners feel that these maneuvers
are for their benefit, as the
Army is training its men to protect
their country, homes and property
and that they are having a part in
the National Defense Program in
granting permission for the Army to
use their land.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
Notice is hereby given that
the undersigned will en Friday,
June 20L 1941, after due
publication of this notice apply
to the South Carolina Tax
Commission, for a License to
operate a Retail Liquor Store
la the City of Camden, South
Carolina, located at 627 Rutledge
Street in said city.
. E.R. DIXON
Camden, S. C., June 4, 1941
ll-13pd
NOCnCE OF APPLICATION
Notice is hereby given that
the undersigned will on Friday,
June 20l 1941 after due
publication of this notice apply
toithe^ South Carolina Tax
Commission, for a License to
operate a Retail Liquor Store
in the City of Camden, South
Carolina, located at 607 West
DeKalb Street, in said city.
;LR. DIXON
Camden, S. C. June 4, 1941
ll?13p<L
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