The Bamberg herald. (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, August 02, 1900, EXTRA, Image 6
that he would send in his resignation when the Board was organized
and recommend the appointment of Major Hays if he
would accept, if not, then Mr. Knight.
The Board met and organized and finding that Mr. Felder
had been abusing them personally on the streets of Bamberg they
elected his successor and re-elected all the others. It was the
long much-abused tongue of Mr. Felder which got him into
trouble. I did all I agreed with Mr. Brabham and Major Hays.
4,Xor man nor angel could do more." Now you will see the
whole dispensary trouble. Mr. Felder had held the position for
seven years and had gotten seven or eight thousand dollars tor
rents and salary out of the dispensary, His term for which he
was elected had long since expired, and I know of no law which
gives him a life time job in the dispensary; rotation of office is
democratic and fair, and it is because he wants to hold on to the
dispensary that this row is being made; he was not removed, but
merely a man to succeed him was elected; either Mr. Felder or
nt tVif* nrnivr time to hold
some uuc cis?t suwuki ncitv. w>_v. r ? j? __
the dispensary, as it was, he was not responsible, because the
old board which had elected him had not been properly commissioned
neither was the new, but the new Board supposing it had
a right, elected a successor to take his place. I now dismiss it
for good and I believe forever. You have heard all these stories
and you can now tell what is false and what is true. I appeal
. from the slanderous tongues at Bamberg, who hav^ been circulating
these reports to the honest voters of Bamberg County.
This is the dispensary trouble. You've heard the reports put
into circulation from Bamberg by my enemies. And I think you
will agree with me that if a dispenser assumes the role of "ward
Iwier" for a candidate he mav expect to have opposition?lick
for lick. I have given you the facts?here today these men are
pursuing me with the same malice, venom and spleen. This dispenser
has left his post of duty as a heeler for my opponent.
After listening to the truth, you are convinced that the stories of
the oppression have been manufactured. I'll tell you an anecJ
dote which illustrates the point:
: A preacher visited a certain lunatic asylum and was being
shown through the institution. After he had passed through all
but the last ward the attendant said: "Sir, the next patient is
j the most dangerous inmate of the institution. He is educated,
refined, but if you don't agree with everything he says he becomes
violently insane." "All right" said the preacher, "I'll
manage that." "So coming to the ward the attendant introduced
the minister. Immediate!}* the lunatic said: "Reverend sir, I sup
~ pose you have heard of the death of that dear good lady, the
Queen of England." "Oh, yes," replied the preacher, and it
^"r grieved me so that such a good woman should be succeeded on
the throne by such an ungodly son." "Well, I guess you've
. J. heard of the anarchists blowing up the palace of the Czar of
*,r Russia and that 10,000 lives were lost." "Yes," said the preach?*
er, "a shocking thing?so cruel and heart rending." "Ah," said
the lunatic, "you've heard of the dreadful news of the assassina3/1
tion of our President today." "Yes," replied the preacher, "it
3 /J grieved me so, my heart bleeds for his poor wife and children, and
to our countrv such a loss." "The lunatic's eyes danced, his
face was right up against the minister's as he said: "Sir, you
have the garb, voice and manners of a divine, but you can out lie
the devil." So with these fellows in the dispensary matter, they
have out lied the devil.
uov
FINANCE.
When I was elected to the Senate I found a debt of about
?3,000 and a tax levy of 5 mills. I se about the reduction of
. vpenses. Our delegation felt it imperative that we cut down.
.[; o I took up the line of work.
tf I found that the law which my opponent had helped to pass
? as largely responsible for the enormous expense. While in the
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legislature Dr. Black helped to pass a bill which raised the cost
of feeding prisoners in jail to 30 cents per day. This is more
money than our farmers of this county can spend on each member
of his family. It is $9 per month, or $108 for a year. He had
allowed to be killed a bill to establish chaingangs. The jail
was full of negro convicts. We went to work and reduced the
expenses to actual cost?about 7 cents per day. We allowed for
jail birds just what you allow a farm hand, 3 pounds of meat per
week, 1 peck of meal and 1 pint of molasses. You can count the
pi ULtoa >i v. ?
debt of about $8,000 and had on hand to divide about $17,000.
During the years my opponent was in the legislature the taxes
were 5 to 0V2 mills. During my term of office 3 mills. It makes
an annual saving for Bamberg County of $4,000 to $5,000.
ROADS.
During my term of office I have labored to get better roads. I
drew the road law and adapted the chaingang to it. Under its
operation we have built hundreds of miles of road, opened up
new roads, widened narrow, cut down steep roads.
* 1 ii _
The highways have been improved ana witn more money
from the dispensary profits expended will steadily improve them
until from end to end of the county we will have one fine system
of highways fit for a king to drive over.
On these our wives and daughters will travel to church, town
and schools; over these the heavy laden wagons will bear the
crops to market. Along the side of these the homes will be improved
and country life made jo^-ous. Do }-ou wonder that having
labored to build up these roads, I should earnestly desire to
receive the plaudits of well done good and faithful servant.
MY OPPONENT.
I have hastily reviewed the work I have done with the aid of
the House delegation. I have shown you what I have done for
i... i?\iv rnllpncmes in the Senate have honored
yuu u v ic^ioitn-xvyii. ? 0 ?
me because of my work; for six }-ears I have been Chairman of
the Judiciary Committee.
While I have labored to build you up during my term, what did
my opponent do to reduce the burdens of the people? I have
turned to his record, and find that while in the House for four
years he did introduce no bills to reduce your county expenses.
Only one bill from the year 1886 to 1890. Your county levy was
5 to 5V2 mills. He voted to give 30c. per day for feedingprisoners
in jail, while we do it now for 7c. He voted to make the people
^ ^ M 1 /A _
and not the railroads pay the salary ol tne Kanroaa commissioners;
$6,300 yearly for 12 years, it would be $75,600.00 in
favor of railroads and against the people. He also voted for
submitting to the Court the old bonds.
3 pounds of meat 24
Vx bushel of meal 20
1 pint of Molasses 5
49c. per week or 7c. per day.
These are high prices. Besides putting the keeping at cost
we put the jail birds and evil doers on the chaingang to work our .
roads. The supervisor informs me that we have already had
1,440 days' work done by the chaingang. All this work is clear
gain and allowing it to be worth 50 cents per day we have by
reduction of expenses and utilizing the work for six months:
1,44-0 days work at 50c $720
23c. per day saved on board 331
$1,051
So we save on the chaingang alone for a year at least $2,100
and about so much on the jail, or about $4,200 by the reduction
for Bamberg, and with old Barnwell included the reduction and
saving would have been worth about $12,000 per year. By this
?vwiiirwl tavation from 5 mills to 3 mills, paid off a