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Cfje ?fotoertiaer I Subscription Price Is $1.00 per Year Payable In Advance. S. K. BON KY, Editor. Published hy ADVERTISE It PIUNTIXCi COMPANY Laurcns, s. ('. Advertising Hales <>n Application. Obituaries and Card of thanks: One cent u word. Entered at the postofltcc at Laurcns, S. ('. as second class mail matter. lachens, S. c. january 111. 1010. tin: fire department. just criticism often assists in lo cating weak points ami finally results in a betterment of conditions. Some times jus' criticism is taken for a personal thrust; this, however, only by those whose view is limited by ov er-sonsitiveness, or by the imputing of motive, that do not exist. It is e. Idence of strength that a man can bear just criticism. [.aureus has a 111-** department com posed of fifteen men; it lias regularly elected officers. The members respond! at the alarm of lire; they meet the hose wagon at the seem- of the lire. As compensation for their work they are exempted from street tax small pay; j in fact, pay not at all commensurate with the work or responsibility. The company has not hail a meeting re- j cently; they have no' practiced in a long while. The city has provided no quarters for firemen: it merely keeps tin- horses, Lose wagon, and ' their keeper. Any city the size of Laurcns should, have a well organized departn nt. and quarters for the firemen . Indt e-. mcnts should he offered by the city: the company, by constant practices, s!:< uld he well trained. The small tow us of Union and Greenwood have excellent departments and even in Xewbcrry where they are no: suppos ed to know very m uh about modern methods, there is a well organized, company, if our Information is cor net the fire insurance rates in Green wood have been very much reduced since the organization of their depart ment. The fire department of I.aureus ma: have been all right for two years ago. but times change and the < ity Is grow- j ing. if we hold on to the methods of yesterday we make no progress. But It seems that we have rather gone backward. Some two years ago the company here had regular practices and drills; they devoted some work: to learning the art of fire lighting This has been abandoned in spite of | the growth of the city and the conse quent demand for a more efllcient com pany. Any one who knows anything at all about the work of a fire depart ment knows that practices and drills are necessaary to keep the company in good order and training. Now the point is this: If the city has gone to the expense of providing and keeping an outfit, horses, wagon ami hose, why not go a little further and assist the department in making It self a more effective organization? Why not provide quarters near the place where the hose wagon is kept, for at least four firemen to sleep Where they may be on band when the alarm is given. There should be at least four men on the wagon when it leaves headquarters, who when the tire is reached, can manipulate the liose. nozzles etc. If they are not there, excited citizens "grab" right and loft at everything in sight and pande monium reigns. Trained firemen, who have practiced, are not excited, and if let alone by the citizens, can do more work than a thousand untrained men. Thero is something in the art of fighting fire. Ask the trained fireman. It takes time and work to become a fire fighter. Some people are altogeth er unfit to be firemen; they are con stitutionally unfit; a good chief soon learns the men in his charge and knows who are capable of the work. A church building burned up in this city last year. The fire occurred in broad daylight. The company respond ed faithfully but after reaching the grounds was almost helpless and cer tainly very ineffective. Rotten hose was partly blamable for the confusion; lack of a strong organization played a part. fiooner or later Laurcns will have i n department that works under strict orders, that practices at regular Inter vals, that Is equipped to cope with any situation and that is paid something for Its work. It may be that this will not come until thousands of dollars worth of property has gono up in flames, but it will como some time. The wise course Is to provide before hand and prevent a calamity. The men who compose tb? enmnany need only the authority and a??d?dance from Iho cjtv cremen Tho e|ty "nuncll ??? t^e guardian of the people's Interests has it in its puw er to grant the authority and provide the means. ? ? ? "FHEE" PASSES.' Says the Newberry Observer of last Friday: "With a free puss in his pock et, is the editor on the side of the rail loads or the people"? This ques tion evidently means that our contem porary disapproves tho practice of newspaper men accepting "free" pass es from tho railroad; also that the in terests of the railroads and the peo ple are not indentieal, but are rather opposed to each other. The Observ er is entitled to its view on the sub ject and If it cannot conscientiously accept passes from the railroads with out being influenced thereby, then, by all mean-, it should eschow the prac tice. Hut the question arises; "Is It a free pass"? The Advertiser signs a writ ten contract with the railroads for so much advertising space, for which the road is to pay in the form of passes for transportation. The Advertiser pays for its passes: they are not free. Some newspapers advertise for a chit hing house and accept a suit of clothes In payment of tho bill; the suit is Dot a gift. 0!S every band one hears the expression: "Oh, be gets in on a free pass". It is no such thing, t's paid for. Only a short while ago. some one remarked that The Advertiser reporter should not criticize the shows that come to the local "opry house." be cause he Is given a "free" pass. No such thing: Tho Advertiser pays for his admission to these shows, in the same manner that it pays for railroad passes. We do m t know The Observ er's views oil this phase of the pass subject. There is another point In The Ob server's paragraph: tho interests of the railroads ns opposed to those of the people. We admit that there t r< times and occasions when the two come in conflict, but hot so often a. the loud-mouthed demagogtn s, social ists and rampant politicians would make believe. In such matters it is a pretty sorry paper that cannot sepa rate itself from its "free" pass and de liver an honest opinion. Will a rail road withdraw a pass from a news;,a-: per in which there Is just and honest criticism? We hardly think so: such; a course has never come under our observation. The Observer surely does not think j that the majority of the press of South Carolina are subsidized by the rail roads and bought up with "free" pass- \ es. ? ? ? TO OCR DELEG iTIOX. Gentlemen of the Laurens delega tion: you are representing in the gen eral assembly of South Carolina the Interests of the people of this county. While it will be impossible for you to represent the individual wishes of every voter, it is not wholly impossi ble for you to care for the interests of the majority. The expressed wish es of the majority are not always the interests of the majority: sometimes people do not know what they want, nor what they need. Sometimes they know but are too disinterested to ex press their needs or wishes. A pub lic vote or expression is never given on all matters. Hence, the represent ative is not always informed by pub lic expression as to what the needs of his people are. In fact, sifted down, this matter of platforms etc. does not amount to so much in the case of the legislator. Conditions arise that were unseen ?it the time of his election, compro mises are offered, new matters come up, upon which he did not express himself in t'ie Campaign and upon which th" people did not pass. After all. the legislator goes to the general assembly with bands, almost. If not entirely free; be is loft to act upon his own discretion. He is at the same time the servant of the people and their loader. That condition is not impossible; it is. in reality the true condition. Whether or not you have been In structed as to any particular action, we know not; we think not. There fore, the people of Laurens have given you carte blanche to do for them what will serve them best. Do you know what they want? Have you had your ears to the ground? Have yon stud led conditions about you, since your people honored you with the oflieo you now occupy? Did you go to Colum bia prepared and equipped to do some thing for your people, or merely to occupy your seat wdien you were bo disposed and to draw your salary? There are some matters In this county that need attention. Will you give It? Thero are some things that the people ought to have. Are you going to provide means of getting them? In other words, are you pro vided with the proper Information and possessed of sufficient power and force to servo the people you repre sent? The people are waiting to see. ? ? ? A POOIt SCGOF.STTOX. One of the weakest points in Gov ernor Ansel's message to the general assembly was his timorously express ed belief that another election on the whiskey question be held In the five ? counties that voted last August to retain their dispensaries. It wau a poor effort to preserve his local op tion platform. The general assem bly will scarcely any such mea sure. The governor himself says that the elections in all the countless were fair and a true expression of the people's will. Then why. at the great cost it will entail, hold another election so soon? if some years had elapsed and there was proof thai a change os sent iment had been effected in these count ies. such a recommendation might have been of value and would have carried some weight. Governor Ansel says that the sug-1 gestio:? was in the interest of temper ance. While we believe that the gov ernor is perfectly sincere in his inten tion and is. in addition, a consistent prohibitionist, the carrying out of his suggestion would work no good for the cause of temperance. There seems to be no question, at least in this part of the stau- that the abolishing of dispensaries promotes temperance: therefore, to abolish the dispensaries in the live counties now having them, would be in the interest of temper ance. How to do it? Certainly not by the methol sis gested by the governor, for it wo.lid ' be ineffectual. The end is obtainable by two means: pass a statewide pro hlbitlon law. or order a general dec- | tioil oil tlie question of ?tat: vide prohibition. To have roco'nmeu.lod either of these two would have been "In the interest of temperance'*. Whether or not the legislature will pass the statewide law or whether it will onier an election remains to be seen: we have no idea the suggestion by the governor on this matter will be followed. ? ? ? FMTOliS AM) OPINION'S. In the large cities of this country, editorial utterances by any of the big liewsprti ;s r.re Considered as expres sions from that paper, not as the vie ws o! any one man or even set of men: they are altogether impersonal, the views of some agency, not those of ;?- mere man. The reasons for this are because the intricate workings of a big daily and the vast number of men employed in its making obscure the individual, and in the second place because the editorial writers do not comr- in ellreet contact with the peo ple. Very different it is in the smaller towns, and even in cities the size of Charleston and Columbia. In read ing the editorial page of The State, one so often hears the remark: "See what Oonzales lias to say about this;" or in The News and Courier: "See what Hemphill says." This is true in even greater degree i:t the little towns a inong the County newspapers. The people of these towns come in daily contact with the editor, know him, know what he is about, or what his neighbors says be is about, are aware of the workings of his paper, and so on. Hence, when some item appears in the county paper they say: "Look what that d-f- is doing; that? ?wrote this" and such comments. These writings are looked upon as the personal views of the e.l'or. T' ere are few people who believe ira; a mere man. an editor, ca*i scparato himself from himself, t?!:o lino Con sideration the paper In ii editing, with a full realization of the puipcse lie is endeavoring to s.?rve in the world, and write unbiased a:iti imper sonal opinions. .lust a few days ago some one said: "I don't like the editorials in t-nt pa per, but since they are the personal views of the editor I accord him the right to his views and read tho news regardless of the editorial opinion}!" That Is the wrong view. An edP p* who writes just those things in whlf.'l he has a personal interest, confines himself to his own views, without re gard for paper he is publishing, for the public he is serving and for the many influences that should hear upon him, is very much limited In his sphere. A newspaper should stand for beliefs. This does not mean that the editorial page of the paper should be a reflection of public opinion; It should be that no more than it sheiultl be the personal opinion of the editor himself. Some people are always ready to impute personal bias or ?.;>!?"!! to an editor when opinions arc rendered. They might benefit their condition (,f mind a little by remembering that with a self-respecting newspaper its edi torial utterances are the expressions of the paper and not the personal views of the editor. ? ? ? TIIK STATE'S FINANCES. Governor Ansel renews his recom mendation that means be provided by which the state may be put on a cash basis. This has been his desire since he has been in office; tho legislature has failed to act upon his suggestion. They will scarcely do so at this term, for tho coiling fall Is election time and members of the general assembly really do not like to go before their constituents, upon whom they have voted another tax. That's human. And then it is pointed out ihat such a business concern as the state should not be on a cash basis. Sonic of the newspapors argue that the legislature would Ret too extravagant ft there | was money in the treasury. Tliat is really an insult to the august tody, since it likens it to the small boy who will upend his money recklessly so long aa it lasts, and then he economi cal and business-like when it is till gone. Ah a matter of fact, it would be a better working basis for die leg islature. With tin* debts of tli*^ past year paid, and no interest to provide for on borrowing, and a knowledge of what the tax returns would be. their appropriations would perforce be wiser. And why should tlu? state have to pay thousands upon thous ands of dollars every year as Interest upon money borrowed, is it econo my? A small tax. such a one recommend ed by the governor, will put the state on a Arm financial basis within a few years, and it will not work a hard ship on the taxpayers. ? ? ? So the Manning Times woul I make the governor's office a kind ?>f reward for service, somewhat on too \> ^ii?!o that presidents of the l'n't? I States were elected for their military servlo. There's something in the ide;i of pro motion: somo ofllcers deserve it. But. some good coroners would make Utter failures as clerks of court. Better keep them in the coroner's oflNe. ? ? ? Laurens has the best military com pany in the state: it could, if it would, have a lire company befitting its size and in proportion to the amount of property. ? ? ? South Carolina will lose a citizen of worth and note when .Major Jas. C. Hemphlll of Charleston moves to Rich mond next month, and the newspaper fratemit\ will sustain the loss of cue of its strongest members. Major Hemp hill has had a great part in the work of creating and sustaining high-toned, honorable and decent sentiment in South Carolina. ? ? ? Laurens should put hor best foot forward when the South Carol Ina Med? leal society meets lure in April: and. she will do it. By the way. w? wonder if the school auditorium will l>? offered for the holding of some of the meet ings. ? * ? A headline In the Augusta Herald is: "An Atlanta man Blown to Pieces". Too much gas! Atlanta spirit: We knew it was bound to happen some time. ? * ? So the "honorables' don't like the Columbia water; they must have Glenn Springs water, during their forty days stay in the capital city. Of course they ought to have it. and the state does right in paying the bill. Fact Is. they ought to be supplied with sandwiches and cigaris. and the state should furnish the peanuts they eat during the sittings of the august body. What's a mere $')O0 or a $1.000. when we think of comforts for our law makers. ? ? ? At home some of them drink spring water out of a gourd, but that does not matter; they're off on a vacation now. Let em have a good time. ? * ? Of all sad words Ever writ; The saddest are ' Please remit. ? ? * Neither in nor near Laurens is there a Pike's Peak: but right here in the city there are Pike, Pick and Pack. So what's the odds. ? * C SOCIAL AM) PERS3NAL. \ ? * ?. f k? M M *? *.h *???? t-ft*** The Fortnightly soc ial club was de lightfully entertained Thursday after noon by Mrs. \V. II. Anderson sit her home in South I.aureus, there being something over thirty guests present. The halls and parlor, in which the guests were received and in which were tables for "nations," were beauti fully hung in holly and Ivy, While there was a profusion of ferns and pot plants about the rooms. After cards. a deli cious salad course with coffee was , served. coo On last Friday afternoon, the Henry Laurens chapter. Daughters of the American Revolution mot with Mrs. It. T. Dunlap at her elegant home on South Harper street. A fu r the roll call with responses in quotations from Revolutionary writers, the loading of the minutes, and the reports of of llcers, eight members were received into the chapter. A very interesting paiicr was read by Mrs. Brooks SwygGrt on "Paniella Cunlngbara," the founder of the Mt. Vernon chapter. This sketch was e | peclally interesting to the ladies of Laurens since Pamella Cuninghum was a natve of Laurens county. Misses I ?iura Barksdale read an excellent pa per on a "Pilgrimage to Mt. Vernon," full of Interesting facts c onnected wii.ii the home of Washington. After the business session, Mrs. Dunlap served delightful refreshments. The new members resolved Friday were: Mrs. Caroline Irh?y, Mrs. W. P. Chlldress, Miss Julia Ir*>y. Miss Olyn thia Jones, Miss Julia YTacfarlnn, Miss WIIIOU Gray, Miss Emily Meng and Mi s Mai y Slmpsln. Come nnt and see wliot the North Lauren* Realty Co. Is doing for yon. Von can select >our lot now and fix the price on day of sate with the auctioneer. I LOCAL AND PERSONAL MENTION. | j Mr. H. I>. Henry of (Tinton wa* In the city yesterday. Mr. O. B. Taylor and Miss Sudfe Medlock of the Harmony church sec tion spont yesterday and last night in the city. Uov. J. K. McCain of Gray Court visited in the city several days during the past week. Rev. A. T. Jamleson, superintend ent of Connie Maxwell orphanage, and Dr. W. J. L?ngsten of Conwny, aere in the city for a few hours last Friday. Mrs. Annie L. Washington of Green ville was a visitor in the eity on Mon day and Tuesday of this week. In just a few minutes Monday morn ing Superintendent Pitts secured over $1". to purchase the gold medal for the declaimers' contest to b.> held In this city on Aprll 22nd. Messrs J. IV Watts and J. \V Fer guson went to Columbia Saturday on business; while there tluy took ad vantage of the opportunity to see the ?Merry Widow." Mr. J. L. Mahaffey of Eden was in the city yesterday. Mr. B. C. Burns of Barksdale was among the visitors in the city last week. Rev. J. M. Shell is somewhat im proved in condition this week. Messrs Frank E. Donald and Frank W. Henderson are attending the busi ness college In Augusta. Messrs (\ H Hicks and Warren Holt went to Atlanta yesterday afternoon on business. Mrs. W. B. Lucas and Dr. B. S. Lu cas went t<> Baltimore last Sunday. It is an up-to-date camp those sur veyors have out near Watts mills. Clerk of Court .ino. F. Holt went to Columbia Saturday afternoon on offi cial business connected with the bondsmen for Mr. .lohn V. Garllngton and Mr. J. Stobo Young. Royal Ireh Masons Banquet. Last night at the armory, the Ris ing Sun chapter. Royal Arch Masons met. about one hundred and fifty strong around the banquet board. In company with the Masons were their wives, sisters and friends, in all form ing one of the jollies! most distin guished gatherings of the kind ever held In Laurens. Mr. Ceo. T. Bryan of Greenville was master of core monies ill the absence of Mr. It. A. Cooper. The banquet was served by the King's Daughters. Ware Shoals Red Men. Ettawah tribe, number IS. Improved Order of Red Men. of Ware Shoals met January 13th. and elected the follow ing officers for the current term: W. A. Hughes, prophet; Ceo. H. Wlllison, sachem; John I. Jackson, senior sag amore; C. 0. Clasaly, junior saga more; H, J. Mattison, guard of forest; B. B. Bell, chief of records; and J. L Young, keeper of wampum. I OUR SPECIAL NOTICES. & For Sale?128 acre farm with dwell ing, tenant house and other improve ments, located 2 miles east of Reedy River Power company and known as the Cunningham place. Price $25 per acre. Andrew C. Phillips, Lam ens, R. P. 1). No. G. 4t Notice -Did you know there was an up-to-date wood yard in the city? if not phone '-'W. Eichelberger Bros. Notice?-We have several thousand dollars of home money to loan on real estate. Apply ^ Ferguson & Featherstone, Lau reuses. C. 2;!-:;t Notice?-We boII the best lime for $1.00 per barrel. Eichelborger Bros. For Sale?Shepherd pups (dogs) months old at $5.00 each; Toulouse Geese at $5.00 per pair. M. R. L. Po den, Fountain Inn. Route 1. Notice We handle all our coal with forks, impossible for you to get any thing but clean lump coal. Eichel berger Bros. Notice Any one wanting dirt for lining purposes apply to J. s. Machen at J. S. Machen Ai Co., warehouse. Laurens, 8. C. 21-21 Notice Don't go otll in the cold to hunt a dray just phone :'.'5. Eichel berger Bros. I am heady to treat your horses and mules as well as cows. Charagcs very resonnblo. IL B. Grltton, Horse and mule specialist, Laurons, S. C. 21-f.t For Sale. Splendid largo bay horse, 7 years old. mahogany bay. and all O. K. Also several offices and rooms to rent. Apply to Dr. W. II. Dial. For Sale. Four pairs of pea fowls; tin - birds. $3.00 a pair. Carroll Brown Laurens, Route 5. It Wanted.?ion salesmen in southern ?dates to sell fruit trees. Kasy terms, 'rice right. Write today to Upson '.'urseries, Yatesville, Ca. 25-H For Sale. Ono Cyphers model Incu bator, 1 -tO egg capacity and good as new. cost $22.no will sell for $l.r>.00. It Is too large for my needs. Also one very tine white Plymouth Rock cocker el, $:1.00, ten hens and pullets, $1.50 eacli and fifteen white Leghorn pul lets, $1.00 each. A few settings of white Plymouth Rock and white Lok born eggs from heavy laying stock, $1.00 per 16. A. C. Haskell Jr., Lau rens, 8. C. It For Sale?A first class lot of fine young mules for sale at reasonable prices and on good terms. Apply to w. ' Gray, Qroy Court, s. c. it For Good Groceries Always fresh and clean See us. It is our purpose to offer nothing that is not the best in quality, and onr prices are always right. See us for Flour See us for Coffee See us for Sugar ?See us for Canned (ioods See us for anything^you need in the grocery line. J. W. Payne & Co. The Cash Grocers. Dial?Gray Block. Your Money's Worth Let us sell you a Blounts Lister Plow. Make Farming a Pleasure. We have a big- stock of Goods on hand that were j purchased before the ad-! vanee in prices and are able and ready to supply ! your wants. We sell Henry Clay Flour the highest patent flour made, the kind that satis fies. Every sack guaran teed. We have now in the store and to be shipped la ter several hundred bar rels of best patent flour, Copyright or White Satin and best second patent flour Nondyke or White Rose._ A large stock of choice heavy Red Rust Proof Oats for Spring sowing. We are headquarters for Corn, Hay, Feed Oats and Corn Meal. Feed your cows and fatten your hogs, Cotton Seed Meal, Bran and Shorts, Mill Feed, and Rice Flour, J. H. SULLIVAN Laurens, S. C. "Running on HOWARD time" ?the highest praise the "old man" can give. The new How A an Special Railroad Dial has numerals for every minute from i to 60 around the dial. A glance tells the number of minutes past the hour. Lot in rIioW Tf>n tho TTovmri, W.iteh, I'llVO/teeti l>j- priUUMl licKcl? Mo loW'30. FLEMING BROS. What about protect your property against loss by fire. We have as good as the best in the way of Insurance. Laurens Fire In surance Agency C. W. McCRAVY, Mgr.