Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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i ? t < • ^ - i The: JwE:i>OE:Et. ■PCBLISHKL* TUEBUAY AND FRIDAY. BY Ed. H. DeOamp. The Ledger i» not responsible for Ibe views of correspondents. Oorrespon'dents who do not eontri* bute regular news letters must fur nish their name, not for publication, but for identification. Write short letters and to the point lo insure publication; also endeavor get them to the office by Monday and Thursday mornings. Heading notices will be published at ten jents a line each insertion. All correspondence should be ad- flressed to Fri. H. Deftamp. Manager. SOME I>OVT8. Don't make it a habit to borrow your neighbor’s paper. The paper is too cheap to do that. * ¥ * * Don’t make it a habit to lend your paper. You might want it some time when it’s away from home. * * * * Don’t ask us to credit you. We don’t want to hurt your feelings by refusing. * * ¥ * Don’t be a clam, but take you county paper like a good, industrious citizen and keep posted on the hap penings of yonr section THE WEATHEK-COCK POLITICIAN. Collector Koester is out of his job because the senate has refused to confirm his appointment. It is said the opposition was due to the fact that Koester has been branded as a lyncher. Koester claims that he was engaged in a lynching bee in no other capacity than as a reporter and helped to capture the criminal and that he only threatened to shoot the wretch in order to save him from the more horrible fate of burning. . Tie funny indeed, how these poli ticians cm explain away things. The truth is that Koester was as big as anybody else at that lynching He took-« prominent part in it. He was younger then than he is now and felt his importance to a greater de gree. He is doubtless sorry for his rashness but is too proud to admit thy folly of his act and endeavors to get out of it in this manner. Further on he says the President would doubtless re-appoint him if be (Koester; would press his claim [ personally, but being a Democrat j and having no claims on President Rcossveit or the Republican party he ha* cot even ent-red a protest. This is sound reasoning but it would have sounded so much sounder bad Mr. K >ester declined as a Demo crat to accept the appointment in the first place. No Democrat has | any business to accept political ap- ) pointmects at the hands of a R-pub- I lican and still claim to be a good | Democrat. •‘To the victors belong the spoils” and when vou see a De mocratic hog scrambling at the slop tub of the Republican pig pen you may look out, for be is not a party man from principle but for what he can get out of it. A man is at perfect liberty to change his opinion in matters politi cal and he may jump from Democrat to Republican and then to Populism and then back to Democrat as often as he pleasrs so long as be does so from principal, but be is in that case branded as a Mugwump and as such neither expects or seeks political preferment. He is independent and don’t care a rap what either party Bays or does and so long as the views expressed are honest views be is just as liable to accept one Bide as the other and will support only what be believes to be for the best interest of bis country. That kind of a man is all right. He will never harm any one. In fact the Mugwumps are the governors that control the fly wheels of the two great parties and without him the machinerv is liable to get from under control and the conse quence would be a terrible smashing of things. The Mugwump is all right. But look out for that political weather coik that turns with the wind, who faces the east today, the west tomorrow, the north the next day and the south the day after. He is generally loud mouthed and arrogant, pompous and conceited, and imagines that he possesses all the brains of the country and that no else has enough to run a saw mill. One year be is an independent, the next a reformer, the next on the fence and the next thing you know be has jumped flat-footed into the middle of the Democratic or Republi can party, whichever sui's him best, but all the while he is looking for a politi'-al job, and he is going to find it. He don’t want the job from prin ciple. He wants it because there ia r. little something in it that may help out a very poor income from a none too prosperous newspaper business, or law practice, or farm interest, or something of that kind. He isn t actuated by principle. Principle be hanged ! Its principal he’s after. You offer that fellow a good fat job in any party and he’ll go to it quicker than a carion crow will fly to a dead carcass. You give him a good chance to misappropriate other people’s money and he’ll go just as far as he can to keep out of the clutches of the law. Such a man will not only do that but he’ll lie to the people and put himself up as a martyr and cry out persecution when there should be prosecution. What this county needs above all else is men. Men of honor, men of integrity, men who will sacrifice everything else for the sake of being true to principle. Thank God we have some, but we need more. Give us such a citizenship as we may be proud of. Give us men who are dem ocrats for what there is in democracy and are republicans for the truths there are in republicanism, and are mugwumps for the best there is to be found in all parties, but save us from the weathercock politician with the peacock stride and the owlish ap pearance. In other words, give us men in national, state, county and municipal government who are hon est, and not those who seek the office solely to enrich their pocketbook. The Sage of Etta Jane evidently did not attend the last Fourth of July celebration at Gaffney, or he has al lowed his memory to slip a cog! The committee wisely eliminated the col ored people from the last celebration and it is not generally expected that they propose joining this one. We do not see how they can reasonably expect to do so. They were not at-k-d to contribute to it therefore they can not expect to share in the festivities. If they desire to celebrate they have a perfect right to do so, and should do so, but they should and no doubt will arrange their own celebration. This is intended in all kindness to the colored population and we do not think our friends from the country need have any fears along this line. SHORT LOCAL ITEMS. The Fourth is approaching and the crowd will come with it. The banks close for the Fourth of July. The day is a legal holiday. Farmers have their work well up, crops are growing rapidly and the weather is propitious. The Merchant* and Planters bank has declared a 4 per cent, semi an nual dividend payable July 1. Miss Leetie Jones entertained a few of her sviect friends Sunday after noon, the occasion being her third anniversary. Altxander Poag, a popular and in- dustious young man of Gaffney, has accepted a position with Wilkins it Dean in Spartanburg. Material for the Winnie Davis hall of history is being collected, and we are nformed that work will begin on the hall some time next week. We were shown on yesterday a thread-like white worm which was said to have been found in an apole. It is about eight inches in length and is similar in appearance to worms found in cabbage lust winter. Rev. J. D. Bailey conducted a series of meetings at Cherokee Falls last week. Mr. Bailey is one of the ablest clergymen in this section and we learn that much interest was mani fested in his meeting at the Falls. The City Council yesterday, award ed the contract for building the City Hall to Mr. L. Baker. W’ork on the building will be begun as soon as the material can be collected. The build ing will cost $7 (MX), Is much needed and will be an ormament to the city. Saturday was a fine day for farm work and as the ground bad been too wet for several days last week the farmers made good if it, and few of them came to town, but those who did come came for business. The merchants report good sales, an un usual amount being fot cash. Rev. 8. A. Nettles, of the Pacolet Methodist chuych, preached two ser mons in the Buford Street Methodist church Sunday. Mr. Nettles is a man of fine ability and attractive de livery, which, combined with his known piety and high character, al ways secure him large and apprecia tive congregations. We hope to have Mr Nettles in Gaffney again. We learn from a reliable source that Mr. M. M. Freeman has resigned the (ffice of postmaster at Blacksburg to taite effect today, and that Mr J. K. Healau has been appointed to suc ceed him Messrs Freeman and Hea lau are both good citizens and thor ough business men. Mr Freeman’s long and good work in the office will lie followed by as good work by as faithful and efficient hands. Urutli of itu Infant. A month old infant, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mason Millwood, died at their home on Limestone street last Thurs day and was buried in the family lot In Oakland cemetery Friday. We extend sympathy to the bereaved parent*. LOST HIS GOOD JOB. George R. Koester Himself Tells the Story. CHARGES AGAINST HIM. I Ik Accused of Helping Lynch a Negro In tiUHtoa In IKIKI Which He Denlex -CIuIuih He Wan There hk si Reporter Says Roose velt stand* Hy Him. The following story, which might be entitled, “How I Lost a Good Jub,” appeared in Tbe Record In view of the collector’s approaching surrender of his office the story mak-s interes ting reading. A very active still hunt is being made for the position of collecter of internal revenue for the district of South Carolina, now held by Geo. R. Koester. A Record reporter asked Collector Koester this morning w hat was the status of his case. He said : “When the president makes an ap pointment during the time that con gress is not in session, that commis sion by its terms expires at the end of the next session of the seriate. WheD the senate meets, the president nominates his appointee to that body and. if it comfirms the n nination, a new commission is issued. “I was appointed on the 21st of last October, when congress was not in session, and have been in charge of the office since the 4th of Novem ber. The senate bus not confirmed my nomination, so when that body ad journs my commission expires and I go out of office that day. In case a new appointtee has not qualified and golton ready to take charge on that day, tne chief deputy collector as sumes charge as acting collector ai d carries oat the work of the office un til a new collector is appointed and takes charge. The procedure is the same as if the collector died ” “Then you will be out of office in a few days,” said the reporter. ‘ Yes,” replied the collector. “Even if the president should reappoint me. I would have to give up the office when the seriate adjourns and stay out until I had qualified under the new com mission.” ‘ Do you expect a reappointment?” ‘ No, I have not a;k d and do not expect a reappointment. My original appointment was wholy unsought by me. Neither I nor any friend of mine asked the president to bestow tbe office upon me. I bad no claims upon a republieian president and have none now, exeot an official re cord which will compare favorably with that of any internal revenue collector. During the time that 1 have been collector my office has been practically uniformly graded as No. 1 hy the treasury department. It is a record of which I am proud, but its credit I freely share with tile very ifficient deputies and clerk select! d by my predecessor and retained in office by myself. A better working force could nut be obtained.” • Why has the senate not confirmed you?” “When a man goes into politics he becomes a target for all kinds of at tacks. My nomination has been be fore the senate since last December, and but one charge has been made, that I took part in a lynching at Gas ton in 1893. If any tiling worse could have been said with any leasou, even though untrue, it would have been said, for my confirmation was fought by some men who hate me so bitterly they would not hesitate to lie to in jure me The charge that I took part in tbe Gaston lynching was first made by The State, whose hostility to me is well known. It was taken up by E H. Deas and some other negro politicians openly. The fact that tney were unable to prove tbe charge did not embarrass them at all. They thought they would be beard for their much speaking. They deluged the senate finance committee, to which my nomination was referred, with let ters protesting against my contirma tion on tbe ground that I was a lyncher. A regular campaign of op position was carried on, funds being furnished by personal enemies, aspi rants for my place, and other* who thought the policy involved in my ad ministration was a menace to their personal interests “The men fighting me got little or no encouragement in 8outh Carolina, for I could meet it here and prove the charge against me false, but I had neither the time nor means to meet the fight the conspirators incit ed against me throughout the north. Every northern colored citizen or pa per which could be reached was urged to protest against my appointment on the ground that I was a lyncher. In this wav the protest reached for midable proportions. The finance committee was deluged with protests, but no proof was furnished it, save of my innocence. “Briefly stated, the charge against me is that 1 helped hang and shoot two of the three negroes lynched at Gaston in 1893 To sustain that charge there is not a single sworn statement; not even a syllable which would be admitted as evidence in a trial justice court. Not a man swears he saw me pull a rope, lay a band on a negro who was lynched or shoot at one. It is asserted that I was a lyncher, that is all. An account of the lynobing which was written in The Register at the time was sub mitted us proof of the charge that I whs a lyncher, because therein is set forth bow I captured Tom Breston, one of the parties guilty of the pecu liarly atrocious crime which provoked the lynching. ‘•When the first cnarge was made. I wrote the president a letter. s«-tting fortli all the facts in the case. I ad mitted being at the lynching—as a renorter. I denied having taken part in it. I admitted capturing Preston, who was clearly guilty, but denied re sponsibility for his being lynched. I asserted I had protected Preston as fur as I could, and that, when it was found he was diseased, which added to the horror of his crime, at the risk of my life I saved him from being burned alive by threatening to put my pistol to his head and blow out his brains tbe moment the match was applied to tbe rosin brought to burn him. No power on earth ciuld have prevented his death, but as between being burned or shot, there can be uu question as to which w< 1 have been the more humane execution, and even the negro himself begged me to shoot him rather than let them burn him Those who condemn my capture of Preston take the indefensible ground that no matter how guilty a man is be could be allowed to escape if his capture is attended by riek of a sub sequent lynching. I have no apolo gies to make for what I did at Gaston. Holding the office J do or any other, under the^same circumstances I would repeat my conduct. “I did not rest my case on my own sworn statement. I substantiated it with sworn affidavits from 40 or more reputable citizens of Richland. Lex ington and Orangeburg counties. “They completely proved my inno cence. In my lerter to the president 1 said that if he was not satisfied of my innocence or if there was any thing in my conduct which he thought made me not the kind of man he would wish to hold office by his ap pointment, my resignation was at his disposal. He said to the world that my defense was satisfactory and that as far as he was concerned ibe inci dent was closed. “Tremendous pressure was brought to bear upon the president to have him withdraw my nomination, but he refused to do so. He said 1 was innocent and he would stand by me. 1 honor him for this. Such courage is rare in public men. When con gressmen and senators were urging him to drop me, he did not, though it would have been to his interest to do so. w hatever may be said of Theo dore Roosevelt, he is a man. “If the senate finance committee were composed of such men, my PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS. People Yon Know ami People You Don't K now Sheriff Thomas, went to Blacks burg this morning on official busi ness. T. B Logwood, of The Cherokee Critic, paid The Ledger a pleasant visit this morning. Misses Lucy a: d >tirah Carpenter, the bright little daughters of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Corpen.er are spending some time in Hpartmburg w.th their aunt, Mrs. J N. Cudd. Mr. and Mrs. \V. C. Carpenter went to Spartanburg Saturday to vis it relatives, and returned to the city yesterday morning. Lee Patrick, an all-round working fellow of W: kWisvilie. came up to the city Saturday. M. B Scruggs, Esq., of Ezells, one of Cherokee's most worthy citizens, paid The Ledger ao appreciated call yesterday. Black Scruggs, of Ezells, made a business trip to the city Saturday. John C. Painter, a farmer who farms, came over to the city Satur day. S. B. Vassy, of Thickety, is attend ing the summer school. He favored The Ledger with a visit yesterday. Jesse Jolly, of Ezells, spent some time in the city Saturday. Master Thomas K Vassy, a bright young Thickety boy who is attending the summer school, called to see The Ledger yesterday. M. M. Tate, a prominent citizen and planter of Webster, came up to the city Saturday on business. Miss Louise Sarratt is spending some time in Charlotte, N. C , with her uncle, Mr. L. L iSarratt. it aster Rowland Tate was an ap preciated juvenile Ledger visitor .Sat urday. Miss Nancy Thomoson, one of Gaff ney’s most charming and accom plished young ladies, has accepted a position as stenographer and type writer in Charlotte. N. C . and went yesterday to enter upon her duties. J. C. Thompson, oi S een City, was a city vietor 8i.t irday. Win. Nance, merchant and farmer of Grindal, made a business trip to the city Friday. Geo. W. Bonner, a prominent Grassy Pond farmer, favored The Ledger with a call Saturday. Moses Littlejohn, a sterling Gouch- er farmer, speui a short time in the city Friday W. N. Turner, n erchant and farm- nomination would have been prompt- | „ r of S(evy, was in the city Saturday ly given favorable report, which i afternoon. THE B. R. ASSOCIATION The Northem Dt-vlHlon Met Laxt Sntfla: at Dam. The convention of the north rn ii- vision of the Broad R'Ver Assudftion met at Beaver Dam church Saulay. Mr. K D Eiwardswas elected res ident and Mr Milton Ya-seywas elected secretary. Hon. R. 0.5ttr- ratt delivered an address on 8uday school work and the duty of Cris- tians towards the unsaved, espemlly to the young people Mr. 8antt’s address was to the point and w<- re ceived. A'fer Mr. isarratt’s adress the convention ei j >yed somefine music by the choir. Theu two iter- esting essajs were r-ad by Asses Bessie Davidson and Alice Ittv. After the essays the con vent iooronk a recess of ten minutes and t heiK-v. F. C. Hickson preached one c his strongest sermons on tnissions^fter which a collection was taken u and quite a good mission sum w* re alized. The convention then adjourrd for dinner and was soon enjoyir; the sumptuous feast prepared for *e oc casion by the good people of eaver Dam It was a feast and fullyip to the high standard which thes good people have established aodmain- taiued for many years After dinner all returned » the church where singing and otir de votional exercises were engaed in until a|reasonable hour,when te con- vention adjourned and all tb good people returned to their hom» feel ing better for having attended The next meeting of theconention will be held with Macedonia aurch. Mr Edwards is not a novi« as a presiding officer on such occaons by any means, and Sunday he irnressed us as a preeidir g officer of nusual carelulness and ability. C urd* of Thank*. Air. and Mrs. Mason Aliilwod ex tend heartfelt thanks »o nghbirs and friends for kind atteubu and sympathy in their recent berivmeut. Mr. and Mrs. Galvin Fosterand Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Lipscomb, wifl to ex press their sincere thanks o their triends for their untiring indness during the recent efll'ctiou n their family. I desire to express my pprecia- tion of favors shown me ind my family during recent misfortnes and ai-sure those who asGsted ie that I appreciate their ai i w t > a'l y heart. P L. Iylkk. would have secured confirmation. Pontius Pilate has been dead many centuries but his character is per- 1 petuated in those members of the finance committee who in private in- j terviews with me and my friends freely admitted my perfect innocence and yet refused to vindicate me by offi dal action on tbe ground that, though unjustly. I bad come to be j reg-.rded throughout the north as, the type and representative of>outh- ern lynchers and for a republican sen ate to confirm me would do the re i publican party harm, especially in those northern congressional districts w here t he negro vote is a factor. As I was innocent, they would not re port against me; bui, in the face of popular clamor, they had not the courage, like the president, to stand hy me, so my nomination was pigeon holed. They washed their hands and thought that absolved them f:om re sponsibility for my fate.” “What was rtenatur Tillman’s at titude?” “He did me more harm than Deas, The State or any one else who fought me. He dared not openly fight me on the only charge against me, for his lynching record is too well known. For instance, his action as governor in turning over to a mob to be lynch ed, an innocent negro w ho fl*-d to him for protection. He was too shrewd to weaken himself at home, for his success proves that a majority of the white voters of this State agree with him in favoring lynching as a punish ment for one crime, so, with charac teristic shrewdness, he made bis ‘ne gro in the sand’ and other violent speeches in the senate, even asserting that he favored lynching for rape, and then, in conversation with repub lican senators, would say he wanted me confirmed, that I was ‘his sort of a man,’ that I war a lyncher like him. and that he would vote for me. That cooked my goose. The republican senators did not want to expose them selves to taunts from him of having voted for a man he told them was a lyncher. They thought he would have them on the hip thereafter if they spoke against lynching or ob jected to bis advocacy of it. “The president could reappoint me, but I neither ask nor expect it. He bus done all that could be de manded of him by one having politi cal claims upon him, and far more than I had any right to expect.” “What are your plans after your retirement from tbe office of collec tor?” “I shall devote my time to my du ties as business manager of the Re cord Publishing companv. I will not displace Mr. Paul M. Brice as ed itor of the Record, a position he has been ably filling for several months.” ot SIot-klioldorM. The stockholders of the Limestone cotton mill held their annual meet ing in the office of the company in this ‘city on the 2<»th ult., and de clared a semi annual dividend of 34 per cent, and added quite a nice sum to the reserve fund Limestone is a new mill, is In fine working and financial condition and the above is cjnsidered by the stock- holders'as a very encouraging show ing. Its capacity will be doubled next year. James Shipper, a bright young man who of right In-longs to Gaffney but who iive.i in Spartanburg, whs among his friends in city Friday. F. L.'Brown, of Buffalo Mills, Union county, was in toe city the last of the week the guest of Mr and Mrs. Joe Gaffney. John K Brown, of Ravenna, one of Cherokee’s good citizens and hustling farmers, came over to tne city Satur day and paid The Ledger an appreci ated visit. L. 1). Brown, of Goucber, came over to the city Friday on business t »ur old frien i 0. P. Laveuch r, of Kiris. N- C., w ,. visit!:.g relatives in thr city Saturdiy and paid The L d- gcr a w elcome call. Our old friend “Uncle” Jonathan Mocre is in the city visiting relatives. He paid The L J dg- r an appreciated v si yesterday. Eugene Bla k of Grassy Pond, Cherokee’s foremost boy milkman and chicken raiser, was in the city Saturday selling chickens and butter. The many friends o» * L ucie” Jesse Nance were pleased to see him in the city Friday. He is a citizen who Das been faithful on all occasions, both in war and in peace. Mr. and Aire. Geo. A. Turner were welcome visitors in our city last Saturday and Sunday. They were the guests of Mr. and Mrs *V. B. Gettys on Logan street. Mr. and Airs. T. A Blanton, from Centerview, were shopping in the city last Friday. W\ B. Gettys went to Shelby last week on business. Malcolm Goudelock visited friends near Asbury Sunday. Dr. J. F. Garrett spent the last of the week in Kings Mountain, N. C., on professional business Jeff Sparks visited relatives and friends at Asbury Sunday. L W. Cooper, a prominent con tractor of Charlotte. N C., is in the city on business. He favored The Ledger with a cal) yesterday. G. W. Spear, E-q , spent Sunday with friends in Blacksburg. Miss Eunice Peeler is taking a va cation. Miss Lillian Wood is in Shelby, N. C., visiting her sister, Airs. George Blautoo. W. W. Walker, of Tbe Cherokee Critic, is io tbe city and called on The Ledger this morning. Miss Mattie Davis, of Landrum is in the city visiting her brother, Mr. Charles Davis. John Gibbons, a bright boy from ov^rthe Broad,was in the city yester day on business. ABssCairie Robertson, is visiting friends and relatives in Spartanburg and Gret-nville. Mrs. N. Lipscomb, left for tbe Mountains this morning. 8he will spend some time at Waynesvilie and utber points of interest. J. D. Jefferies, Jr , a prominent farmer of Asbury, was a city visitor yesterday. Hon. J. C. Jefferies, spent some time in the city yesterday. Why? Why have a vacant house on your hands/when a Ledger for rent ad. will rent, ft ? Why let your unused rooms remain empty when a Ledger to let ad. will fill them? H Lost Mai’s :: H :: By Anna KatharineQreen j A Marvelous Detective Stry FASCINATING HYSTERICS S'RONG Soon to Appar in this Paper Anna Katharine reen, the author of “The Ltvenworth Case," needs no production to fiction lovers. Si has made a reputation that uts her in the list of the stronest writers of the day. Cur mders have a decided treat in ore, in this her latest work, wich has all the characteristic that have made her other sides famous. Be Sure to Otch jttie First Chafers This thrilling stry will com mence in our issie of Friday July 4th. « i-yx i'i*; M-: >i'r OF TH - flerchants and Fanters Bank < >i' c>»» i tv*cv. s-c. At tliv i-loHt- of i)u*in<s .1 uut* .'mill. IlMtl. HKKOl'KKS: I,onus mid DUi'oiiim* . . .$l0i,IS7 til Overdraft* 087 74 Furniture and Fixfuret l*> 4ti hut-from Hank* mid rdi 011 limul , .’n.7nn •> jlMi.lkil Ml* 1.1A III I. 11> : Capital Ktni-k 1? jn.utNi in Karpiuk. 4,mm uu FiKlividt-d 1*01111*. less tpi-iisi-kuiid 1.1 see paid 1,018 00 Deposit*. (ludlvlduuUi. |Ki,4&’ .V.' I>u»- Hank* ti.iiKl 4* ir.’.llti u; ItcdlM'tiuniH :c>.jtm in liNi.ttu in State ok Socth i amihaa. i ('ouuly uf 1 lieniktt 1 I, <M. Sruitii ru*lir of the abovt* nuined bank, till andeuilliy -ear lh.lt the alMiVe MliiU-Mioiii 1* true to ll lie*! of of my knowl- edK*' and lie lief. C. M. Smith. Sworn to hefoje In thi* the Ik th day of June, lim.’. JAMr A. W||,|, a. (|„ H ) Notary Public, Correct; utle*l. A N. Wool*, 1 J. U. LiVTI.E, Idreetor*. It A.f Jon ex. I