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PAGE FOUR THE NEWBERRY SUtf FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1949 sSt»« 1218 College Street NEWBERRY, S. C. O. F. Armfield Editor and Publisher PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY Entered as second-class matter December 6, 1937, at the Postoffice at Newberry, South Carolina, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In S. C., $1.50 per year in advance outside S. C., $2.00 per year in advance. COMMENTS ON MEN AND THINGS BY SPECTATOR South Carolina should have Central Purchasing and a State Police System and Reorganiza tion of the School System. All this has been discussed for years on the streets, but not very much in the Legislature. Years ago the Farmers and Taxpayers League urged the adoption of at least two of these suggestions, but found strong apposition to both. Let us not think that these measures would transform the State. Savings under a Cen tral Purchasing arrangement will depend in large degree on the ability of the man or men who do the buying: no system operates at full efficiency mere ly because of a mechanical or ganization. The efforts of the League were so stoutly opposed be cause one of the institutions al ready had a very competent buyer and his associates fear ed that a Central Purchasing agent would not do as well. You may laugh at that, but they were sincere. The obvious remedy would have been to ap- pbint that capable man as the the Purchasing Agent of the State, but politics is politics, £nd that is something else. There is the possibility of a Central Purchasing agency be coming too political to be real ly efficient; however, I worked out this scheme, since every institution wants to handle its business for itself: Add up all the quantities of the same thing, such as coal, staple gro ceries, etc., and get a bid. Let that bid fix the maximum price. If any buyer pays more sue him on his bond; but if he can buy for less let him do so. Sometimes special circum stances might enable Clemson, for example, to buy an article for less. That would be a flex ible plan, and it would leave the actual buying to the various Institutions, Departments, Com missions and Boards. I am not sure how the Purchasing Agent would buy for the Santee-Coop- er, but if Santee-Cooper were excluded, others would ask to be, too. Central purchasing is worth trying, though it is difficult to become enthusiastic over saving a few thousands, while we spend millions helter-skelter. There can be economy and thrift under any system, or lack of system, if the will and the inteligence work together to thaf end; but no mere form of organization is needed half so much as is the purpose to use our revenues prudently. Let’s develop the spirit of wise husbandry, even in public spending. You may think I am a new Rip Van Winkle, waking up after a sleep of twenty years It does seem so. I’ll admit; for any man who will talk about prudent spending of public money in this year of 1949 must surely have been asleep for sixteen years at least. And now a word about a State Police System: What have we today? State Con stables, Highway Patrolmen, State Inspectors from the De partment of Agriculture. Field men of the State Tax Commis- Here’s more than WHITE MEAT AND DRUMSTICKS sion, Inspectors of the Public Service Commission—and, per haps, others employed by the State. Then we have Sheriffs, Deputy Sheriffs, Rural Police men, Constables, Town Police —in all a formidable array of police power. Why not take all these into a State System with State Commissions, while letting them continue their present work? They would all be subject to call just as the National Guard, a State Mili tia, is subject to a Federal call. We have enough men in the service; what we need is a uni fying head and a workable plan of cooperation, in time of need. As a practical expedient, the County and Town enforcement officers would be paid by the State only when operating out side their regular territory. This plan has one fatal de fect: it is too simple; people prefer more elaborate and cost ly plans. What I fear is a heavy addition to the public payroll with no additional ben efit to the public. Speaking of simplicity: it \yould be possible to have a State ballot by simple means. Ex-Spegker Sol Blatt is on the Committee to prepare a bill, I believe. Mr. Blatt is an able man and of extensive experi ence in the House of Represen tatives. Mr. Blatt knows that if a bill be submitted, a lengthy bill, the majority will never read it and they will vote against it because they fear to “tamper” with Election Laws. If, however, a plan can be presented that can be readi ly understood, without study, and which can be explained clearly in five minutes some hope of success may be enter tained. Mr. A. L. M. Wiggins, our well known and esteemed friend of South Carolina, though h e really lives in Harts- ville, spoke recently of the great strides our State has made in recent years. Mr. Wig gins spoke not only as a busi nessman but as a sympathetic observer of all phases of im provement in our life. The figures cited by Mr. Wiggins are impressive and we rejoice in the trend toward a State of diversified industry. We are a growing and developing State. We need more industry and more industries, but we are progressing. Now this may shock you, but the spirit of the General As sembly is more favorable to in dustrial growth. We have learned that there is a bread- and-butter factor which must always be considered; and that we must try to prepare the way so that all South Carolin ians of today and tomorrow may find useful, gainful em ployment. Trends and conditions are fa vorable to the South. South Carolina is near the great con suming centers; and we are be coming great producers. Our State is remarkably fortunate in its location, and in the var iety of its physical features, but its people are its chief re source—good stock, steady, loy al, reliable, patriotic. It is good news that all the power enterprises operating among us are spending mil lions of dollars in praparation for the day of great need through constant expansion. One electric company, operat ing in Charleston and Colum bia, is planning to spend nearly forty million dollars within the next five years. With all the power in prospect, including, of course, Santee-Cooper, South Carolina should be ready to supply all the power which may be needed. I look forward to the time when every concern in the State will work harmoniously for a greater South Carolina. Let’s be too big and too busy for animosities and pettiness. We are not petty people, so let’s not act that way. cars? They need clean, respec table, convenient parking lots, with comfort facilities and tel ephones—all pay service, but have it. Charleston has done notably well in providing park ing lots. I recall a whole square for parking, in Los Angeles. As I recall, on an important street of great office buildings, only about two blocks from a vast luxury hotel. It may seem shocking but thousands of people visit Charleston and Columbia be cause they are cities, trading, shopping centers, not because of any historical associations. Ninety per cent of the visitors to Columbia don’t know, and don’t care, about the Seces sion Convention; and many Charlestonians of today don’t know where the Convention met in Charleston, after it left Columbia. People are looking for the stores, the shops, especially the ladies. In my boyhood in Charles ton—which was several years ago—a week was set aside every year and the people came from Cheraw and all the Pee Dee, as well as Orange burg, Ber.ufort, Sumter, and everywhere else—all coming by train. Today it is an .easy ride by bus or car from all those communities, and scores of others; and we can go and re turn in a day and do this sev eral days, if need be. Speaking to the Merchants’ Association of Charleston a few years ago, I told this story: A businessman of Columbia, a Charlestonian who had lived in Columbia only twenty five years and had not had time to change, this Charlestonian, resident and doing business in Columbia, had a visitor from the upper part of the State. She went to Charleston for a day. Upon her return our friend filled his pipe and sat back to hear her story, with all the thrills and trills, tremulos By Tad Kesting Within the last half century, hunting has become a mass pes- time to a greater extent than ever before in this country. Likewise, sport fishing has in creased by leaps and bounds. Along with this increase, there is much evidence to indicate a decline in the average level of sportsmanship. This decline in standards of conduct among sportsmen is a serious matter writes Dr. Ira N. Gabrielson in his forthcoming book “Wildlife Management.” Dr. Gabrielson is president of the Wildlife Management In stitute and formerly was head of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He remarks that there are many different opinions as to what constitutes good sports manship, but all definitions should include some, in not most, of the following: Shoot only when the game is clearly visible. Observance of and exclamations. Well, said he, “What did you think of the Battery?” “The Battery? What Battery?” “Oh, well, he said, “How about Saint Michael’s Church?” It is full of history, you know, as well as religion.” “I’m afraid I didn’t see Saint Michael’s.” “My, My! You didn’t see the Battery or Saint Michael’s or Fort Sumter. Wo man, what did you see? Why in the world did you go to Charleston? You didn’t see Magnolia Cemetery!” The lady felt that she had failed to jus tify herself and the trip but she blithely chirped: “I tell you what I did see. I saw the best ten-cent store I ever went in.” So, don’t you see? this rule would eliminate many of the fatal hunting accidents that occur each year. Shoot only when game is within range. Every man who goes into the field with a gun should know accurately its range and pattern. Shoot only at individual tar gets. Don’t shoot blindly into a flock of birds. If the majori ty of gunners would follow this practice, crippling losses could be greatly reduced. Take only what can be used. Too many sportsmen like to play Santa Claus by bringing home game or fish to distribute to their friends. Too often the gifts promptly find their way into the garbage can. Don’t be a limit hound. Give the game more than an even break. Those who handi cap themselves by self-imposed rules have many thrilling mem ories which are denied those who measure success by the number of kills. Practice the golden rule to ward your fellow sportsmen and landowners. Land posted against hunting and fishing is the normal reaction to the ig norance, boorishness and stu pidity, not to mention crimi nality of those who cut fences, trample crops, shoot livestock, and sprinkle farm families and homes with shot in their self ish anxiety to get the last pos sible individual bird and ani mal. Sportsmen themselves have .taken the lead in pushing legis lation designed to conserve wildlife. Unfortunately many fish and game officials have been too busy with fascinating new problems to realize that certain basic necessities such as law enforcement have been ne glected. Selling higher stan- dars of sportsmenship to those who buy licenses would bring great returns in better-satisfied hunters, and at the same time lessen the difficulties of manag ing wildlife resources. Exotic trio she’ll love ...for Christmas A SET OF SAFARI TUSSY Lasting, haunting fragrance that’s lovely to give or to get. Tussy "Safari” coraes in DUSTING POWDER-5 ounces (with puff), $1 JO* COLOGNE, gift boxed, 4 ounces, $1.50* PERFUME VIAL, shiny black leatherette, 1 dram, $1J0* SMITH'S CUT RRTE DRUG 5T□ REr 1212 MAIN ST. PHONE 810 Back of this great trade-mark \ou’re thinking of your family when you buy the Thanksgiving bird. It means you are anxious to give them the best... that you are a good provider. That’s also the reason you buy life insurance. 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