The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, August 10, 1961, Image 1
Study the platforms,
Examine the candidates,
then . . .
VOTE YOUR CONVICTIONS!
As a citizen of democracy
it is your DUTY and PRIVILEGE
To VOTE August 22
VOLUME 25; NUMBER 16.
NEWBERRY, SOUTH CAROLINA,
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1961
^ $2.00 PER YEAR
By The Way
- By DORIS A. SANDERS
EXPLANATION
In the story on this page about
city council meeting, mention is
made of a mayor-candidate misin
terpreting the city an^ :j * March
31, 1961. Here are the facts:
This same candidate has shown
to various people a copy of the
annual audit for the year ended
September 30, 1960 which, he re
portedly said, shows the city had
a deficit of $25,000. What he did
not know, or did not explain if he
did know, was that the $25,000
was borrowed in May i960 to pay
for capital improvements ; n Su
burbia. Money borrowed for capi
tal improvement is not considered
a debt in the first place; in the
second place, the money was re
paid when taxes began to come in
in October 1960, just after the an
nual audit was made. That should
clear that up.
Now as to the March 1961 audit,
the charge reportedly is that the
city purchased equipment which
was not in the budget and not
authorized. The facts are these:
In the current budget, the sum of
$36,900 was set up in a fund for
new equipment. No money was set
up in the item known as “electric,
water and sewer improvements.”
When new electric current regu
lators were purchased at a price
of $22,386.66 it was charged to
disbursements of the utilities de
partment although the money to
pay for same came from the item
“new equipment,” the amount
council had set up for the purpose
of buying such equipment.
If this is still not clear—Mr.
Clarence Wallace can straighten
you out but I will add this: our
city employees, and the auditor
who makes the annual audit, are
not trying to hide anything. If
there is any question of any kind,
any doubt you might have about
the figures contained in the audits
of this year or years past, these
people would welcome the oppor
tunity to explain the matter to
you in detail.
The irresponsible action of any
candidate in spreading what is
certainly misleading, if not techni
cally inaccurate, information
should be closely scrutinized by
voters before they cast a vote for
such a man as mayor.
tion to what you read and hear
so that you will be able to make
an intelligent decision.
LITTLE DIFFERENCE
Like all good public speakers,
Rev. Kenneth Wilson was kind
enough to furnish the news media
copies of his talk before the Ro
tary Club last Thursday. Also,
like the good public speaker he is,
he did not follow his written copy
word for word.
With the aid of the tape record
ing made by WKDK, and a Steno
graph machine, I have attempted
to capture a little more of Rev.
Wilson’s personality from his ac
tual speech rather than from the
typed copy. I hope you will en
joy the account seen elsewhere on
this page and that, for the ‘real
thing’ you will listen Saturday
morning as his speech is re-broad
cast.
THEY’RE FOR IT
Three former mayors of New
berry, in statements to be seen
in this issue, have endorsed the
council-manager form of govern
ment. The Lions Club, at a recent
meeting, unanimously passed a
resolution favoring this system as
the best for Newberry.
Not only are these all prominent
businessmen and community lead
ers, they are also, in many in
stances, payers of substantial
amounts of taxes and business lic
enses to the city. It stands to
reason that these men know what
they are doing in wholeheartedly
endorsing council-manager gov
ernment.
For continued good government,
when you go to the polls August
22,1 would join these men in urg
ing you to strike no, vote YES,
in the special election.
MORE RUMORS
Rumors have been rampant dur
ing the municipal campaign this
year. The latest of the rumors is
that some of the candidates plan
to “boycott” the Forum meeting
planned by the Civic League. If
they do, that should be indication
enough you don’t want such peo
ple—afraid to stand up and be
questioned—on your city council.
ADDRESSES
A reader says “You are always
telling people to write to their
congressman or senators, but you
don’t tell them how 'o address
their letters.” Well, I can’t say
that I know the Emily Post eti
quette, but I know how to get let
ters where I want them to go.
Your representatives are Con
gressman W. J. Bryan Dorn,
House Office Building, Washing
ton, D. C.; Senator Strom Thur
mond, Senate Office Building,
Washington, D. C.; Senator Olin
Johnston, Senate Office Building,
Washington, D. C. The office
building isn’t even necessary as
long as your envelope has the
congressman or senator on it, it
will get where you intend for it
to go.
A PUBLIC SERVICE
Between now and August 22nd,
you will read much in this paper,
and hear much on Radio Station
WKDK, about the council-manager
form of government. Many per
sons have workea diligently to
compile information so that you
may give thoughtful consideration
to what has happened in your city
during the past 11 years, and to
decide intelligently the question
“Shall Newberry continue the
council-manager form of govern
ment.”
I wish especially to thank Mr.
Clarence Wallace, city clerk and
treasurer, for the many hours of
his own time spent gathering in
formation which was requested;
also P. K. Fuller for providing
statistics about recreation pro
grams and equipment.
In addition to information pub
lished in The Sun, WKDK is plan
ning a number of special programs
on the subject as a public service.
This series began last Thursday
when Rev. Kenneth B. Wilson’s
address to the Rotary Club, was
broadcast. Incidentally, in response
to popular demand, this speech
will be re-broadcast on Saturday
of this week immediately follow
ing the news at 9:00 a.m. WKDK
will also broadcast the Forum
meeting of the Civic League Fri
day night at 8 p.m. and arrange
ments are being made to broadcast
the Kiwanis Club meeting Thurs
day, August 17 at 1:30 p.m. H. B.
Kirkegard, guest speaker, will
discuss the council-manager form
of government in Newbeiry. Oth
er special programs on the subject
will be broadcast.
I know that statistics can be
boring, but I urge that you take
the time to give careful considera-
Schools To Open
September 5th
Newberry City Schools will op
en Tuesday, September 5, accord
ing to a joint announcement made
! this week by Superintendent J. V.
Kneece and R. E. Beck.
The session on September 5 will
run from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.
m. Regular schedule will begin
Wednesday, September 6. School
j lunches will be provided for $1.25
a week. Accident insurance will be
I $2.00.
A meeting of all mothers and
fathers of all students entering
j the first grade will be held at the
; Junior High School auditorium
; Wednesday, August 30 at 10:00 a.
m. Mr. Beck urges that parents
make note of the meeting, and
make every effort to attend.
All new students, grades 1
through 8, who will enter the New 7 -
berry City Elementary schools for
the first time will enroll at Jun
ior High School August 21
through September 1, between
the hours of 9 a.m. and 12 noon,
and 2 to 5 p.m.
Students entering Newberry
High school, grades 9 through 12,
for the first time will enroll at
the high school August 21 through
September 1 between the hours of
9 a.m. to 12 noon, and 2 to 5 p.m.
This does not include students now
in the city system or from Silver-
street and Bush River Areas.
In order to have a smooth open
ing of school, the superintendents
ask that arrangements be made to
rent books at the specified time,
as given below:
Junior High, Grades 6, 7, 8:
August 14 and 15, 8 a.m. to 4
p.m.
Boundary Street, Grades 2-5:
August 21 and 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Speers Street, Grades 2-5: Aug.
28 and 29, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Senior High School, Grade 9:
August 21, 22, 23; Grade 10, Aug
ust 24 and 25; Grade 11, August
28 and 29; Grades 12, August 30
and 31, all from 9 a.m. until 12
noon and from 2 to 4 p.m.
Know Your Candidates
The Know Your Candidate Series this week includes brief bio
graphical sketches of Clarence A. Shealy, Jr. and S. D. (Bozo) Pay-
singer, candidates for Alderman Ward 3; and Jimmie B. Davenport,
candidate for Alderman War 4. The other Ward 4 candidate has not
furnished information requested over two weeks ago.
Clarence A. Shealy Jr., age 31,
was born and'reared in Newberry,
and has lived here his entire life
with the exception of four years
spent in the Navy, and one and
one-half years spent teaching atj
Summerville High School.
Mr. Shealy is single and is an
agent with Liberty Life Insurance
Company. He is a member of Ept-
ing Memorial Methodist Church
where he serves as chairman of
the official board and assistant
teacher of the Young Adult Sun
day School Class.
Mr. Shealy is a Mason, a mem
ber of the Junior Chamber of
Commerce, chairman of the Board
of Review Boy Scout Troop 222
and a mem’^r of the S. C. MUhici-
pal Association.
Strother Daniel (Bozo) Paysing-
er, who has served previously on
city council for four years as Al
derman from Ward 3, was born
and reared in Newberry. He is 36
years of age, is married to the
former Miss Eleanor Weir, and is
the father of three children.
Mr. Paysinger is an oil supplier
with Sinclair Refining Company,
and is a member of the First Bap
tist Church.
He is a member of Kiwanis
Club, American Legion, Junior j
Chamber of Commerce and Air
Force Reserve.
A newcomer to politics is Jim-j
mie Byrnes Davenport, 31 year*
of age, who seeks the office of
Alderman Ward 4.
Mr. Davenport was born in
Newberry and has lived here most
of his life. His wife is the former
Miss Gay Bowers of Prosperity,
who is an employee of S. C. Na
tional Bank. They have one daugh
ter, Kim, age one and one-half.
Mr. Davenport is parts mana
ger for J. Ellerbe Sease Co., and
is a member of Central Methodist
Church. He also is a member of
Carolina Farm Equipment Asso
ciation, and of Amity Lodge No.
87, A..FM.
Wilson Gives Reasons For
Favoring City Government
Mr. and Mrs. Frasier Sanders
and Connie and Ruthie spent the
weekend in Statesville, N. C. with
Mrs. Sanders’ sister, Mrs. D. H.
McHargue and family. Danny Mc-
Hargue returned with them to
Newberry for a two weeks visit
with his grandparents, Mr. and
Mrs. O. F. Armfield Sr., and oth
er relatives.
“I believe in the council-manag
er form of government,” Rev. Ken
neth B. Wilson, pastor of First
Baptist church, told members of
the Rotary club, their guests, and
a radio audience last Thursday.
He continued his talk with sound
reasoning to back his belief.
He briefly reviewed the history
of council-manager government.
“I say to you I believe with all
my heart the council-manager
form of government is one of the
very highest of ideals, for the sim
ple reason it is based on the
most practical method of self-
government,” Mr .Wilson said.
Noting the fact that since 1912
1650 cities have adopted this
form of government, the speaker
continued “I know it isn’t well
for a minister to pass by the
statement and sing the theme
‘Everybody’s doing it,’ but I am
going to say this with insight: if
everybody’s doing it, it need not
mean it is desirable and best, but
I am going to be awake enough to
investigate and find out what it
is that causes everybody to do
this certain thing.”
Rev. Wilson’s speech continued,
in part:
“In looking into this, I found
and offer to you several convict
ions based upon the idea that
this form of government is the
most personal approach to city-
self-administered government.
“It is in the council that muni
cipal policies are determined in the
light of a set charter; councilmen
are elected by the masses, they
represent the best interests of the
city because they are the ones
who select the city manager; it is
the council which approves the
budget, determines the tax rate;
it is the council which enacts the
laws, votes the appropriations and
sees to the administration of city
affairs.
“The government of our city
rests primarily not upon the integ
rity or honesty of the manager,
as important as that is; rather
the success or failure of our gov
ernment rests upon the shoulders
of the council we elect. Obviously
this system becomes a safeguard
against corruption and short
sighted principles.
“So I am saying first of all, I
believe in the council-manager
form of government because it is
popular for a reason. It is popu
lar because it is a personalized
form of expression of self-gov
ernment; but it is not just per
sonalized—it is immensely and in
tensely practical.
“I cannot help but muse to my
self humorously when I try to im
agine the Kendall company plants
without a manager; the Newberry
Mills operating without a mana
ger where every department
could go its separate way as it
pleased without direction; I can
not for the life of me see New
berry college succeed to the
heights of possibility without a
president; I cannot imagine the
county hospital producing services
we want and deserve without an
administrator; I cannot conceive
of the schools operating at maxi
mum efficiency without someone
of wisdom, insight and training
giving full time to the responsi
bility; and humorously, I can’t
even imagine First Baptist church
getting along without a pastor. If
you think it’s bad now, you can
imagine what it would be other
wise.
“I do think council-manager
government is the only practical
system of goverrtment and may I
simply infer why. We are in big
business. I don’t know whether
you ever stopped to realize it or
not: we—I—employ'114 full time
servants. They are on my payroll.
We pay out in salaries $286,968
every year to these employees. We
gross better than three-quarters
(Continued on Page 3)
City Employees
Are Rewarded
For Services
By DORIS A. SANDERS
The most important part of any
business is its labor force. The
City of Newberry, which is big
business, is no exception. The City
Councils of the past eleven years,
through council-manager govern
ment, have seen that city em
ployees are adequately rewarded
for services rendered the public.
With no increase in taxes dur
ing the period, employee salaries
have been increased four times.
The City manager, who, by law,
is a 24-hour a day public servant,
was hired by city council on Octo
ber 1, 1949 at a salary of $6000.
At. the end of a ^ear, his salary
was increased by $1000, at the
same time all city employees re
ceived an increase. On October 1.
1951, a 10 percent increase was
given all employees, bringing the
manager’s salary to $7700. On Oc
tober 1, 1957, a five percent in
crease was given all personnel, in
creasing the manager’s salary to
$8085. On October 1, 1960, adjust
ments were made in the salaries
of all city employees to bring them
up to the rate provided by the
Employee Classification System
adopted by council. This brought
the manager’s salary to $8280,
which it is at the present time. He
is furnished an automobile to
conduct the city’s business, but
gets no other compensation, direct
ly or indirectly, for his services.
As a result of these increases,
the manager’s salary has had a
percentage increase of 38% dur
ing the eleven years; however, sal
aries of 19 categories of employees
have increased more, while only
three have shown less increase.
These three are utility supenh-
tendent, 37.1 percent, water plant
operated 35 percent — this is be
cause these employees are rela
tively new in their positions and in
the lower rates of the classifica
tion system; and the recreation di
rector, 12.2 percent. This job was
established in 1953 after all other
employees had received two sub
stantial increases so his salary
was, and is, in line with c^her de
partment heads in the city.
Total salaries paid city employ
ees in 1950 amounted to $171,094.-
67. Total salaries paid for 1960
amounted to $286,968—with no in
crease in taxes.
The City of Newberry employs
114 persons, 30 more than in 1949.
The percentage of salary in
creases in various categories from
1950 to 1960 is as follows:
City manager, 38%; utility sup
erintendent, 37.1%; clerk and
treasurer, 69.2%; street superin
tendent, 78.2%; police chief, 73.*
9%; fire chief, 80.8%; electric line
man first class, 95.4%; electric
lineman second class, 104%; utili
ty labor foreman, 77.2%; truck
driver, 53.5%; water plant opera
tor, 35%; water plant operator,
40 %; semi-skilled labor, utility
department, 74.5%; common labor,
utility department, 68%; common
labor, street department, 64%;
police patrolman, 50, 55.5 and 61.
1% in three categories; firemen,
38.5%; recorder, 46.7% and rec-
creation director, 12.2%.
The city has also made it pos
sible for about 25 employees to
attend schools for their line of
work: water and sewage works,
police, fire, gas, recreation and fi
nance.
All employees are under Federal
Social security. From July 1, 1955
to October 1, 1960, the city con
tributed $30,218.15 to Social Sec
urity for its employees. The city
has a group insurance plan and
pays one-third the cost of hospi
tal insurance and one-third the
cost of a $1000 life insurance pol
icy for all employees who partici
pate.
City employees, with few excep
tions, are granted one and one-
fourth days per month vacation
with pay after six months in the
city’s service.
All of these salary increases,
programs and benefits for city
employees have been accomplish
ed under council-manager form of
government without increase in
taxes.
(Information about more ac
complishments of the city under
council - manager government
will be publishend in The Sun
next week.)
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TV PROGRAM
Pat Shealy, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Dick Shealy, will appear on
WIS-TV Saturday, August 12 ai
4:30 p.m. from the Calvert-Brodie
School of Dance. Also appealing
on the program will be Tommy
Lybrand, Newberry dance instruc
tor.
Making way for progress and a modern, new
for Newberry College, the cornerstone is removed from
Hall prior to raxing the building. Dr. A. G. D. Wiles, college presi
dent, looks on as A. Z. Wilson of Gohunbia, in the center, contractor
for removal of & building, and Ellis Dennis remove the heavy
stone. After some effort, the stone was opened, ami found therein
were: Newberry Herald and News of Jane 5. 1966; Newberry Ob
server, June 8, 1906; The State, June 10, 1906; Charleston Sunday
News, May 27, 1906; Newberry College Catalog, 1905-06; Newberry
College alumni publication, “The Stylus,** May 1906. (Photo by
Nichols.)
Three Former Mayors Endorse
Council-Manager Government
Three former mayors of New
berry, Dave Hayes, E. B. Purcell
and James E. Wiseman Sr., have
whole - heartedly endorsed the
council-manager form of govern
ment. Mr. Hayes and Mr. Purcell
served as mayor prior to the time
this government was instituted.
Mr. Wiseman began his tenure
three months after the plan was
inaugurated.
Their letters are as follows:
(By DAVE HAYES)
To the People of Newberry:
I was greatly honored in 1946
in being elected Mayor of the City
of Newberry. I think this is the
greatest honor that could come to
any citizen of Newberry. Before
that time and since I have been
greatly interested in the welfare
of our fine city and the manage
ment of its affairs.
I think the greatest forward
step that has been taken in New-
berry and many other towns
throughout the country was the
adoption of the city manager form
of government. When the affairs
of the town, which include the
water and light department, were
combined under the management
of one person, the City of Newber
ry not only saved considerable
amount of money, but the affairs
of tiie city have been managed in
a businesslike manner. Before it
was divided up among six aider-
men who naturally wanted to get
all the work done for their individ
ual wards and the people living in
them. The affairs of the City of
Newberry is big business. Any
business which has an income of
Mrs. Jac Ullman and children,
Jac and Mary Lee of Wilmington,
Del., are visiting in the home of
Mrs. Ullman’s mother, Mrs. Va
nessa Holt, and grandmother, Mrs.
Leila Williams, who is seriously
ill. Mr. Ullman and another son,
Mark, will join his family here
later.
Interest High
In Civic Form
The Civic League has sent a
written invitation to the 14 candi
dates for alderman positions, and
the three candidates for mayor, to
attend their Forum meeting Aug
ust 11 at 8 p.m. at the Community
Hall. Each candidate has been ask
ed to appear on the program.
In order to hold the gathering
within a two-hour period, the 14
aspirants for alderman will have
60 minutes divided among them;
while the three for mayor will
have another 60 minutes to dis
cuss issues.
In addition to the moderator. Dr.
Jame^ C. Kinard, there will be a
time-keeper. Both will cooperate
to keep the discussions rolling
along and in the time allotted to
each speaker.
Many voters will wish to see the
candidates in person and hear
them at close range. For these
there will be 150 seats available.
Many more will tune in on WK
DK for the meeting.
$800,000 each year requires a
great deal of planning and man
agement.
One of the first things outside
business people look for in com
ing into a city is the manner in
which their city affairs are hand
led, and I am sure Newberry will
compare favorably with any city
in South Carolina. I would like to
personally urge all of the ptiople
in Newberry to vote on August 22
and to vote in favor of keeping the
City Manager form of government.
(By E. B. PURCELL)
I recently read what ex-Mayor
Dave Hayes had to say about
serving as mayor before the City
manager form qf government was
established here in Newberry. I
agree with Mr. Hayes 100%.
X, too, served as mayor during
World War II before we had a
city manager, and I wish to say
here and now it was very demoral
izing to try to run a city in such
an awkward and unbusinesslike
manner.
Now the City of Newberry has
consolidated the public utilities and
all other departments under the
city manager. In this way many
loose ends are gathered up and
the city manager can carry out the
orders of the mayor and city coun
cil with great efficiency.
Running a city is a big job and
a big business. In fact, it is one
of the biggest businesses we have.
It is vital that we have someone
full t ; :ne to watch over our inter
ests and the huge investment that
Newbervy has. Can you imagine
one of our large textile plants run
ning without a manager? It is
unthinkable.
In conclusion let me say that I
thoroughly recommend and endorse
the city manager form of govern
ment.
tion of the affairs of the city.
Although I did not serve the
city in an official capacity prior
to 1950, I have been in business
in Newberry for many years and
have been interested in the man
ner in which city affairs have been
handled.
Newberry -is “big business’*
with assets of one and one-half
million dollars; yearly receipts and
disbursements of over three-quar
ters of a million dollars; employees
numbering 114 with a payroll of
almost one-quarter of a million
dollars annually. Having been
connected with this big business
since 1950, especially during the
years I served as Mayor, I feel
qualified to recommend, without
hesitation, the council-manager
form of government as the govern
ment the City of Newberry nee Is*
and must have, if it is to continue
to grow and prosper in the best
interest of the citizens it serves.
Mrs. Fred H. Dominick return
ed to her home on Harrington
street Friday night after several
months stay with her son-in-law
and daughter in Waynesboro, Va.
(By JAMES E. WISEMAN, SR.)
The Council-Manager form of
government ,adopted by a major
ity vote of qualified electors of
Newberry, began operations in Oc
tober 1949. On January 1, 1950, I
began my first term as Mayor of
our city. I was, therefore, in on
the “ground floor”—I saw condi
tions as they existed at the begin
ning of this form of government,
and during the six years I had
the privilege of serving as your
Mayor, I saw the City of Newber
ry come out of a condition of con
fusion into the well-managed
business organization it rightful
ly should be.
This is no reflection on mayors,
councilmen and commissioners
who served prior to 1950, but a
criticism of a system which al
lowed each department of the city
to go its own merry way, with no
central supervision or control.
The almost 60 percent increase
in the value of the city’s assets
during the past eleven years is
indicative of the efficiency of the
council-manager form of govern
ment. This increase, it might be
noted, was accomplished not with
an increase in taxes, but with in
creased efficiency in administra-
GREETINGS
BIRTHDAY
Aug. 13: Mickey Jennings,
Rosalind Werts, Tom P. Wicker,
David Waldrop, R. C. Hunter,
Alfredia Livingston, Mrs. F. C.
Hentz, Barbara Alice Amick,
F. J. Kennerley IT, Henry Da
vid Warren, Mrs. T. M. Shull.
Aug. 14: Tip Hargrove, Mrs.
Clay Balleatine, Carroll Loo
ney, Loris Boland, Deborah
Brady, Dudley Dominick, Miss
Sudie Dennis, Patricia Lake,
Ike Dennis Jr., Debbie Lip
scomb, P. K. Fuller, Rev. Paul
Petty. ✓
Aug. 15: Mrs. James Mills,
Miss Sadie Bowers, Mrs. Wil
liam Partridge, Mary Lane
Chapman, Mrs.' Ruth Walton,
Ann Leopard, Mrs. Arthur Ear-
gle, Charlotte Pelham, Gary
Pope, Dow Bedenbaugh, Jose
phine Ann Tindall, Cecil E. Mer
chant, Ella Rae Blake, Rev.
Bob Long.
Aug. 16: Price K. Harmon,
Mrs. Holland Sligh, Barney
Yates, Billie Dickert, Cynthia
Sue Merchant, Martha Folk,
Mary Katherine Stone, Mary
Bedenbaugh, Cathy Graham,
Mary Anna Long, Clyde Living
ston Jr., Mark Baker.
Aug. 17: Mrs. M. P. Davis,
Mrs. Seth A. Meek, L^ila Kay
Singley, John H. Boozer, Frank
Gilbert, Rodney Outz, Jeannie
Armfield, John Earl Smith,
Boyd Hobson Parr, Mrs. Bobby
Hawkins.
Aug. 18: Griffin Coleman,
Mrs. B. F. Hawkins, Sinclair
Kemper, Billy Yanderford, Mi
chael Cameron Johnson, Clarence
B. Hazel, Eugene Smith, Eunice
H. Hawkins, Tom E. Longshore.
Aug. 19: Mrs. Charlie Ruff.
Jimmie Ringer, Jknmy Timmer
man, Anita Hyers, Blanche C.
Leslie, Frances S. Dufford, W.
C. Wallace, Mrs. Ernest O.
Wicker, Sandra Cubbage.
£1