The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, March 30, 1904, Image 4
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