Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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1 rj. FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1941 PAGE TWO rHBIVEWBERAY «UK 1218 College Street * Newberry, S. C. O. F. ARMFIELD Editor and Publisher One Year Published every Friday Entered as second-class matter December 6, 1937, at the post office at Newberry, South Carolina, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Collection of Unpaid School Taxes Would Solve Deficit Problem, Spectator Thinks LET’S TAKE STOCK OF OUR SCHOOLS We are inclined to look with favor upon the suggestion made by J. K. Breedin, representing Organized Business, Inc., that an investigation be made of the school system of the state. The Jasper county delegation has, decided upon such an investiga tion for the schools of that county, not because of any trouble that has shown up to date, but just to discov er the weak points, if any, in the sys tem. It would be interesting and inform ative if such a probe should be made into the schools of this county. Net with the end in view to find fault with the system, but mainly to dis cover information which would no doubt be of interest to many of the county’s citizens. Education is our biggest public business, and it would be in keeping with the principles of good business to take stock once in a while. Busi nesses take regular inventories for their own information as well as to enable them to give better service to the public, and it would seem that the educational leaders of the county would appreciate the interest that would be manifest by such an exam ination, and this would enable them to give even better service than they are now rendering. ARE LABOR UNIONS LOSING GROUND? “Labor unions are losing ground,” said Henry Ford in an interview given out last weekend from his plantation home at Waycross, Ga. He based this statement on the assump tion that unions were organized more for the aggrandizement of the un ions than to benefit the workers themselves. It may be that unions are losing ground, as Mr. Ford says, among the members themselves. But it is cer tainly true that their efforts to use the Defense Emergency to augment their interests does not set well with the rank and file of Americans. Par ticularly do most people think those engaged primarily in the production of defense products are overstepping their bounds by picking this specific time to spread strikes and rumors of strikes to gain selfish ends. At this time when all efforts should be bent toward setting the nation’s house in order in the way of Preparedness, they look upon such an attitude as a little less than patriotic. There is certainly something to think about in Mr. Ford’s statement. For 37 years his company has been without labor unions, and only re cently, since the unions have gotten into the Ford workers, has that plant begun to have serious labor troubles. All this time the Ford officials have refused to recognize labor unions, and still do; and yet as a class, the Ford workers have been better paid and more satisfied with their conditions than almost any other large group of workers in industry. Henry Ford has long been an advo cate of increased production by in creased buying power, and in line with that belief has voluntarily main tained a higher wage standard than that generally demanded by the un ions. Certainly, as he says, there is no place for labor unions in a pic ture like that. Would we had more employers of Henry Ford’s ilk. FOR FREE TRADE Out of Memphis, Tenn., the Nat ional Cotton Council is considering steps to combat laws providing res trictions and prohibitions on cotton seed products. Particular reference is had here to the tax laws of sever al of the Middle Western States whose chief interest is production of dairy products, and these restric tions and prohibitions in the form of trade barriers in these states are aimed chiefly at marger- ine manufactured from cottonseed, which competes with natural butter made in those states. In spite of the fact that the Council has endeavored to convince the legislatures of these states that such trade barriers have a stagnating effect on business, new discriminatory measures are being proposed. The Council has taken the sensible view by discouraging measures of re taliation. This country has grown great and rich and strong mainly be cause of the fact that it has been the largest area in the world in which trade has been free, in which there have been no annoying duties and excises to be put on trade articles at every turn. These interstate trade barriers, however, bid fair to change this state of affairs, and make trade in this country about as much ^ mess as it is in the countries of the Bal kan peninsula in Europe. It has been suggested that the General Assembly of this state place such a tax on eggs raised out of South Carolina. The motive benind this proposal, as behind all other laws setting up trade barriers, is un doubtedly a good one—that is, to protect the products of the home folks against competing products of others. If that were all the effect obtained, well and good. But it While in Greenville recently I call ed on some friends, brethren of the quill, one of the secular press, (Greenville News) and two of The Baptist Courier. Friend Brunson, (J. E.), who, like most newspapermen, seldom sees his name in print, is chief editorialist of that fine daily, The Greenville News. We usually exchange the time of day on my visits to Greenville. It was my first visit to The Baptist Courier, though I read it every week, and it sometimes publishes Spectator. With Dr. Bur net, the editor, and Mr. Mitchell, the Business Manager, I talked over the problems of papers. As we talked about circulation, or enlarging the range of The Baptist Courier, it occurred to me to take stock. Why should I read a church paper? Why should my friends of other churches “take” a denomina tional paper? Every morning I re ceive The State and The News and Courier in my home. From them I learn the news of the world, fresh from the wires, the happenings with in the state, and receive editorial stimulation. I read the Springfield Republican (101 per cent for Roose velt and the New Deal) every week, a fine lot of editorials. As a farmer, I read the Country Gentleman, The Pro gressive Farmer, numerous bulletins, etc., for business guidance I read Forbes’, The Nation's Business, Mag azine of Wall street, three or four financial services, including one from The Citizens and Southern National Bank, The Manufacturer’s Record, etc.; for County news I read my County paper (and pay for it). In addition, I read many other county papers, forty or fifty of them, also The Southern Christian Advocate, in my office. Every activity is covered by publi cations. From week to week I read a dozen special bulletins on some ac tivities. WHERE DOES THE CHURCH COME IN? A church paper is not like other periodicals; it treats of matters of interest to the denomination and it offers articles on themes of religion. The church and its work are rated (theoretically) as of major import ance; but almost every man reads something about his business; and every man reads a lot about poli tics; but rarely do you find a man well informed on the program of his church. I do not expect Dr. Ball of The News and Courier to tell me about the operations of our Baptist institu tions; nor do I ask Dr. Burnet of the doesn’t work that way. These bar riers, inspection taxes, or whatever they may be called, keep out a cheap er product, and therefore prop up the price of the home-raised article. Thus it happens that those who could afford the cheaper foreign egg, or the cheaper margarine, are forced to do without both. We can see absolutely no good in these laws, and since such a pow erful organization as the National Cotton Council has undertaken to do something about them in the name of the ten million Americans whose livelihood depends upon cotton, we are hopeful that something may be accomplished. Baptist Courier to give me the “in side” of the New Deal.” And if I am at sea about the Legislature I impose on Mr. Derrieux of The State, not Dr. J. M. Rast of the Southern Christian Advocate. When, however, I seek light on our Methodist breth ren I call Dr. Rast. Frequently I have urged our peo ple to recommend their county pap ers. No other paper is the same as the county paper. And you really can’t afford to do without it. Nor can a man know his State if he does not take the big general dailies, or one, at least. I read with care The Springfield Re publican, but it does not take the place of a South Carolina daily. Nor can any other paper bring you as close to your church as the State paper of your denomination. So, if you want to know what the Metho dists are doing, or the Baptist, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Luth erans, and others, read the church paper. The denominations are large and important; and they have pro grams of broad scope of service. Read your paper and you will know about it; otherwise you will be just a,, un informed pew-sitter wondering what its all about. I think a definite use for unpaid school taxes should be made. The sum of $3,000,000 is probably collect ible. The districts have not suffered because of this non-payment, since the State has paid more and more of the school costs. As things stand, when ever this money is collected it will trickle in like money from home and be used for things not in the school budget. In other words, this overdue school money has already been made up by the State and does not in equi ty belong to the districts at all. Of course no one will propose that it be taken, or diverted, for the diversion idea was confined entirely to High way revenue; but this is too large a sum of money to be used as a mere shower of good things. It ought to be earmarked and budgeted, and the State should be relieved of that much. The collectible unpaid school taxes, if collected and applied to the opera tion of the schools during the next fiscal year, would relieve the State of a sum equal to more than the expect ed deficit. If our State is developing an acute case of nerves and is trying to fin ance military preparations because of a war-scare, no one can foresee the amount of the deficit. The bill to restrict the awards in punitive damage suits is coming out of Committee. Let us not lose sight of what it means. As long as this practice continues we shall be foster ing an obstacle to the development of the state. It does not involve big busi ness, only, but about 160,000 of us who pay excessive premiums on our liability insurance because of it. As is true of most matters which come before the General Assembly, the is sue will be decided by what is thought by the people back home. If you are against this practice of su ing for all a man can pay, for trivial injuries, or imagined injuries, speak out; but if you think the plan 4s a good one and that the sky should be the limit in all suits, this is a good time to say so. JUST KIDS—a Ten Year Old Uncle. By Ad Carter WOW POES IT FEtU BE A REAL UNCLE? Ll] r !lir> ^wmatcha uncle ,TO TOr'U'Vf- A (or je5‘ a Girl? IT DOMT FEEL SO AD - UHCOURSE ITS Qo»TE A ’SPONSABIUTT BEIN' A UNCLE - YOH PONT SEE MANY FELLERS AS YOOr* Gc AS I At-I UNCLES - DO YUH Another thing: Our State has num erous departments and institutions. They all buy separately, individually and independently. Why? Does it not seem possible that better prices could be had on $2,000,000 of pur chases than on $1,000,000? And, by the same reason, would not the price be better for $2,000,000 than for $50,000? Why, then, do we not cor rect this ? It is not simple and e«sy ? It is. Then what is the matter? That’s what I ask: what is the mat ter? No new commission need be created, no new '■fficial, no new office. As a trial, let all State services sub mit their needs to the Budget Com mission and let that Commission in vite bids on all the articles needed. Then let the Budget Commission in form each State service where it can buy and the price, the service mak ing the purchase through its own of ficials and paying for the goods from its own treasury. Why not? Many of our citizens are asking whether war hysteria has taken poss ession of some of our people. Nation al defense is peculiarly and entirely a matter for the National Government and the Nation has the means and the men to deal with the situ-.tion. If the National Government calls on the State for anything it should be done officially, formally and openly. We should not become alarmed by hints and suggestions of professional soldiers. While it is true that our National Guard has been called (nito service, the army will respond to any call from our General Assembly, or the Governor in the absence of the General Assemblv. There is no need for South Carolina to spend lar°'e sums of money in the name of Na tional defense. Let the Congress do that and let the National military forces do whatever mav be o“cessarv. That is what many people think about the war-scare that is terrifying some of our people. Dr. Carl B. Epps, of Sumte-. Pr“<=i- 1 d°rt of the Farmers and Taxpayers ^League, announces that the governing Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Eargle Wad 50 Years Mr. and Mrs. Charlie B. Eargle of the Zion section of the county marked their golden anniversary' Saturday. They were married on March 8, 1891 at Little Mountain by the Rev. J. A. Sligh. A large number of friends and re latives called at the Eargle home Sunday to congratulate the couple on their long life together. Mrs. Eargle before marriage xras Miss Alice Miller of Little Mountain, a daughter of B. H. and Mary Counts Miller. After her marriage to Mr. Eargle the couple settled down to live at the old Eargle home where they now live. After a few years there fire desti jyed their home and they went to live on the farm of Mr. Eargle’s parents at Little Mountain, remaining there for some ten years. Mr. Eargle then built his present home, within sight of where he was bom and there he and Mrs. Eargle have lived for the past 40 years and raised their family. Mr. Eargle is a son of John Jacob and Anne Bundrick Eargle who set tled in the Zion section about 1840. Mr. Eargle, now 70 years of age, attends his farm every dav, and is in fair health, while the health of Mrs. Eargle has been somewhat impaired in recent years. Their many friends wish for them many more years of happiness. Clint T. Graydon of Columbia snent Sunday afternoon with the Eugene Bleases on Boundary street. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Haltiwanger of Columbia spent Sunday with Mrs. Haltiwanger’s mother, Mrs. J. N. McCaughrin. board of the League has decided to call a convention in Columbia, soon. The League has been one of the most potent influences in South Carolina public life. Its appeals have not only kept the matter of public spending before the people but it sponsored the drives which are credited with many changes in political life, as well as the slogan for a $5,000,000 limit to appropriations in 1933, fallowing nearly $12,000,000 the year before. This drive, organized in the League’s offices, was successful. There are some members of the famous Eco nomy Legislature still in service. The only member of the Free Confer ence Committee of that year still in the Legislature is the Senator from Barnwell, Edgar A. Brown. No statement has been issued by t)he League but it is a fair guess that it will support the economists in the Senate and House in vigorous man ner. NEWS FACTS ^CEGfiGE’ SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. A YELLOW 60 FOOT SEA SERPENT WAS SEEN SPEEDING OVER THE , PACIFIC IN THE PORM » OF A HOOP BY ^ g REV. OLD ORCHARD, MAINE J.E.ROCKLIFF/ -r vr : -fi frank BROWN v 1 ORDERED A CASE OF WAX APPLES FROM A rj* • NEW YORK V \ ’ * CONCERN, ^ \ \c.\ TO TEACH THE Y*\>\ LOCAL YOUNG- v.t: \ -STEPS THAT. * HONESTY IS 1 ] L • • -j STILL THE * BEST POLICY/ Si' - IS IMPROVING Miss Elizabeth Harmon is improv ing at her home on Main street in the city after an attack of appendicitis Monday. Mrs. Derrill Smith, Jr., has Oeen ill for several days at her home on Main street. Her many friends will be glad to know that she is improv ing. Gene Griffith, small son of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Griffith, has been confin ed to his home on Main street with sore throat and cold. AMERICAN LEGION MEETING The American Legion Auxiliary will meet Thursday afternoon at four o’clock at the home of Mrs. R. C. Floyd, with Miss Grace Summer, Mrs. F. E. Adams, Mrs. O. J. Wilson, Miss Felicia Spearman and Mrs. I. M. Satterwhite associate hostesses. Mrs. Henry Fellers will have charge of the program on legislation. All members will be interested in hearing the report on the spring rally being held in Columbia on March 12. Notice! We Will Delint Cottonseed Thursday and Friday March 13 & 14 Formers Oil Mill Phone 155 Newberry, S. C.