The Bamberg herald. (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, August 03, 1922, Image 1
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$2.00 Per Year in Advance. BAMBERG, S. C., THURSDAY, AUGUST 3,1922. Established in 1891.
Tolbert is Unfit, J
? Says Sen. Dial\
Washington, July 30.?Charging j
that Joseph W. Tolbert as Republican j
t "referee" for South Carolina has
been a "spoilsman of the worst class"
A and believing that he is "unsuited by
nature, by training and by habits and
is wanting in every proper manner
the qualities to fulfill the duties of
x the high and responsible position ta
which the president has appointed
^ A VT ^ f A^oxr All t.
mm, ibBUdiur i\? d. jLJiax iuuu/ vuw
. lined the reasons behind his announcf
ed opposition to" the selection of Tols
bert to be marshal of the Western
district of South Carolina.
"Tolbert," Senator Dial said, "is
i the South Carolina member of the
' Republican national committee, state
* chairman of that organization, and
was recently appointed 'referee' for
^ South Carolina for the present administration,
that is, he is the chief
distributor of patronage.
"I am not concerned about these
positions, and would not interfere if
I - I could, and could not if I would.
They are simply party matters, rne
appointment to the position of marshal
has to be confirmed by and with
the advice and consent of the senate,
and this is an-entirely different prop>
' osition. When the president is of one
political party and the senators of an*
other party, there is no advice given
' in these appointments, when the office
is not a bipartisan one, but when
the name comes to t&e senate, we
have to vote either to confirm or reject,
hence we are responsible to this
I extent for all appointments confirmed
by-the senate.
"The public has a right to expect
us to use all dilligence ana exercise
our best judgment?stronger than
this, they have a right to demand
'"l that we scrutinize most carefully all
such appointees. .1 have received
* letters from friends on the subject,
but I know most of this is propaganda
and that many of them have been
i - imposed upon.
Not Party Question.
"I do not fall out with people be*
cause they are Republicans, notwithstanding
I think they show poor
^ judgment in the south to belong to
this party; I freely accord every man
1 t right to join whatever party he sees
1 v proper and to select his own companions,
and if there are suitable indij
A viduals in their own ranks, it is their
j * privilege to select them for political
offices. Neither do I quarrel with
?- the powers that be for appointing
y them.
"The appointee in this instance,
( Joseph W. Tolbert, is unsuited by nature,
in training, and by habits, and
is wanting in every proper manner
the qualities to fulfill the duties of
k the high and responsible office to
B which the president has named him.
"I will not mention some unpleasj
ant matters that will throw no particular
light on the subject, but will
only call to the minds of the people
, a few facts which confirm my opinion I
f in the matter.
"Mr. Tolbert poses as a large farm*
er, whereas the record in Greenwood
county shows that he does not pay a
cent of taxes, except a dollar poll
tax, and the records in the municipal,
state and federal courts?both on the
* civil and criminal side?show that
his record is an unenviable one. I
do not mean to say that it is neces>
sary for a man to own property to
hold office; far be it from me to take
? any such position, but Tolbert is sailing
under false colors.
I "Mr. Tolbert's conduct since he has
!been appointed 'referee' has shown
pi- him to be a spoilsman of the worst
class. For insj|ince, under the practice
of this administration in selecting
postmasters, the civil service
^ commission sends to the post office
department the three names making
the highest marks, and this department
delegates to Tolbert?the 'referee'?the
right to select whichever
* he chooses. These offices are not political
ones, and in our state, the pa*
trons are not one per cent, of Republicans,
and the offices should be
kept out of politics. However, under
~ party rules, where they have a competent
person, it is their privilege to
* appoint them, and we have made no
objection.
"In these matters Tolbert has ruthf
lessly ignored the spirit of the civil
service and has refused to recom*
mend parties making the highest
marks, except in a very few cases.
He has almost universally ignored
the claims of the ladies and ex-service
men. Under the spirit of the
civil service rules, ex-soldiers should
j| receive the preference, but this has
had no weight with Tolbert, even
where they make the highest marks.
Ke has endeavored to turn lady postmasters
out where they have been
in office many, many years, and
where they have made the highest
marks. Moreover, he has turned out
many fruitful officials?some who
have served in this department for
practically 40 years, and he named
persons who were totally without experience?and
these not Republicans
either.
"In other words, he has run roughshod
over our people and seems to be
drunk with the power of a little authority.
"Worst of all, under previous administrations,
I am informed that the
'referee' in our state sold patronage
and that the universal charge was
one-half of the first year's salary,
and it is now claimed, and generally
believed, that this practice is in
vogue; the proof presented to me is
unquestionable on the subject and is
convincing beyond the peradventure
of a doubt. The practice is to divide
the state in districts and have someone
in each district look after, this
part of the nefarious business. I am
told of many instances w. - > the ofonld_Anfl
hri"i . ? .1r $7n0
UV^Cid IT VIO OViU VIAV w* Q -^O Y * ~ ;
another $1,200, another $600, another
$^000, and different sums all
around the state where there
was competition. A recent
case was reported, where $1,200
was paid and the partyfailed
to get the office, and after considerable
wrangling, the funds were
returned. It is alleged that appointees
to small offices often have to
contribute.
Rejected by Senate.
"One of Tolbert's 'referees' was recently
rejected by the senate because
he endeavored to get a lady
postmaster to pay him $300 to get
her con-firmed. An affidavit of one
of his former followers states Tolbert
admitted he expected to realize
$100,000 from this source.
"I can not condone the practice of
buying an office, and if the competitors
would cease bidding against
each other, this most disgraceful
practice could be obliterated. However,
they are to bd pitied for being
forced to come in contact with such
a corrupt system. It can readily be
seen that someone will have to fill
the office ?ny way.
"Furthermore, I am told by the
best authorities that Tolbert is by no
means in sympathy with the enforcement
of the prohibition law, and
oTT-a-n Ihjc hratrtrp/1 tn tblQ pffppf It. IS
v- ?-*? Ovu vw
shown by affidavit that he had'a barrel
of liquor at one time. Many of
his associates are among the most
lawless class of our people, and it is
commonly reported that he has form-,
ed a political combination with certain
parties in our state callihg themselves
Democrats, to create a political
machine, with the view and for
the purpose of undermining, disrupting
and destroying the Democratic
party.
"It is generally believed that politics
is rotten, and am sorry to admit
there are some grounds for such
1'- i?i? ? A~
opinions, particularly as uu ucijuuucan
administrations, and it is incumbent
upon me and all other citizens
who care for the maintenance and
perpetuation of^ good government to
expose and obliterate all fraud and
corrupt practices in our power. No
man shall have a government commission,
with the approval?confirmation
of the senate?to plunder our
people if it is in my power to prevent
it. Loving my state as I do, and
feeling the pride of its reputation
that I have always felt, I will not
stand for the nomination one minute."
Tolbert Denies The
Charges of Sen. Dial
Greenwood, July 31.?Emphatic
denial that he was selling Republican
patronage and denial of other charges
brought by Senator Dial was made
here tonight by Joseph W. Tolbert,
Republican national committeeman
for this state. Mr. Tolbert declared
he was ready to defend himself in
the courts against those who had accused
him. Chairman Tolbert made
a sweeping and comprehensive denial
Mm oharcoc tnkinjr thprti nn niiP
KJ L bUC VliW? ^VV? vv? ?0 v.. v. ... v%1/ x,1AV
by one and in some cases submitting
documents to substantiate his statements.
He said in part:
"If Senator Dial has been as incorrectly
informed in all the things he
holds against me, as he has in the
charges he makes, he is certainly
more reckless in public statements
than a lawyer and a United States
senator should be.
"Take up his charges one by one:
He charges that I have ignored the
r
Bitter Argument
Ends in Killing
Aiken, July 30.?Following a bitter
argument over politics Balfour
Gregory, the mill hired constable of
Warrenville, Horse Creek Valley,
shot and almost instantly killed Gary
Hatcher, a contractor for well boring,
this morning about 10:30 o'clock
In front of the mill's Polatty store
at Warrenville. One shot was fired.
it entering the back of Mr. Hatcher
and piercing his heart. There has
been much bitterness over the placing
of the registration roll in the
Warrenville manufacturing office instead
of in some more convenient
place, those opposed stating that the
bookkeeper in the office did not keep
hours that were suitable to many
workers in the village, and it is!
charged by those opposed also that
coercion was used in compelling women
mill hands to sign the roll who
did not desire to do so. This morning
in arguing over the matter Gregory
is alleged to have called Hatcher j
a vile name, that Hatcher resented it
with a blow and turned to walk off
when Gregory shot him to death.
Hundreds of excited people gath
?in ?; n j.*
6r?Q irom trie win vmcigcs iu lug
valley about the Head body of
Hatcher and were loud in their condemnation
of the slaying.
Gregory gave himself up to Deputy
Sheriff Nollie Robinson shortly after
the killing and is now in the Aiken
jail. He asked the sheriff to leave
arms with his family for protection
but was told by the officers that there
was no need of doing so. It is claimed
by E. L. Craig that Gregory drew
his pistol at hi mthreateningly after
the killing of Hatcher.
civil service rules. The records show
the contrary. I have recommended
about 300 postmasters in South Caroline.
They have all been from civil
??: - .?/.?rv.r?(AYi/1af;ATie T>ioro aro
Service ICCUliiUlUUU4l.l\/U>}. JLUV-i U>v
today 46 women postmasters in this
state, or 11 more appointed by President
Harding than by President Wilson.
I deny that I have endeavored
to turn out women postmasters.
When the civil service office submits
a list of three eligibles I am allowed
to select one of the three. This is the
rule all over the United States. In
many cases I have asked Republican
county chairmen for recommendations.
In only one case can it be
said that a woman was not retained
in a post office in South Carolina. It
was not my wish that she not be
kept in office, but the county chairman
and other white Republicans
urged that the recommendation go
to a white man. who was also on the
eligible list. It was done, fhough
personally it was a matter of regret
that the woman could not be retained.
Neither in this case nor in any
other was there any money consideration,
or hint of one.
Made By Two Republicans.
"The first charge of money was
made by two Republicans of Orangeburg,
who undertook to move heaven
and earth to keep B. F. Mixson from
being made postmaster. One of them
wan tod the Dostmastership for him
self. The affidavit was sent to Senator
Dial that Mixson had offered to
secure confirmation for the woman
postmaster at Bowman if she would
pay him $300. I got an affidavit from
her that she did not know Mixson and
had never been solicited by him to
pay any money for any purpose. Fur-1
ther than that, I have a letter from !
her, received only a few days a?o, J
expressing her sincere appreciation
for getting the office. She is a Demo-1
crat and she made no promise to
vote the Republican ticket. Why does
not Senator Dial give some credit j
for this? These two Republicans,
who are sore against me, Tolbert, because
I refuse to recognize them,
then made a turn. They sent Senator
Dial an affidavit that a man named
D. P. Berry made the offer to this
lady. I got an affidavit from Berrv,
denying that he had ever acted as
agent for Mixson and sent this to
Senator Dial. Still he helped these
Republicans and they thought they
were making trouble for me. The J
whole truth was that one of them J
wanted the place himself, as he had j
been almost raised in the postoffioe.
I took pleasure in recommending for
the place a young Democrat, Dan
Dukes, who now has the place.
"I deny that I have refused to ae
- ' c
Knowledge tne Ideieieiicc iui suiuicio
who were on the civil service list
and 1 have the record to show it.
"When Sen. Dial says that he is j
informed that under previous admin-!
istrations the referee in this state |
sold patronage, I suppose he means |
MISTAKES BOLT FOR Gl'X.
Murdock McCraney Tells Interesting
Occurrence During Storm.
A rather interesting occurrence in
connection with the violent thunder
storm that swept Columbia Wednesday
afternoon was related yesterday
by Murdoak McCraney, whose
home, at 2315 Gadsden street was
damaged by lightning.
: J 4- "U ~ 4- U* rt trta
( .vir. .vicoraiiey saiu mat uc na.&
adjusting the brakes on Luke Walter's
automobile just before the
t storm. When it became evident that
a deluge would be upon them in a
short time. Mr. McCraney and his
friend stopped their work and entered
the house. To pass away the
time, Mr. McCraney suggested that
they examine his collection of firearms,
of which he has qiuite a number
While inspecting an old flint lock,
Mr. Walter^, after having been assured
that it was not loaded, pulled
the trigger. Immediately there followed
a brilliant flash of light that
was naturally very surprising to Mr.
McCraney, who was positive that the
gun did not contain any powder.
About this time M?. McCraney was
called by his wife into the adjoining
room, where they found the fireplace
filled with soot and crumpled
brick. It was found that a bolt of
lightning had struck the chimney and
had followed that route into the
house.
The lightning must have struck
the house simultaneously with Mr.
Walter's pulling the trigger of the
gun: hence the "spooky" circumstances
surrounding the whole affair.
?The State.
To Be Postmaster at Orangeburg.
Washington, July 28.?Dan K.
I
| Dukes was today nominated to be
| postmaster at Orangeburg, S. C. The
I previous nomination of Benjamin J.
Mixson was rejected by the senate on
data furnished by Senator Dial.
Republican administrations and if he
does, the Republican administrations
were represented in South Carolina
by 6ther Republicans than myself,
t The last referees In this state were
t the late John G. Capers and A. D.
Webster. These Republicans will
I have to answer Senator Dial's charges.
I had no say whatsoever in the
matter of patronage when these two
men were in charge of this state. I
have had the power to make recommendations
only since tJhe 15th day
of last March and I deny any charges
that I have accepted any money or
any promise of money from any'appli- i
cant for office. If any county chair-1
man has been guilty of taking e4en
one dollar for his recommendation to
without my asking for it. I reel tnai
T owed it to him as well as myself
that I defend mvself against such
charges as have been made aeainst
me. The attacks being made on me
are being inspired by Republicans
who have lost out in this state.
"Their faction is the one which put
out a mixed electoral ticket in the
last election. The Tolbert ticket was
composed of white men exclusively.
T^ie Democratic papers of South Carolina
persistently overlook this fact.
All I want is to be fair. I can take
care of myself in court or otherwise."
me, it has been without my knowl- i
edge or consent and I would not
countenance any such thing if I
I knew it.
| No Snch Thing Happened.
j "I deny any instance of where any
man paid $1,200 to get an office
and then had to use threats to get
his money back when he failed to
get the office. No such thing ever
happened in the state j.n any office
I had anything to do with.
"I am not a party to any office buying
and it is very unfair to me for
Senator Dial to rush into the papers
with such charges with no facts to
base his charges on.
"As to George D. Shore, of Sumter,
there is no such organization as
the Sumter Republican club. He is
the club and he is sore because I
would not recommeird him to be postmaster
at Sumter. I recommended a
Democrat first and Shore tried to go
over my head and get it anyhow, beho
influential relatives in
Washington.
"He tried to have his son, George
D. Shore, named as district attorney
for the eastern district and I named
Maj. J. D. E. Meyer, a veteran of the
World war. That is why Mr. Shore
is trying to discredit me. He is the
Republican club of Sumter. 1 have
letters today telling me what Mr.
Shore is up to all by himself.
"I do not need the office of United
States marshal for the western district
of South Carolina. President
Harding gave me the appointment
Countyi Campa
to the Vote
By far the largest crowd of the
season attended the campaign meeting
at Ehrhardt last Friday, when
the candidates made their appeal for
the suffrage of the people of that |
community. There were about 175
voters in Copeland's hall, and all of
them were men. with the exception of
one small girl and two or three little
boys. The candidates were given a
fine hearing. The voters seemed to
be in dead earnest about the thing,
not a single question was asked; the
people leaving it entirely to the candidates
to say their say and be done
with it.
. It was not near so hot in the hall
as the folks thought it would be. A
nice breeze was blowing, and as the
hall has windows in every direction,
it was rather pleasant at the meeting,
which was presided over by H.
W. Chitty.
Last week The Herald said that
Camp Branch and Little Swamp folks
were optimistic, and the same thing
might be said of most Ehrhardt folks.
Of course, there are some who predict
things are going?already gone,
in fact?to the demnition bow wows,
but it seemed to this writer that a
majority of the people think the
worst has come and gone.
Oh, yes, there are some boll weevils
around Ehrhardt; there's some
cotton that won't make over two
bales to the acre, but most folks
seem to think that the crop is so
much better than last year that they
have great cause, so far, for rejoicing.
Ehrhardt Favored Section.
As a matter of fact, Ehrhardt, like
LitUe Swamp, has received much
favor this year. Cotton looks fine;
it has a fine weed and it has lots of
full grown bolls on it. Some farmers
1,1 * ?. -a ?_ * fu A 4
taiKea wun are oi una uyimuu mai
there is such a fine <?rop of blossoms
and young squares on hand that all
of the grown bolls will escape puncturing?that
is, generally speaking.
It is said that the weevils won't bother
large bolls as long as there are
blossoms and little bolls to eat on, or
bore in, rather.
Corn is good, too; in fact it is fine.
There are some fine fields of tobacco
down that way; peas, beans, sugar
cane, all look good.
There was a stalk of cotton grown
by S. W. Copeland on exhibition at
the bank which contained 20 full
grown bolls. Of this number two or
three had , been puctured; where
punctured a boll is partially damaged.
The road to Ehrhardt is, we believe,
the best road in Bamberg county;
that is, the best road that has
beeh traveled over for some time. It
has held up well under travel, and
whenever it is scraped it is simply
fine. Dave Kinard and his scraper
were at work Friday morning, putting
the road into good condition.
This writer considers this road far
superior to the Columbia-Savannah
highway through the county. We do
not know the cost of the road to
Ehrhardt, but we don't have any
idea it cost more than half of the
Columbia-Savannah highway, which
pulled pamberg county for nearly
$?. ono a mile with government aid.
After some introductory remarks
by the chairman, Rev. Mr. Ballentine,
of the Lutheran church, offered a
most appropriate prayer asking that
God's guidance be upon :.ho meeting
and the speakers. A letter was read
from "Uncle Joe" Zeizler stating that
he was unable to be present at the
meeting.
Supervisors Comit First.
G. Victor Kearse then was introduced
as a candidate for supervisor.
Mr. Kearse missed the Camp Branch
meeting the week before. If elected,
said Mr. Kearse, he Dromised an administration
. of economy and good
roads. His opponents are both good
men and he has not a word to say
against either of them, but he has
alwjiv? had an ambition to serve his
county in this office. The county has
a system of good roads, but he reminded
his hearers that Mr. Smoak
had enjoyed a large sum of federal
aid during his term, which other
supervisors had not had. He promised.
if elected, to see that full value
is received from every dollar spent
He said that it had been talked that
if he were elected, his health would
not permit him to attend to the duties
of the office, but he said that,
thanks to the Maker, his heatlh had
been greatly improved, and that it
is now better than in many years
and he felt fully able to attend to
igners Appeal I
irs of Ehrhardt I
the office. He will appreciate the fag
office if elected.
A. B. Hightower did not make a SB
speech, but said that if he is elected
he will serve the county to the best 90
of his ability. He thanked the vot- Spj
ers in advance for their-support. WM
Supervisor Smoak was then called BB
to the floor. Mr. Smoak said he had gfl
served the people the very best he |B
could during the past two years, and
he feels that the people are satis- 8fl
fled with his record. He reminded Wk
Mr. Kearse that his predecessor had |H
enjoyed federal aid as well as he had. @8
He had fought hard to get every fSj
dollar of government money possible SB
for the county; in fact he had spent S|
$30 of his own money on visits to w
Columbia in behalf of the Charleston- $9
Augusta road. He looks after the H
county's interests and tries to get .
full value for all money spent. He S|
reiterated that so long as he is sup- Jra
ervisor the chain gang will be out SB
of politics. He did not intend to n
confer any special privileges. He m
used the gang where he thought it H
was most needed, and will continue IS
this policy. It is impossible to work ?5
all the roads at once, but in a few / H
years with conservative management ra
the county will have a road system of s 18
which to be proud. .^^Hj
Commissioners Orate. |S
W. H. Collins, for upper district 19
county commissioner, said that he H
served the county two years ago, M
when he was defeated by Mr. Tant. n
He depends entirely on God, and if 9f
elected everything he does will be B
done with a singleness of purpose H
to serve his Master. Was overseer ' B
of 32 hands in the old days when 9
people worked the roads instead of 9
paying road tax. The money be- 3
longs to the people and ought to be ?
used where it comes from. Some &|
roads have never been worked, and ?
he will see that such roads are work- m
ed if he is elected. He wound up
by saying that he loves everybody, 11
saved and sinners. ?
J. S. Tant thanked the voters for B
the handsome support given him at B
Ehrhardt two years ago. When jl
money is paid out he sees where it R
goes. He knows the roads of the R
county thoroughly as he travels them R
in a. truck all the time, and he R
knows where work is needed most. R
He has tried his best to look after fl
the people's money, and will continue H
to do so if reelected. Has no special I
privileges to hand out to anybody. Kj
He has personally repaired many ', 1
bridges, paying all expenses there- S
for out of his own pocket. He will B
appreciate another two years in of- S
The Lower District Xow. 1
J. B. McCormick for the lower dis- > S
trict, said he had no recora, oui ue , ?
will do his duty if elected. "I am no |
speaker, but if you are looking for 8
the man to do the work, vote for me." 8
Ticket has two short names and one 1
long name; scratch the short ones. 1
G. W. Hunter is developing more 1
and more into an orator, as meetings I
continue. He reminded the folks that I
his father was elected sheriff four I
times ahd his brother representative ? g
twice. He has always lived on the I
farm, and plows his own mule. He a
knows nothing but farming and road |
building. Was born "almost in Fish |
Fond. ana nas nveu in mo wum;
50 years. Mr. Hunter thinks more
attention should be paid to neighborhood
roads, some of which are so
grown up with bushes thatiit is diffii
cult to haul fodder and cotton to
market. Said road money was paid /:in
his section, but his road did not
get any attention, also told about
some bridge work near his home that
it took much time and trouble to fix.
Says he will be elected, but would
like to have as many votes as possible
just to get a big majority.
Auditor Rawell made a short talk,
in which he reviewed the financial
condition of the county, making the
statement that on July 1 $46,500 in
taxes remained unpaid in this county.
The county had on hand July 1 about
$52,000 for all purposes, some of
which was money * borrowed on a
short term note for road work.
Now Comes the Magistrates.
L. G. Yarlev, candidate for reelection
as magistrate, stands on the
same platform he did two years ago.
Has filled the office according to what
he believed was the right manner.
Has made mistakes, but none that
was intentional. He has administrated
the law fairly. He is not respon
(Continued on page 2, column 2.)