The weekly ledger. (Gaffney City, S.C.) 1894-1896, December 10, 1896, Image 1
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A Newspaper in all that the Word Implies and Devoted to the Best Interests of the People of Cherokee County.
VOL. HI. NO. 44.
GAFFNEY CITY. S. C.. THUKSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1896.
81.00 A YE All.
n A hi
CHEROKEE!
Whoop! Whoop! Hurrah!
Whoop-e-e!
WE ARE THE PEOPLE!
You Can Talk About Your Two to
One But Look at This.
Wc Are Going to Set Up Housekeeping for Ourselves-The Vote
and How It Was Cast-Ta'lk of Fraud
at White Plains.
Landslide! Tonadol
Earthiiuakc! Blizzard!
Cyclone! Volcano!
Whoop!
Whoop-f>-e!
We are the people!
Geemany whia, great guns and
what not!
The people have spoken.
Did you ever see the like?
Talk about your two-thirds vote
jing hard to carry !
I How about three-fourths and live
to one?
Thk Lkdgkh sends hearty greetings
to the 22,000 people of Cherokee
county.
The day opened clear and bright. It
was an ideal election day, neither hot
nor cold and not too dry. The vot
ing began early and by 12 o’clock
three-fourths ! of the ballots had
been cast and from that or. the vot
ing was slow. In the afternoon the
couriers began to arrive from the
country precincts and in every in
stance the news was incournging and
that served to help those in town to
work that much harder. There were
no quaarels at this precinct that we
know of and no fights anywhere.
Let those good, brave, honest,
courageous and manly men in town
and country alike, who have worked
so hard ond faithfully to help them
selves and posterity keep shoulder
to shoulder in time to come, as they
have in this tight, and work for each
others common good, and make this,
the baby county of South Carolina,
the banner county of the State. She
lias the most fertile soil, the finest
climate, as wonderful water power as
there is anywhere, as brave, as
honest, as manly men, as true, as
pure and pretty women as ever
made homo happy, or blessed a na
tion. Let country and town keep
hands joined as they have been in
this fight—have no difTerenco in the
towns and those in the country 'it has
been our common inscrest we have
fought for and won—our interests
are one and the same; the people
in the country arc, and have proven
themselves our friends, and the town
will prove by its kindly interest and
treatment of our country friends
that we recognize that we fought for
our common good, and that our in
terests are one and the same.
We are cemented with interest of
common good, let that same feeling
exist and not be severed by the false
reports of those who have none of
our interests at heart, and who
fought us bitterly and unfairly be
fore the election, by circulating all
sorts of false reports and false figures
and preventing the truth to satisfy
those for whom they were acting as
hirelings. For those who have acted
in good faith, and fought us honestly
(and there were some) we bear no ill
will or malice. To those whomjwe
we have thought have not been fair,
we extend to them a most hearty
greeting and ask them to join with
us—for our interest fare theirs, and
make this the pride of the Tiedmont.
There are some whose names have
been brought more promln n ntly to
the front in this fight than others,
and every one knows who they are,
and they have worked day and night
without remuneration. Yet wo all
recognize that a great deal of effec
tive work was done by the quiet, un
assuming voter in town and country,
and our honest convictions are that
each one who worked in their own
way for what wo ho much needed,
• nd those who wprked against it,
will re^p great benefits—a rich har
vest—in tile reduction of taxes and
being surrounded with conveniences
all taxpuyem should have in atr
tending to private matters and pay
ing their duty to their state and
county.
A step forward has been taken.
We mean to move on toward prog
ress, education and richness and ad
vancement in general.
The success of the election is duo
to no one man or set of men. Every
man laid down his prejudice and his
business to bring about the desired
result. The farmer left his farm to
talk New County to his less enthusi
astic neighbor. The banker forsook
his hank, the merchant neglected
his business, the mechanic laid aside
his tools and all worked for the suc
cess of the movement.
It shall be the aim of The Ledger,
and it speaks the wishes of the peo
ple of both town and country, to
have a reduction of taxes, and as
soon as matters settle down we want
the promises made on the stump,
advocating a New County, carried
out in full. Lot the people in each
township, or portion of a township,
elect, say five delegates, and meet at
GafTney or some convenient place,
snd formulate in the act creat
ing the county what the people
wish, fix the salaries of their
public servants, reduce them to a
plane \vhere the officeholder can live
and not squeeze the taxpayer to
death, and then when the legislature
convenes and creates this county,
the salaries agreed upon in con.en-
tion here—fixed and approved by the
people—can be put in the act creat
ing the county, and we can, and
will, show to those who have mis
represented us, and the state at
large, that ^Cherokee County can
“live and let live M and run onus
small a tax levy as any county in
the state.
Wo give the tabulated returns of
all the boxes in the territory that
will soon he Cherokee County, and
as cun be seen Maud I'recinct in
Spartanburg County is the banner
precinct, custfng 5(1 votes for the
county and 1 No :
KI’AUTANHt'lUJ COENTY.
Yes.
N '"
County
Seat,
Gaffney
City.
NamcJ
Cher
okee.
Name.
Lime
stone.
(Jii)Tii«-y. . .*>12
«
514
421
04
Grassy I’oixl. .M
11
47
Mnud .Mi
1
Ml
.Y>
Ezells 47
:f'.i
Macedonia., is
24
Tlilekcty.. |:i
6
White I'lal's. !•
1:12
Joe Allen's Jti
»>
MeKclvy.. . 1
4
.
Arrow wood.
Cowpens 2
17
Clifton
1
Trough
• •
UNION COUNTY
. •
Draytonvilie .V.* ^
in
51
Timber Kdjrc 77
i<i
4 4
:n
37
Ghindyliurj; 27
10
25
25
1
Wllklnson'le Lil
1
1-11
117
4
Surratt’s tih
ito
(18
11
till
YOU
K COUNTY.
Hlaekshurik.. 2 , .KI
70
21KI
2110
Buffalo... 42
1
42
42
Total I.4:i2
422
l.Ulfl
1.000
213
fered ns much as $0 for a single vote
there.
Blacksburg did manly, giving a
four to one vote for the new county,
while Buffalo rose to the occasion
with a poll of 42 to 1.
Grassy Bond gave a good round
vote of 5 to 1.
Ezell’s broke in our favor by 47 to
39.
Our friends at Macedonia went
agin us by 24 to 18, but the new coun
ty advocates did noble work to hold
It down to that.
At White Plains the opposition
kept their promise to roll up a great
majority against us by voting 132
against to 9 for. Wc lift our hat to
those nine patriots.
We have heard of some irregulari
ties at this box. but we beat them
too had to claim it.
Joe Allen’s went against us by 20
to 2. Again we lift our hat to the
two patriots.
A number of “no” votes cast in
Union were illegal, not having the
correct matter printed on them.
However we don’t claim that. Wo
let them count every vote cast
against new county, whether regular
or irregular, according to law or not,
and we beat them just as stated in
the above table.
As soon as enough returns were in
to Insure the new county the pent
np feelings of the populace was let
off and the night was made one of
joyful celebrating. It is plcasent to
note the few drunks when the occa
sion is taken into consideration.
To every man who voted for new
county, we feel grateful and ac
knowledge our thanks. To every
man who voted “no’’ we wish to say
we bear you no illwill, and may pros
perity smile upon you and yours
as well as us and ours. May the
sun shine as bright for you ns for us,
and may the grass look as green, the
breeze be as refreshing, the water as
sparkling, and the song of the birds
be ns sweet to you as to us.
Gaffney’s new band furnished excel
lent music Monday and Tuesday
nights. The boys played like old
vets and no one would have imagined
that they had only been practicing
five weeks. The music was soul-
AN AUSPICIOUS DAY IT WAS.
stirring and helped
now county.
bring along tho
About 12 o’clock a telegram was
received from Blacksburg saying the
“yes’’ ballots had all been voted and
to send more. They were dispatched
at once.
Some of the hardest work was done
in Union county that lias ever been
done, and good men who had been
outspoken in their opposition, turned
at the very last moment. Friend
mot friend and plead in earnest with
them to take the progressive stop.
At Timber Ridgo, new county re
ceived 77 to 19. It was thought
that box would bo about even.
Wilkinsvillo showed up as the
banner box from Union, the vote be
ing 181 for to 7 against.
Draytonvillo surpassed all expec
tations by voting 59 to 10 for the
new county,
Glandyburg proved a wonder by
voting 27 to 10 against, because she
was so fur off.
Tho greatest surprise of all came
from Surratt's, where wo more than
broke even by 68 to 60. Here tho
hardest fighting was done. The op
position hud gathered all Its force
there, hoping to bout us right there.
A gentleman told The Ledger yes
terday tjiut tho opposition had of-
SENATOR TILLMAN IN THE
CITY.
He Addresses About Eighteen Hun
dred Voters on the Advantages
and Disadvantages of
Small Counties.
Howl’s Ferry.
(Correspondence of The Ledger.)
Howell’s Ferry, December 7.—
Mr. Ed. H. DeUamp was around to
see us last week. Mr. DeCamp has
several warm friends in this section.
The C. E. society met at the
hospitable home of S. L. Estes yes
terday.
Several hogs have been killed in
this section Mr J. A. M. Estes had
the finest killed one weighed 408. the
other 396.
Some neighbors in this section did
not go to preaching yesterday. They
stayed at home and read the papers
to be posted on the eighth.
Quite an enteresting debate was
held at the school house Saturday
night. The subject was. Resolved—
“That character is the product of na
ture rather than culture.” Each side
was supplied with four speakers.
Nature.—H. B. McDaniel Capt. R. L.
Kirby, J. T. Estes, W. T. Cowart,.
S. A. Lee, Culture—R. A. Foster,
Capt. J. P. Williams, W. C. Black-
well Sam J. Strain, N. J. Blackwell,
The affirmative side gained. The next
subject is: “Which should be educa
ted to the highest extent the, male or
the female?”
W. T. Foster puchased a nice horse
from Mr. Richer, a Tennessee drover
several days ago.
Sam ho.
At Woods Hall.
Tonight and tomorrow night Hill-
ders Wonders and Gift Carnival, will
appear at Woods Hall. Of the per
formance tho Spartanburg (S. C.)
Herald says
“There was a good crowd at the
opera house last night to see the
performance of the Hillyer’s Won
ders and Gift Carnival, and to take
chances in the distribution of gifts.
The show is an interesting and funny
one. The thought transfer and cabi
net manifestation buiness was well
and cleverly done and is strictly * up
to date’ puzzling and amusing every
body. The distribution of gifts was
fair, liberal and up to promise. The
entire show went well and the people
got the full value of their money in
fun, astonishment and presents.
Thrse Cheers for the New County.
Blacksburg, 8. C., Dec. 8.—Dear
Mr. Editor :—Three cheers for the
new county! lam a colored citizen
here, but am equally interested in
common material welfare. I worked
for this “New County” movement
and voted today. It scorns that the
day hreakoth. We tire awake to our
opportunities and resource . Suc
cess to Cherokee county ajid Gaff
ney court house! And now, in the
choice of officers, let coolness and
thoughtfulness reign.
J. W. Moultree.
Ayer’s Pills, being composed of
the essential virtues of tho host vege
table aperients, without any of the
woody or fibrous material whatever,
is the reason why they are so much
more effective and valuable than any
other cathartics. Tho best family
physic.
Last Saturday was an auspicious
day for Gaffney. Although the sun
shone warm and bright and it was an
ideal day overhead, the melting
snow, slushy streets and the cold,
damp ground made it very disagree
able on the feet. The roads were
heavy and travel was difficult. Not
withstanding all this, an audience of
at least 2,000 people greeted South
Carolina’s favorite son, to hear him
discuss the advantages and disad
vantages of smaller counties. Of that
audience there were 1,600 or 1,700
voters, nearly every man of whom
was for a New County. It was known
that Senator Tillman would not
whoop up the new county of Lime
stone. Although he was invited by
tho promoters of the New County
scheme, it was known that he would
not utter anj other views than his
own. He is a peculiar man in that
respect. During the entire speech he
made but one utterance that was
erroneous — at least the report of
Comptroller-General Norton makes it
appear so. He said that Saluda’s
court house would cost' her nothing,
whereas, according to Mr. Norton’s
report, a levy of 1A mills has been
made in that county for court house
bonds.
Senator Tillman arrived in the city
Friday afternoon on the 4 18 train
from the south. It was expected
that he would come on the 11.47 p
m. train via Charlotte, but he found
it more convenient to come by Spar
tanburg. As a consequence of his
unexpected arrival there were not
over 200 people at the train to greet
him. But these gave him a royal
reception.. After being presented to
the reception committee he was es
corted to a carriage and driven to
the home of A. A. Surratt, whose
guest he was during bis stay in the
city. In the evening the reception
committee called on the Senator and
spent a couple of hours very pleas
antly.
THE DAY.
Saturday morning people began to
arrive early. The report had been
circulated in some sections that the
Senator would not bo here, and a
number that would have been
here stayed home on that ac
count. Nevertheless, .the people —
principally voters—kept coming in,
some in buggies and some in wagons
and some on horseback. About 11
o’clock a'special train arrived from
Blacksburg with about 250 Cherokee
braves. They were almost u solid
unit for the New County and they
made the welkin ring. Along with
this delegation came a brass band,
which discoursed appropriate music
throughout the day.
THE SPEAKING.
About 12 o’clock the Senator was
driven down town. He stopped at
the hotel u short while, the admira
tion of the surging crowd, and walked
from there to the speakers’ stand,
Upon his arrival the band struck up
a lively air, after which Chairman
M. M. Tate introduced the Rev. J. D.
Grout, of the Methodist church, who
offered an eloquent petition. He
prayed that Gotl might bless the oc
casion, the people assembled and
him who was to speak.
After another tune by the band
Chairman Tate introduced Col. T. B.
Butler, who made the address of wel
come. The band played again and
Col. R. M. Jolly, In a neat little
speech, introduced Senator Tillman.
When Senator Tillman arose Giere
was hearty cheering. One wag yelled
out: “ Boys, he looks natural.” The
crowd broke loose in cheers. The
Senator spoke in part as follows:
“ Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gen
tlemen—I am always glad to meet
the people of my own state face to
face in whatever corner It may be.
They have been very kind to me,
perhaps kinder than I deserve [A
voice: ‘No, they haven’t.], and I
love them all. I have always deemed
it my duty when they called on me to
respond, and it is always a pleasure
to greet them. I have always fought
for a free expression. I have had
the pleasure of meting the people
of this town before. Bix years ago I
spoke from the veranda of the hotel
over there when I first ran for gov
ernor. Two years later a portion of
them came to Spartanburg wearing
white caps with a certain brand of
soda printed thereon. [Laughter.j
They opposed me then. They had a
perfect right to oppose m . They
have the right to oppose me now. I
bear them no ill-will because they
did not see fit to support me. [Ap
plause.] I merely mention this fact
because opposing papers and indi-
tiduals have twitted me with coming
hero to help the men who tried to
insult me. I look at it differently. I
have a right to speak to those people
who oppose me as well as those who
favor me, and no man can keep me
from it. My interest is your interest,
and because I am in the United
States Senate is no reason why it
should ostracise me from you. I
have charged Senators with not being
in touch with their people, and I do
not want to fall in that error myself.
I am here simply because I was in
vited here by about 100 citizens and
taxpayers You are freemen. I can
not dictate to you how to vote. I
simply come here to present to you
the facts and let you decide for your
self. I might have refused to come
if I had been a politician, but if I
had refused I would have been a
coward. I might not tell you what
you want to hear, but I will get in
the middle of the road and stay
there.
“\Ye have had some pretty hot
times in South Carolina in the past
six years. \Ye have stirred things
with a big spoon. We have cut a wide
swath and the scythe has gone pretty
close to the ground. What was it for?
It was to keep South Carolina from
lagging behind her sister states. You
swing the pendulum and it will go
almost as far tho other way. The
Reform movement came near swing
ing the pendulum over but now it is
about to get to its natural position
again. The constitutional convention
was in nearly an equal ballance.
Previous to that it was impoisible to
have smaller counties because the
old court houses generally succeeded
in electing their choice of representa
tive^ and they would combine and
tight it. It is different now. The con
stitutional convention makes it pos
sible for you to have smaller coun
ties. You have the thing in your own
hands. We provided that whenever
the territory provided sufficient prop
erty and population you could vote
on the question. I am here to warn
you against making mistakes. Be
sure you are right and then go ahead.
They can’t drag you into it. What is
a county? It is a portion of a state
cut off for specifie government. Just
hero Senator Tillman went into an
elaborate explanation of county
government.
Formly our counties were four
times the size they are now. That
was when the county was sparsely
settled. Now the county is thickly
settled and we need more convenien
ces.
Some one disturbed the Senator by
talking in tho crowd. He stopped,
looked in the direction of the distur-
berandsaid:” If that man is going to
talk I’ll wait until he gets through.”
The crowd yelled and the Senator
proceeded with his speech.
“In that portion of ^ Edgefield
which was cut from Saluda some peo
ple had to travel forty miles in order
to reach tho old county seat. The
county scat was not in the geogra
phical centre of the old county,
lienee those people who lived in the
extreme limits were placed at a groat
disadvantage.
The Senator then went on to ex
plain how Pendleton and Cambridge
were divide for the convenience of
the people.
The reasons for the nucleous of
this new county is because the por
tions of Spartanburg, Union and
York to bo cat off are far from the
court houses and the question is
whether or not the people are ready
for a new bee gum. Think of it for a
moment, you men who live in the
Northwest corner of Spartanburg and
the west end of Union and York.
You will simply swarm and leave the
old gum.
What are the advantages of a court
house?
A court house would be a school to
some of you. When you are not
busy you can go to court and listen
to the cases and perhaps avoid some
petty trouble for yourself. Then
there is.a drawback. You might be
so close as to encourage you to bring
a little suit against some fellow when
you did not have much ground for
it. But then a suit in law is a luxury
and you have a right to pay for it if
you want it. One great advantage
would be that you farmers could go
to court, attend to your business and
return homo to spend the night un
less you got tied up with some dis
pensary like some of our Edgefield
people. Salem county is dead for
the present but I believe they will
eventually see the need of a smaller
county and succeed. There are at pre
sent about six new county schemes,
all of which have been started
since the constitutional convention.
They will vote in about ten days.
You will vote next week. Where do
these schems originate from? It
comes from the desiro of some ambi
tious, wide awake town like Gaffney
to become a county seat. They have
that right. I den’t blame them' They
cant'drag you into it. If yon don’t
vote they can’t got you.
Why do the old court houses work
so hard to keep you in the old coun
ties? Why does the Piedmont Head
light fill up columns and pages' try-’ *
ing to show you why you should Hot'' 1
have a new county? You have youi 1 ''*
own answers so I will not say more '
than that it is because they want.to j
keep your taxes and your patronage. (:;t (
Dollars and cents an 1 conscience, fil
are the things to be weighed. I come
here not to tell the people what to do.
You have got to decide for yourselves.
I will simply put the evidence. You
are the jury and must decide. All
that I can do is to point out the
drawbacks and advantages.
MEDDLING IN GAI KNEV’S I’VDDINO.
I understand Gaffney has entered
into a bond of $15,099 to build tho
courthouse and jail. I stand here
ready to make oath that the bond is
good and legal and given in good
faith. Tliat bond is not in the right-
shape, however. That twelve year
clause should not be in it, “There
is many a slip between the cup and
the lip.” They should build the
ciurthouse right now and n >t wait
twelve years. They will say I’m
meddling now. Well if I am I’m midd
ling with Gaffney’s pudding. I don’t
doubt the sincerity of the intentions
but therejshould be no “ifs and ands”
about it. If Rock Hill had the
chance to bid on this courthouse, she
would build you u $50,000 courthouse
and do it at once. I know Gaffney is
not less enterprising than Rock Hill.
Greenwood will build at once, and
Gaffney is too plucky not to build at
once. The question to he considered
is: “Is it worth the cost to establish
a new county?” Law and trading go
hand in hand at the courthouse, and
any thrifty town ought to have a
courthouse if it can.
You can’t hope or expect to reduce
your taxes for a while at lea-t, You
may do that later 011. Your taxes
may ho increased. The question is
whether you want it. What is it
worth to you? You consider with
this the loss of time and tho wear
and tear of your vehicles and stock.
I believe a typical county should not
have a man go over ten or twelve
miles to a courthouse. I believe
South Carolina should have fifty or
sixty counties. I merely give this
as my opinion. If I had my way I
would make South Carolina look like
a natch quilt. It has been charged
that Edgefield has become conserva
tive by the change. I want to say
that I never have and I never will
allow my personal interest to enter
into tho matter. My personal urn- ^ ,
bitions are secondary when the inter- "
est of the people of South Carolina is
at stake. I do not care whether the
new county may bo against mo’ or
not. It is not a question of politics^
but as to whether you want this
county regardless of politics. If I
have erred in coming here, my inde
pendence is worth nothing. I have
never knuckled or bowed to get votes,
and I never will. I have been ac
cused of every sin in the decalogue,
but it is a personal gratification to
be able to say that I have not been
accused of being a fool. T have al
ways noticed that small counties
have the best roads, A small coun
ty is like a small farm. You can at
tend to it better, You men who own
large plantations of thousands of
acres and rent your land, kno.v it is
worn out and full of gullies. A small
county is more compact and you can
give it better attention than you can
a large one. In largo counties you
do not know who you are voting for
half the time. You never see a candi
date until he comes around to shake
your hand and kiss the babies and
flutter Mrs. So and So.
Pick out the best men and put
them in office and then watch thorn.
Watch them, I say! Don’t he nig
gardly in paying your public officers.
Pay enough to secure competent men
and pay them enough to keep them
from pilfering. Don’t let them mon
key with tho public money.
Sentator Tillman then went into
State affairs in general, and the dis
pensary in particular. He declared
that if the dispensary was honestly
carried out. it was the best law tho
Reform party had put upon the stat
utes. He wound up by asking all
that were in favor of the dispensary
law and the carrying out of it hon
estly, to hold up their hands. Hun
dreds of hands went into tho air on
the affirmative vote, while but a few
declared their opposition to it.
The speech was frequently inter
rupted with applause, and it was tho
almost the unanimous verdict of the
people, that it did good for the new
county. The Ledger returns thanks
to the Senator for his coming, and
hopes at some other time t" have him
address tho citizens of Cherokee
county.
— -• -*•*- •- —
Aching Joints
Announce the presence of rheuma
tism which causes untdld suffering.
Rheumatism is due to“ lactic f acid
in the blood. It cannot ho cured by
liniments or other outward applica
tions. Hood’s Sarsaparilla purifies
the blood, removes tho cause of
rheumatism and permanently* cures
this disease. This is tho testimony of
thousands of people who once suf
fered tho pains of rheumatism but
who have actually boon cured by tak
ing Hood's Sarsaparilla. Its great
power to act upon tho blood and re
moves every impurity is the secret
of the wonderful cures by Hood’s
Sarsaparilla.