Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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t Cl •* • • \ « artnidt »• Senator Robinson Makes Reply To “Puzzled Voter” Editor McCormick Messenger: If you will indulge me I will en deavor to give to “Puzzled Voter” such information as I may have with reference to the Chain Gang and any other county matter. I wish to call attention to a fact that sems to have been over looked in these discussions, and it is this; The Legislative Delegation only makes the appropriations and places around it the necessary safeguards for its proper expend iture. When this is done their authority and their responsibility ends. If the funds are not prop erly spent, it is the province of the Grand Jury or any citizen and taxpayer to investigate it. All moneys coming to the coun ty for county purposes is turned over to the county Treasurer, and by him paid out only upon the warrant of the Board of County Commissioners, and before this warrant is issued a statement must be filed with said Board, itemized and sworn to showing exactly yrtiat the claim represents. Every warrant issued by the Board is on file in the Treasurer’s office and every itemized statement for which the warrant was issued is on file in the Supervisor’s office, and any citizen of the county has the absolute right to demand them for examination. Several weeks ago a mass meet ing of the citizens voted to abolish the Chain Gang. The Grand Jury was present and a committee from that honorable body was appoint ed to investigate the matter. For their guidance an auditor was en gaged to segregate the accounts of the Supervisor’s office. This has been done and a very comprehen sive report has been made. A copy of this report has been filed with the foreman of the Grand Jury, a copy with the Clerk of Court as a permanent file, a copy with the Supervisor and a copy with the Legislative Delegation. This re port shows the exact amount spent for Chain Gang salaries for the past three years together with the amount spent monthly for upkeep such as Gas and Oil, Groceries, Tobacco, Fresh Meat, .Vegetables, etc. From it may be had every item of expense during the time covered ,and I respectfully refer this statement to any one inter- “Puzzled Voter” asks for figures and I have directed him where to find them. I am not going to ask the Messenger to print statements of county affairs unless they are paid for, and there is no appro priation for this purpose at this time. I am willing at all times to give to the citizens of McCormick coun ty all the information that I may have about county affairs, but it is not my purpose to again reply to an anonymous letter. Yours very respectfully, F. C. ROBINSON. X 7.548 Bales Cotton Ginned In County x From 1929 Crop Department of Commerce Bureau of the Census Washington. D. C„ January 23. 1930. Mr. Austin Abercrombie, McCormick, S. C. Dear Sir: The tabulation of the card re ports shows telegraph summary to be correct. There were 7,548 bales of cotton, counting round as half bales ginned in McCormick Coun ty from the crop of 1^29 prior to January 16, 1930, as compared with 6.083 bales ginned to January 16, 1929. You will please furnish these totals to all newspapers in your district, being careful not to dis criminate in favor of any of them. Very respectfully, W. M. STEUART, . - Director. ‘ txt rpj^g follow who is always looking for a place to light, seldom makes H good landing* sran GRAVES RAKES SORE OBSERVATIONS SI1BRI1S CORPARATIVE STATERENT Editor Messenger: No attention should ever be paid to any article published in a news paper where the author is so ashamed of his article or two cow ardly to sign his name. However, since our county newspaper (which has prospered for years upon ex- horbitant and illegal charges for public printing, and which is now chafing under a discontinuance of this printing by the county, and public waste into the coffers of this newspaper) has seen fit to give front page publicity to an article under box car headlines, which article, if not libelous, is in crit icism of the officers of McCormick County it might be well for us to make a few observations. “Puzzled Voter,” in your last is sue, does not apper to be so “puz zled” as he is ignorant and cow ardly. He criticizes the grand jury of 1929, for its investigation and action upon the advisability of re- tainnig or abolishing the chain gang in McCormick County. The grand jury of McCormick County, like that of every other county in the State, is a judicial body of men who are charged by law, and in structed by every presiding judge, to make investigations as to their respective county affairs, including the schools, county officers, jails, chain gangs, roads, bridges, poor, etc. etc. The Grand Jury of Mc Cormick County for 1929, was re garded, and I still regard them", as an honorable set of men who were neither ashamed of what they did nor two cowardly to meet “Puzzled Voter” in the open and back up what they did. It is not my pur pose nor is it even lawful for “Puz zled Voter” to inquire into the rea son prompting the "grand jury of 1929, in any of its actions, and that grand jury of 1929, or of any other year, is not ameanable to the ig norance of “Puzzled Voter” or any one else. There is an old saying that “There is none so blind but those who will not see.” During the last election the good people of Mc Cormick County signally honored • me by electing me Supervisor over three opponents who were as good men as there were in the county and C. C. Morgan, R. N. Edmunds and I constitute the County Board of Commissioners for McCormick County. This board is created by law and we have as Clerk of Board as provided by law, Mr. J. O. Pat terson, who attends to the keep ing of the books and records of the office for the edification and en- lightment of “Puzzled Voter” and we want to say that the records of the office of the Supervisor and County Board of Commissioners are pubic records and open at all reasonable times for the inspec tion of “Puzzled Voter” and any one else who might desire to ac quaint themselves with these rec ords so that they might inform themselves correctly and not cir culate false statements either through ignorance or with a mal icious intent. These records are not only open to the inspection of Senator Robinson, but to every one who might be interested and who would prefer telling the truth to circulating false rumors. No funds have been appropriat ed for the use of the County Board of Commissioners with which to pay for publishing detailed state ments of expenditures, (and it is very doubtful if these were pub lished that they would be read by two dozen people in the County) i and it is almost certain that such a statement would not be read by one-half as many people as have read the libelous criticism of “Puz zled Voter” in criticism of the of ficers he swore to support. If, how ever, the money is appropriated for publishing such a statement in the newspaper, it might interest “Puzzled Voter” and the few others of his ilk to also have published a list of the delinquent tax payers of the County, as this might give “Puzzled Voter,” “Citizen,” and a few other gossipers food to think about and a good pasture to fin ish out the winter on. Now, in conclusion, let me say: \ No good can come out of all of these newspaper articles. McCor mick County has been hard hit. We have bonded ourselves to build the roads we wanted when the movement was on foot to organize the county. We have ben visited by floods of rain, bridges have been washed away, farming con ditions are not what they were when the County was organized. Taxes are high and the way ahead for a while appears gloomy. Some of us still have faith that there is a silver lining and that the dark est hour has past. We do not need criticism of our very best efforts. We need the assistance and the co-operation of every man, woman and child in the county to help us overcome the difficulties through which we are passing. We are do ing the very best we can and when we have done that, the angels can do no more. Respectfully, W. O. GRAVES, Supervisor McCormick County, S. C. Comparative statement of ex penditures of the Supervisor’s Of fice last three years of J. H. Lyon’s administration and the last three years of W. O. Graves’ administra tion, prepared by T. L. Edmunds and T. J. Sibert. Copies of following statement filed with the Clerk of Court, with the County Delegation and in the office of the Supervisor: J. H. LYON, Supervisor RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS FOR THREE YEARSY^ RECEIPTS 1920 Supply Bill. Cross County Roads and Bridges $30,000.00 Emergency Bridge Fund 7,000.00 1921-Supply Bill. Cross County Roads and Bridges 30,000.00 Emergency Bridge Fund 7,000.00 1922 Supply Bill. Cross County Roads and Brides 25,000.00 Total Receipts for Three Years $99,000.00 DISBURSEMENTS Bridges let by Contract $14,301.60 Machinery, Hardware and Repairs 27,856.45 Gasoline and Oil" 12,439.88 Mule Feed 6,224.46 Shoes, Clothing and Camp Equipment — 2,125.36 Salaries a 11,287.96 Lumber 6,323.07 Rent on Auto 96.45 Extra Road and Bridge Work 3,884.95 Tobacco 402.77 Medical Supplies 526.34 Groceries $5,891.37 Vegetables 173.67 Fresh Meats 275.61 Fish 4.00 Chickens 39.50 Eggs 85.33 Butter 114.20 Milk 10.60 Total Groceries $ 6,594.28 Total Disbursements for Three Years §92,063.57 W. O. GRAVES, Supervisor ^ ‘’"" RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS FOR THREE YEARS: RECEIPTS '9 - • 1926 Miscellaneous Receipts Three Months. Gasoline Tax $ 2,297.94 Fines and Lincenses 420.31 1927 Supply BiU. $2,718.25 Cross County Roads and Bridges 18,000.00 Road Tax — „ 1,279.00 Gasoline Tax 9,494.87 Fines and Licenses 726.76 1928 Supply BiH $29,500.63 Cross. County Roads and Bridges 18,000.00 * Road Tax 1,448.90 Gasoline Tax 4,140.11 Fines and Licenses 396.13 1929 Supply Bill $23,984.14 Cross County Roads and Bridges 15,000.00 Road Tax 1,277.00 Gasoline Tax 2,387.02 Fines and Licenses 330.87 Total Receipts for Three Years , DISBURSEMENTS Machinery, Hardware and Repairs $17,350.87 Lumber 9,605.39 Extra Road and Bridge Work 5,986.72 Shoes, Clothing and Camp Equipment __ 2,593.11 Salaries- : 12,599.00 Gasoline and Oil 14,257.59 Mule Feed 537.78 Top Soil - 2,175.39 Tobacco 808.58 Medical Supplies 426.80 Groceries $6,029.44 Vegetables 227.26 Fresh Meats 308.95 Milk 134.00 Butter 51.10 Eggs 7.03 Total Groceries - S 6,757.78 Total Disbursements for Three Years §73,099.01 $18,994.89 $75,197.90 Editor’s Note To Mr. Graves’ Article (Editor’s Note:)—While not at tempting to defend any corres pondent that has made inquiry concerning the affairs of the coun ty through our columns, we think that Mr. Graves will find upon a careful perusal of the inquiries re garding the chain gang, during the past several weeks that in no in stance was he called upon by them to make a statement, however, he is welcome to the space he is using. The paper is not responsible for the views of correspondents, and has filled only the position as pub lisher of these articles, and is not in position to offer any advice as to the advisability of discontinuing the chain gang or tell the officers or people how to run the county. I neither wrote, dictated nor solicited any of these articles. However, the paper is vitally inter ested in the welfare of the county and has done its level best for the advancement of this section of the State since its establishment here in 1902, and has contributed hund reds and ds of columns of space to the cause of organizing the county and then in helping carry on since its formation. The publishers put forth their best ef forts in the cause—and it was gratis—free . The advertising the paper has done for the county was ordered by the supervisor’s office and I ; think you will find authorized in ; each year’s supply bill. There are several forms of printing done in i this office that take a higher rate ! than yours and some advertising matter which is decidedly more profitable to the publisher. How ever, I haven’t seen all that pros perity you speak of, and two, three or four hundred dollars’ worth of county business annually would hardly bring about such a wave. Last year it was less than half the usual amount, still that was one of the paper’s best years, not withstanding the fact that it was also an off year in politics. The clauses in parenthesis and black type in the Mr. Graves’ art icle were marked through on the copy with a pen »but inasmuch as they are visible and refer to the paper we are letting them come on too. Mr. Graves must have been looking at the poultry car adver tisement when he made reference to the box car heading over “Puz zled Voter’s” article. We used our regular size type for the headline and it wasn’t a bit flashy either. Now, Mr. Graves, if you want to publish an itemized statement of expenditures from your office for the year 1929 and can t pay for it, bring the copy over, each page signed by yourself, the two com missioners and your clerk, and if it is not against the law, we will publish it without any cost what soever to the county, provided you will read and verify the proof sheets. That should prove our good faith and also that the discussions were not being run for the purpose of creating business for the paper. E. J. McCRACKEN, X- Officers Destroy 450 Gallons Mash Mr. J. C. Talbert Re- plies Recent Inquiriers Dear Editor of Messenger: Will you please give me a small space in your paper this week? I was on the grand jury 1929 and one of the carry-overs, and want to answer some of the questioS- aires that have been carried on by Citizen,”; “Taxpayer” and “Puz zled Voter.” First, we are asked why we did not look into the extravagance used in the chain gang. We had Mr. J. O. Patterson to come before ift and he stated that Mr. Graves’ expenditures had run around $25,- 000 per year against his predessor’s record of something like $31,000. We could not see that*we could make any complaint to such a re port and this was the only source of information available to us at that time. Second, as the abolition of the chain gang, which was introduced and voted on in a mass meeting, during the term of court, without any forethought of what it would cost the county, we also took this matter up with Mr. Patterson, as he had the figures available. He said it cost the State highway something over $50.00 per mile a year to maintain^ it, after the road has been completed and Mr. Graves had less than $4.00 per mile to build and maintain the public roads in the county. We will be in session next week< February 3rd. If “Mr. Citizen,’* “Taxpayer,” or “Puzzled Voter” will bring a concrete plan, that has been tried out and proven satis factory to the county that tried it, we will be willing to go into it with him or them and if, it appeals to us as practical to our county we will recommend that it be an issue in our coming campaign and have the /voters to pass on it. We don’t feel that it is the duty of the grand jury to tear down or to recommend abolishing of and part of the county's working pow er until something more feasable can be set up. We have had our share of experimenting, at a con siderable cost. I am not wanting to criticize any one or to shield the extravagance practiced by the chain gang or any other department of the county, but have stated facts as we gath ered them, not using exact figures but quoting them in round num bers. J. C. TALBERT, A* Grand Juror. txt Mr. Corley Says Com mittee Was Appoint ed By The Grand Jury Editor Messenger: For the information of all par ties interested, I would like to state that at the October session it Court, a committee consisting it six members of the Grand Jury vas appointed to meet with the bounty Delegation for the purpose ■>f discussing the advisability of discontinuing or main tannin? the 7hain Gang in McCormick County. Mr. J. P. Brunson is chairman of this committee. J. W. CORLEY, Foreman of the Grand Jury. LX > Home Demonstration Schedule Sheriff W. T. Strom, Deputy Sheriff W. L. Brown, Chief of Police C. H. Crawford and Mr. J. M. Brown destroyed 200 gallons of beer about 2 1-2 miles east ef Mt. Carmel last Thursday and 250 gal lons of mash about 3 miles west of Mt. Carmel. The sheriff's office destroyed, seized or tore up 53 stills in the county in 1929. Following is the home demon stration schedule for next week: Monday—Visiting in county. Tuesday—2:30 p. m., Bethany Home Demonstration club at Bethany school. Wednesday—3:00 p. m., Plum Branch Home Demonstration Club at school house. Thursday—Visiting in county. Friday—10:30-12:30 a. m., D© la Howe 4-H Club group No. 1; 1:00-2:40 p. m., De la Howe 4-H Club group No. 2; 3:00 p. m., Will- ington Home Demonstration Club with Mrs. Jim Gibert. txt The children of China without homes, are said to be a problem. They must be, for many with homes over here are in the prob lem class.