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im k&?imm mit jwat&roh WEDNESDAY, MARC H 30, 1904. - The Sumter Watchman was founded n 1850 and the Trte Southron in 1866. The Watchman, and Southron now has the com? bined circulation ar d influence of both . f the old papers, and is manifestly the be--; advertising medium in Sumter. LEYES m mm mam. Plain Talk of the Congressman from the 7th District. fir. Lever Warmly Advocates the Free Jhiral Delivery System, but Does Not Hesitate to Say ?nat it bas Been A?ministered Without Doe Regard to the Interests of the South. Washington, March 21-Representa? tive Lever participated today ic one of the most exciting debate's of the ?Bseasion over the .postoffice appropria? tion bill At the close cf a sharp con? troversy between Leaders Payne and Williams the young South Carolinian . was recognized by the. speaker. Mr. Lever is extremely popular on both ..*.> sides of the chamber, so that he com? manded the attention cf an unnsnsily [?large attendance of members. He delivered a carefully prepared speech, snowing his familiarity with the practical workings of the postal ser " vice, and made a convincing argu - ment to show that un jest discrimina? tions are constantly being made against the south in the administration of the postal service. He was frequently interrupted with questions, but he was ready with answers which pro? voked applause on the Democratic side. He was granted several exten? sions of time to conclude ?is remarks He- said in substance : Mr? Chairman: We axe about to appropriate o;rer twenty million dollars as for the maintenance and further l^aiiguration of rural delivery service. It is a wise and just expenditure-^ a reasonable concession to the just demand of the rural population of the country for an equal share of the benefits of the postal service. lt is of. much concern to. me, as it must be to every fair-minded and just membjer of this Congress, to know if this great sum is to be distributed fairly among the States and in propor? tion to their rural population, and ' th?; actual _ need cl the. service, of, judging tu? futur? by the past, along the lines of greatest "pull !" Is each State to be treated with even approxi? mate justice and fairness in the general division of the fund, or will -those Slates with Republican major? ities and Republican Congressmen, as heretofore get the long end of the rope? It had never occurred to me that the >stoffice department was. other than great business institution, under Federal control? operating for thc good of ali the people- of th? country,, re? gardless of State, sectional or political lines or affiliation. I was especially impressed with the idea that this rural delivery service, inaugurated for the special benefit of the farmers and in response to a widespread, demand for fair t reamen t among all classes cf people, was being disributed without regard to. politics or, sectionalism. How often are we mistaken in our understanding of the workings of this great piece of machinery known as the Federal Government! The idea was a dream--one'of the kind belonging only to youtbfnl innocents and yout^IaZ credulity in the fairness and 5or dnesF cf mankind. What a severe shoe1 it is to a young mau to have his cherished notions shattered by the cold merciless logic of incon? trovertible facts ! On December 15? 1903, just after the opening of the present session of Con? gress, Judge Maddox, of Georgia, in his speech on the floor of this House, raided the issue that favoritism and unfairness, had been used in the loca? tion of rural routes, and charged dis? crimination in the disbursement of the money appropriated for this ser? vice. In an open letter to the fourth assis? tant Postmaster General the energetic gentleman from Alabama, Represen? tative Bowie, also charged flagrant discrimination, not only in the location of routes,, but in the' report of the agent upon the the petitions investi? gated, and in the consideration of pe jtitions filed in the department. Among other tbiogs he says: With these statements, coming from such eminent and responsible sources, in mind, I began cn investigation on my own accord, and it has resulted in convincing me, and I believe when I have ?riven the facts to the House they will convince every fair-minded man here and throughout the country, that the rankest injustice .has been done my section and State in the distribution of rural routes, and that the discrimination charged by-the gen? tleman referred to does exist in an outrageous degree. The protest I am about to make may result in co good, for it is hard, I know, to penetrate the hide of a departmental official, who is. supported by the Adminis? tration in power, and whose politi? cal head depends upon the amount of service he shows himself capable of rendering to that party. I conceive it to be myj duty to lay some of the facts I have gathered before the House for the information of members, in order that they may know what treat? ment is accorded them, and how the money they vote for this service is being used to the advantage of certain sections as against their own. Now, Mr. Chairman?, we shall let the facts speak for themselves and I shall be satisfied with the showing they make and the proof they afford of the policy of discrimination that exists in the postoffice department, or at least has existed. [ * There were 21,660 routes in opera? tion on February 15 this year. How are they distributed, and what sec? tion has gotten- the lion's share of them? I shall insert in the Record a table prepared by the postoffice depart? ment; showing the number o:f peti? tions filed, the number favorably re? ported, the number adversely reported, the number of routes established in each State of the Union, and the num? ) ber o? peutioDb pending at tbis ti and awaiting the action of tbe dept ment Gentlemen, tbese figures show "a markable eituation and prove beyx peradventure tbe most palpa favoritism in tbe administration this service and in the distribution tbe fends set aside for it. . The ten solidly Democratic Sta of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiai Florida, Georgia, North CaroHi Sou tb Carolina, Mississippi. Texas a Virginia-States always Dernocra -with a total population in rou numbers of 16,300,000. have be favored to the extent of 2,899 routes au average of 289 routes f or each Si a Putting the figures in a different vt they show that these Democratic S tai have received only one route_ for eve 5,6.-0 of their population. What ste does the figures tell as to the t< solidly Republican States of Iowa a: indiana? With a combined populati of ouly 4,700,000, jusf; about ot fourth of the population of the Stat named above, these two States the last decade rock-ribbed and et ern in their Republican fancies-ha been favored by the department wi '$227 routes. A route for every 1,4 of population, aa against 5,600 in tl Southern States, in other word these two Republican States, great everything, I confess, save their po] tics-and that iu this instance seer to be profitable-with a populate only one-fourth as large as that of tl ten Democratic Southern States, ba' managed somehow to persuade the of ci als of the department te give the 3,227 rural routes-328 more than ha1 been given to the entire South. Assuming that under the presei i rules each carrier gets $600 per annu: and multiply this by 3,227, the ti um bi .of routes in operation, in Iowa and Ii diana, we find that these two Stab are drawing from the total rural di di very appropriation the sum of $1 986,200, nearly cine-sixth of the en til fund as against $1,739,400 for the te Southern and Democratic States. ? another calculation we find that if vi assume that each route serves at lea? one hundred families, as is require by the rule of the department, an which is entirely arbitrary in il character and frequently works an ii justice against deserving petitioners 322,600 families in Iowa and Indian aie receiving the favors of tb National Government through this sei vice ?while in the ten Southern States with a population four times as large only 289,900 families are thus favore by the parent Government, wbio assumes to treat all of its people wit the same degree of fairness. Tbese figures show as glaring a piec of injustice to the south as was eve perpetrated upon her since her awaken ing from the inconceivable night mare of reconstruction and carpet bagism. v" But this is not all. Take the tw< States of Illinois and Kansas, both ai solidly Republican as Georgia an< South Carolina are solidly Democratic and what do we find? With a popula tion of 6,200,000, or less than half o the population of the ten Democrats States, they have so persuaded th< department as to get from it 2,87i routes, or only twenty-four routes lea than are located in all the Souther: States. What reason for this discrim ina tion? What defence can be m-id< for this injustice to a great section ol our country, whose people are willing contributors to the national expense, and who bav? demonstrated their loy? alty to the flag in offering their live? for its defence and its honor Can it be possible that .there is s deliberate intention somewhere tc make a distinction between sections in the distribution of public benefits! What reason is, there that certain States should be treated with such liberal generosity by the Government, while other States,' equally as deserv? ing and with conditions equally favor abJ Ie, are given such scant considera? tion as to call forth the protest of fair minded men everywhere? What are the peculiar persuasive powers of cer? tain States which induce the depart? ment to look with such favor upon them, that do not belong to other States? What is the peculiar influ? ence that results in the location of more rural delivery routes in two States than are located in ten-and that in the face of equal conditions Is it politics? Is it sectionalism? It is something! The facts show it, and you cannot getaway from the facts. By another process we deduce another interesting set of facts. A moment ago I made the statement that in Iowa and Indiana there was a rural delivery route for every 3,100 of population. Taking that as a unit or basis of calculation, we find that there should be in the Southern States 11,642 .routes. But for some reason, because of some lack of something that some other States seem to have, we have only 2,899. In other words, we bave gotten just one-fourth of what we are entitled to under a fair and indiscriminate distribution. Again I ask, why this discrimination But the proposition may be ad? vanced, and in a former debate on this proposition it was intimated, that the South had not been diligent in demanding the service, that ber peo pie ?ere indifferent to it and were slo* to take hold of it. and that Southern Congressmen have been negligent of the interest of their dis? tricts and have lacked energy in the following up of petitions filed. I shall net answer this with a denial, but shall content myself to let the figures gathered from the official re? cords explode the misconception. From the two States of Iowa and In? diana 4?336 petitions for rural service have been filed. From the Southern States named 0,317 petitions have been filed-2,000 more than from those two Republican States. Has the South been indiffreent to this service? Do the figures show it?? And yet, with 2,0C0 more petitions filed by the South? ern States than by Iowa and Indiana, still these two States have 322 more routes in operation. Again, let us pursue another line of inquiry and learn Low the department has treated the petitions filed, and again we are brought to the conclu? sion that we have not been treated equitably. Of the petitions filed from the South, only 45 per cent, have receivd favorable consideration at the hands of the department, or 55 per cent, of the petitions filed and examined have been regarded by the department as lack? ing merit. On the other hand, of the petitions filed from the States of Iowa and In? diana, 75 per cent, have been favor? ably acted upon and only 25 per cent, have been regarded as without merit. Did this just happen so, or was there a deliberate purpose on the part of some one, somewhere, to cater to the influence of Republican members and Senators from these States? Perhaps tbe department has been operating under duress. Or perhaps it bas been unable to resist the persuasive de? mands cf these States for ' * pap, ' ' and then for more ' 1 pap. ' ' And yet I cannot bring myself to believe that this great business depart* msnt of the Government wbicbis more olosely related to the people than any, ctner branch of the Govrenment, could permit itself to lend its influence in partisan contests. And yet, I con? fess again, that the Anger of facts points sharply in that direction ; and I have been constrained to ask if the "Iowa idea," and the havoc it seemed about to play in the Republican camp, played any part in the location of j over 1,700 routes in that State? How iuspiringly eloquent must the Iowa stump orator grow in descanting upon the glorious record of the Republican j party and the blessings it has brought to the country, and, when before an audience of farmers, enumerating as one of the chief blessings this rural delivery service, and the benefit that these 1,700 routes have brought to the 170,, OOO fram res ia that great State. What a persuasive argument that would be ! That crowd would go home with the idea that the only thing great m this world was the Republican party, and the only thing great in the Republican party was that stump orator. And yet gentlemen, this rural delivery service was not born out of the womb of any political party. It is here as the resultt of the earnest and honest demands of the farmer every? where that, the Govrenment treat him with absolute fairness in the distribu? tion of its benefits. It is the answer of the Government to a righteous demand ; and it is debased to partiasn and party purposes. It could receive no harder blow than a policy of injus? tice in connection with its adminis? tration. Non-political in its character and equally non-sectional, it should be administered with absolute fair? ness to all the States according to their rural population. The service must be kept out of politics. Several attempts have been made at different times to guard against this very danger, but each time the amendments covering the case and offered to the post office appropriation bill have been ruled out of order. Hence/from year to year the postoffice department has been intrusted with the disbursement of the enormous sum appropriated for this purpose, and has had full authority, without any restrictions of law, to administer the service and to promulgate such rules and regulations as seem best to it. Is there any reason therefore, that discrimination . has crept into the service, and that charges of unfair- ' ness are openly made? The service is too important, covers too wide a field and the appropriation too great to be placed in the hands of any one man, however unassailable his character may be or however great his executive ability, without some legislation directing its administration. When members vote for this appropriation, as all of us will do, they ought to have some assurance that their dis? tricts and States will receive their proportion of it. We ought to know that a half dozen States are not to be allowed to gobble up the hoggish share of it. But, Mr. Chairman, I have digress? ed from my line of inquiry. Let us get back to the figures and we will show that the department has not treated us fairly in taking and investi? gating petitions filed from the South. Again the policy of discrimination stands out in glarinfg light Of the total number of petitions filed with the department from the two States of Iowa and Indiana only 404 remain unacted upon, or 91 per cent of all petitions from these States have received some kind of consideration, while 25 per cent, of all petitions filed from the South are still pending-not having received the notice of the de? partment-and only 75 per cent, have been acted upon. Again the question, why this discrimination? is pertinent and interesting. The country has heard much of the rottenness that is supposed to have existed in the postoffice department. We have heard of investigations there, and we have heard of some whisperings of it here, but gentlemen, it seems to me that this discrimina? tion in the administration of the rural delivery service furnishes a fertile field for the exercise of the genius of the departmental sleuths for investi? gating things. It seems to me that it would be a much better, and certainly more profitable, investment of their talents to ferret out the mysteries of this matter than to strain oyer-worked brain in launching an assault upon the line of the enemy, as we have it in the miserable assault they have made upon the character and integrity of the membership of this body. MAGNOLIA NEWS NOTES. Magnolia, March 26.-G. LeForest Wood, impersonator, entertained an appreciative audience in the graded school building in this place, for an hour or more, on the evening of the 23rd inst. No one was disappointed, or begrudged what was paid for ad? mission, but all were delighted. Miss Mittie Boyle, one of Magnolia's most popular young ladies, and near relative of Mr. W. B. Boyle, of Sum? ter, and Mr. Johnson, of Greeley vi Ile, were made man and wife on the even? ing of the 23rd inst, Rev. T. M. Dent officiating. The number of handsome presents of which the bride was the recipient, proved her popularity. Mrs. J. W. Butler, of Charleston has been visiting reltives in this place for several days. Mr. J. F. Mathews has been con? fined to his bed for several days, but is much better. Mr. Herbert Hickson, is walking out on the streets after a severe attack of pneumonia. Our farmers have been making good use of the fine weather for preparing their lands for planting, and are fully up with their farm work, although three or four weeks ago they were pretty blue. Gardens are in advance of what they were last year, with a few exceptions Tho average planter in this section is just catching on to high fertilizing and cultivation, whether it really pays, all things considered, or not. Hon. E. D. Smith is still buying co?ton in small lots. Occasional. A CARD. Mr. Editor: I beg that you allow me space to express my heartfelt apprecia? tion for the attention shown me by both the town authorities and by dif ferent individuals during my illness in the city of Sumter. First. I want to thank Mrs. M. M. Powell for her kindness to allow me to remain in her home after the disease was pronounced small pox, and for the motherly way in which she cared for me ; my own mother could not have been more at? tentive nor have looked after, my needs and comforts with more care. Second. I want to say in behalf of the town authorities that they, through their health officer, Mr. E. 1. Reardon, did a noble part by me which 1 thank you for. And I would like to speak just here of Mr. Reardon personally, that he certainly cared for and looked after my needs and comforts nobly. I can? not compliment him too highly for the interest that he took in and the care and attention he has shown me. I personally recommend him as a man worthy of his position, and cheerfully say that Sumter or any other town is fortunate to secure the services of such a man as Mr. Reardon to fill the office which he holds. Third. I want to thank especially my Baptist brethren and sisters who ; so nobly stood by me with willing hands and hearts. From them I re? ceived inquiry after inquiry to know of my needs and they stood ready to ' render unto me any assistance needed. From Brothers C. C. Brown, W. M. Graham, E. I. Reardon, and possibly others that 1 know not the names of to mention kept me ..supplied with reading matter which I appreciate very much and I want to thank you all, my dearly beloved, for your kind? ness shown me and interest taken in me while in your midst. And above all I want to praise my Heavenly Father that Be stood by me all the while, and that back of all the kind? ness shown me* by visible personal? ties, I could by the eye of faith see Him. Beloved, it pays in sickness and in health to be on the Lord's side. In His name, A. Ross Blakely. Hurry! Hurry!! Hurry!!! If you want to get ahead of the "Litait? Workers," for on Tuesday evening, April the 12th, at the Opera House, beginning at 8 o'clock, they are going to give the entertainment of the season. Twenty-one beautiful scenes, sixteen sacred songs, a hearty welcome to all. Admission, Adults, 35 cents. Chil? dren under 12, 20 c?nts. There was no liquor in evidence around and about the polia yesterday, but it is safe to guess that a few drinks Were taken within a mile of the polls during election hours, notwithstand? ing the new law forbidding liquor drinking within that distance of polling place?. Mr. August Schelling, of Charles? ton, who will on April 1st succeed Mr. H. L. Scarborough as Superintendent of the Sumter Water Co,, is in the city and is familiarizing himself with thc duties of his position, preparatory to taking charge. Mr. Schelling bas been connected with the Charleston Water Co., for twenty-four years and is thoroughly posted on the water busi? ness. Sumter Union, No. 10, Bricklayers and Plasterers, received its charter and was dnly installed on Tuesday night last, all members being present except two. The following are the officers of the Union : President, J. T. Hatfield, Sr: Vice President, W. T. Roberts; R. S., J. M. Jones: F. S., G. W. Compton; C. S., W. D. Hatfield; Treasurer, J. T. Hatfield, Jr; Deputy, J. A. Howell. LOST-In Sumter or on the road from Sumter to Goodwill on Feb. 27 a small account book for which a suitable rweard will be paid if re? turned to J. B Warren, or left at this office._ Mch 23-2t? WANTED-Poplar, Cypress and Walnut. Logs. The Sumter Telephone Mfg. Co. _Mch 16-4t FURNISHED HOUSE in Asheville, N. C., property of Mr. Robert Broun, near Victoria Inn, will be rented for summer months. Apply to Robt. Broun, Wedgefield, S. C. March 9-2m*_ WANTED-Faithful person to travel for well established house in a few counties, calling oh retail merchants and agent*. Local territory. Salary $20.00 per week with expenses addi? tional, all payable in cash each week. Money for expenses advanced. Position permanent. Business successful and rushing. Standard House, 330 Dear? born street, Chicago. Nov. ll C0TOTY OP STOTBE. By Tlios. V. Walsh, Esq., Probate Judge Whereas, Robt. H. Green made suit to me to grant him Letters of Adminis? tration of the Estate of and effects of B. B. Tomlinson, deceased. These are therefore to cite and admon? ish all and singular the kindred and creditors of the said B. B. Tomlinson, late of said county and state,deceased, that they be and appear before me, in the Court of Probate, to be held at Sumter C. H.. on April 7th, 1904, next, after publication thereof, at il o'clock in the forenoon, to show cause, if any they have, why the said Administration should not be granted. Given under my Hand, this 2,'id day of March, A. D., 15)04. THOS. V. WALSH, March 2:5-2t Judge of Probate. CAN WE INTEREST YOU HELGE IMPROVED LOG-BEAM SAW MILL?! WITH THE HEACOCK-KlNG VARIABLE FEED WORKS, g IT CAN'T BE BEAT. Write "The Machinery People" forprices| W. H. GIBBES ca CO.j COLUMBIA, S. C. ENGINES. BOILERS, COTTON GINS, fl . THC ciaers PORTABLC SHINGLE MACHINE B PIG. No matter what the Calendar says or what the thermometer may indicate, Spring is Here. We feel it in the air, we see it in the green grass, coming forth from its long hiding place, we see it in the tree tops with their delicate buds that are soon to shade us from the sum? mer's sun, but nowhere is it more apparent than in this store, which ?s stocked as never before With the Choicest Selection of Spring a^J Summer Fabrics We Have Ever lp Assembled. We might write pages descriptive, of the many attractions and inducements we have to offer, but time and space forbid, and will only for the present extend a general invitation to our friends throughout the county to call and examine our stock before making their spring purchases, feeling assured that by so doing we will sup ply a large percentage of their wants. Easter Is Near at Hand And we have many excellent values in _ Men's and Boys' Easter Suits Picked up at a sacrifice while in market, that will mean a saving of many dollars to those in search of them. O'BO NEEL & COMPANY. .A. G- -A. I I beg to announce that I have just received a car load of ex? tra nice Horses and Mules, and want you and the public gen? erally to understand that they are FOR SALE -- The Horses are largely nice drivers for spring use ; also a few good farm Horses* Th? Mules are extra well broke with weight enough tor mill purposes. A full line of Vehicles and Harness of every description always on hand. . A. D. HARBY. I?. BOWMAN, Prest. I ? BM?UMISS. The Sumter Banking & mercantile Company, Sumter, S. C. -----Capital Stock $50,000-T Wholesale Grocers, Fertilize ers and Farmers' Supplies. Sole agents for the celebrated brand of Wil? cox & Gibbs Fertilizers. We are prepared to quote the very closest cash or time prices on all lines of Groceries, Fertilizers and Farmers' Supplies, And invite your investigationlbefore making your arrangements for another year. Come to see us. We will save you money, and give you a hearty, courteous welcome. Sumter Banking & Mercantile Company, . Masonic Building, 2d door from the Postoffice. Sumter, S. C. Southeastern Lime & Cement COM FAN Y. CHARLESTON, S. C. Building Material ot al! kinds. High Grade Rooting "RUBERCID." Feb ~ o