Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Mit. Hl- \KIM? IH.CCNDS I1IM sv.i.r. A K? to Mr. Jcnniug* and an I \ po*Jlton of Other Matters of a More or l<e*M IVrsonal Nu furo. Edltor Dally Item. In reply to Mr. Ii. I >. Jennings S/hfl ?ays that I am "trying to nrra\ i 1) against country." 1 desire p. s.iy first, that) there are few. If any farmers In Sumter county who know me. nnd th, ir. ? f a a k I haw pu' in oi vertlalng the city and county of Sum? ter. telling of the advantages that Sumter county h.n r many other sections of this country, who nre fa? miliar with the work I did to assist Congressman I.e\-r and the late Sen? ator Lattimer. t ? Induce Secre tary of Agriculture James Wilson, and a number of hla bureau chiefs In secur? ing for the farmers of Sumter and Le? counties the soli surveys, and the presence of manv experts of the department of agriculture In this county to consult with and advise the Sumter county farmers vs to the most scientific and practical methods > of farming, few. I repeat of these farmers, hundreds of whom are my closest friends will believe, without a hearing from me, that I am antag? onistic to the country. A man's rec? ord stands for something. I hive made ? record as a public spirited cltlaen. as a lover of my native coun? ty, and as a "booster" and 1 can gUe IndteputahU evidence of Uaese claims by tangible testlmonlsls of esteem in recognition of services performed for my native city and county, my ene mtee. to the contrary. That I have made mistakes, and have my degrees of human weakness. I freely ai mtt. but Ingratitude and promoting dissension and discord smong my fel- j low ctttsens are crimes never before laid at my door until Mr. Jennings, Who has evidently misunderstood tie Intention of my article In Saturday's Dally Item, prefers this grave list cf charges against a man who. If I do say It myself, can measure up with any man In this county In point of unselfish love of home, nnd devotion to hie city's and county's Interest. Thousands of farmers of Sumtdr coenty. and their wives and chHdre:- j will beir witness that upon numerous occasions during the past seventeen years T have gone out to their coun j try districts when no one else cou'd 1 be secured, and leaving BaJ family | tor w?oV? 4*onneril?tnr mv >fficlal i position hs health ohVet. ai d bei: a adverse y crtuctseel by laee fot leaving hs.vft. tr*o' Winter d? ? * and sun *m or snine. i i ..-..v.-vi ittji in ui'i itnu life, and endangered the life of every memb ?r of my femlly ?>> exposing myself to hundreds of cases of small pox. snd disinfecting many houses In- 1 fscted with the germs of tuberculo? sis, typhoid fever, dlpthejla. scarU t fever, and small pox. vaccinated many thousand*1 of country peopl-? of both races, and In other ways prov ti my respect, admiration, and love 1 of my fellow citizens of the country district* of the grand old "Oame Cock County" when not even physi? cians could he conveniently secured to go to the assistance of panic stricken nvn. wom-n. and children In times of emergency. 1 was, of course, paid In moat Instances, but po'?rlv ) v the county. 1 can point with pardonable pride to many acts of mine in numerous matters, in my official capacity as secretary of the Sumter Chamber of Commerce, and as newspaper cor-J pup -mb-nt itcl h.'.uih SA SS dol? ing twenty years past that prove that the farmers of Sumter county never bad I ??? tter Mend than I ? Th.- <;. n eral SumP r v | | 1 ntv of Statehurg. and other country schools will testify that old "K. I. I:." has Stood by them when they needed friends. advertisers and supporters ard w i candid ife or n ? a chant. I may be further pardon- ?1 fnr re- ' peatlag that a man's record stands for ^om-thlng. and in repeating th/s I merely w|%h to emphasise the fm thst I do not think I reoulre any de? fense among th ? farmers of Sumter county as to mv attitude towards tru-** and their families. Dox?m- , f time* %h.n otn in the um irs | hi\ drlv n miles to nttS Into pain and suffering wh"?i physicians ? ouV not be hiol < ..n\etitently. An*'. It w is "lab? r of lo\e ' i not only del not charge, but had no rU'ht kafg for profe??e nil work which I was Intellectually capable ,,f performing but eon**itutlou*M\ delmrr *d fr??m sjaeefMlng pa! ioi. n,.-. betnsj ? ?raj uate ptorntoten. Men many times ha* Attorney Jetinmirs ? . r ridden out ami given his BjfofSSSeonal ser Vlces ' ? the farmers as "a labOf Ol imr To lump at eo||elusb>ns and puh> lb ly condemn a man without giving the condemned an opportun!!) to vindicate himself Is an eel that say Small, narrow-guaged hdhhlual eng perform. ?>ut It take* B ' ?ro.ol guaged" man |o rOSnegnt* r th it sul? lying i man"-? reputation I ?* a crime agsln*' i)ni| and man. and 'that be who atealefh my purse taketh tra b. but he who flb hea from me my gOOd name, taketh that which onrh ht th him n * In my article of Saturday's Item I mi.?!???!> (ranted to show that my pre? vious contention that the burden of the tax for the *i".0,000 bond laeue would fait upon the citizens of Sum ter had been proven by the state? ment-; of two prominent editors and official records, I retract nothing, as l toid the truth, i can conscientious |y differ with my fellow citizens as to the tuest economical and equitable method of securing a complete sys? tem of highways without necessarily being an Individual who wishes to array city against the country* since re ullng my article. and consulting with i a umber of my friends i have found out and many citizens have told me that the way my article was Worded Who calculated to convey the Impression that I was trying to ar? ray city against country. I wrote the nrttoH very hurriedly and did not realize at the time that the pharse ology was misleading. So 1 can not blame Mr. Jennings for misunder? standing my Intentions, but I do think he might have given me opportunity to say whether that was my Intention before he arraigned me before the bar of public opinion is a strife raiser and ingrnte. Let the farmer pay his Just proportion of taxes. He is no pauper In regard to Mr. Jennlng3' investi? gation of the tax books and his state? ment that I pay no taxes, I think 1 will give him the opportunity to in? vestigate again before I fully reply to him. Let him ask City Clerk and Treasurer Charles M. Hurst whether I pay taxea or not, and if Mr. Hurst says that I do not then 1 will prove that the majority of taxes In Sumter is paid by the women, and that most of the property Is owned by the .'o men. I gave my wife the house and lot we are living In and 1 have paid every dollar that we have paid on the home myself, and I have worked for and paid out of my salary every dollar of taxes on this little home. I gave thla home to my wife honestly, and not as a bankrupt who failed and robbed his creditors out of thousands of dollars by paying off ten to twen'y IN nts on the dollar as many attomlos' clients have done In this city. There are many "high rollers" in Sumter commercial and fashionable society circles, and who ride In cost? ly automobiles, whom Mr. Jennings knows can't sign as freeholders, a petition to order an election for a bond SUroe because these bankrupts proportionately higher than many a rich man, or rather rich woman's home In Sumter. Mr. Jennings can select from the tax looks a number of his richer and Intimate friends, and no doubt clients, "who do not pay any taxes" If having your prop? erty In your wife's name constitutes a non-taxpaylng citizen. There is no way that an attorney can point to a poor mftn or woman, not engaged in mercantile life, how to honestly avoid paying their debts. Bui any merchant or farmer who has been doing a big business may pay a I I reff to legally roh his creditors for him and ?tili retain his social, com? mercial and political andt re ligious equilibrium. Mr. Jennings says that he can rot understand why a man who pay* no t i\e* shomd worry about whether city bondi are redeemed or nob Well, 1 eon tend that the city of Sumter ihOUM ehissl by the Constitution or lo r bonds Issued are liable to be re? pudiated. If, as Mr. Jennings prac? tically contends, law amounts to aothrni in issuing bonds, then why did not the purchasers of the Main ?treat bond asms accept Mr. Jsnnlng'i legal opinion that it erai not neoee sary to open the books of registra? tion for a special election? Wh.it Sumter lawyers w'ere t?? blame a hen the water works. BOWer i.g< cysfein and Main street bond ls fUse were tnfnod down by bond :'ur ? husers? i repeat that if having your prop* fy In your wiles name debars a citisea of the right to take an Inter? ? ?1 In i bond issue, or to form Of ex? press an tplnlon on public que*rf ?ns, ih. ri the women ought to lake oharge of the ? itv and county government 'muo d.at. lv. at cording to the nurn I K*r of freeholders in Sumter, There are no| ? lUfllelenl number of white male freeholden in Sumte? to order 'an ele tlon fOF anything. This in 1 eludes the rich white men, and some influential "leading and prominent clthr*na" who belonp to ths chamber of Commerce, i will bet thai there re more male freeholder! among the worklni men of sumter than there ire among Mr. Jennings' intimate se? sociales in the Chamber ol Com? merce, and tin y did not have the an* Ststan? e of attorneys to Isaglly roi, any one for th? m. in my article, to which he takes exceptions, 1 said that "It is true that the city is dependent upon the proo? perlty of the country to a great e\ Hut, Dm if tin millions' of people using in the cities of the world did n..t sat, and went elotnet the farmer voiild not stand much of a show to market ins cotton and other field producta, The city man is also Im portent to the farmer, One la de-1 pendant upon the other, as a whole." Mr, Jennings corroborates my con-' tentlona in nil articles, as followa: "What would the tilty do without tin- country? What would the country do without the city? We are Interdependent upon each oth? er." v it he characterise! me ae a strife raiser and one who wishes to array City against country because 1 prove by reliable editors and official records that there is an unequal burden of | taxes levied upon city property. Tnat tin olty PUya over half of the county taxes for country Improvements and receives not a cent in return for mu? nicipal purposes. I would not honestly without first consulting Mr. Jennings as to his mo? tives in saying that Sumter citizens should repudiate my attempt to ar? ray city against country by turning out and voting for the bond issue, acouae Mr. Jennings of making use of "cheap-skate" politics th'? night he fore the election to work upon the feelings of or the sentiment of Sum? ter voters to create the impression that VOtee against the bond issue would be construed by the farmers as an endorsement of what he er? roneously construes as antagonistic sentiment on m> part against coun? trymen. But I could with equal jus? tice do so. and thtn after hearing his side qualify my statement. He does me th" honor to say that I was once a leader in the Chamber of Commerce. Yes. I was one of the leaders and wheel horses too. 1 also worked in the ranks as a private and did a lot of work for which others received the glory, and benefits. I did hundreds of days and nights work .and sacrificed my Sunday rest working for Sumter and neither ask? ed nor received compensation there? for. No one knows this better than Mr. Jennings. He worked with me, time after time. He was a "leader and I wheel-horse" for Sumter as he is now. He had money and an auto? mobile and ability In his way. I had energy, and like him public-spirit, love of home, I COUld dQ some things he and others could not do. But we did it. 1 did my share. When the Chamber of Commerce treasury was empty, as it mostly was, he and a few other men went down in their pockets and paid the bills tlm.1 Rswtrt t n?id out what lit? tle l could. ?\*. worked eud travel. aroui I ? pay the bills either. They know it They appreciate it. But when the Chamber of Commerce got a few thousand dollars they went bark on the old "wheel horse" old "E. I. II." who was willing to work for nothing, or practically nothing and hired an outsider as secretary at a monthly ?alary of 1160,00, If the treasury of the Chamler of Commerce "went dry" tomorrow, or hny time In the near future, this outsider who has no interest in Sumter except bis salary, would sensibly and naturally desert the <>hl ship and pull out for another job mighty quick. Then old "E. I. li." or "L. D. J." would Come in mighty handy with their money or energy. It may come to the point yet where the home man will be needed, when the cash runs out. I do not believe that cities or towns Should be taxed to defray the < ipeneea ??f the county and yet re? ceive no prorate shar.- <>f that taxes. The farmers themselves don't think it fair. 1 am working for Sumter city when I light this Injustice, "Taxation without ropres. ntation" < aus. <i the American colonies to fight for ami gain their Independence, Taxation of an Incorporated com munty for the benefit of the other portions of the county Without fci\iu'-; the city Its share is unjust and I can state thla fearlessly and no fhlrmlnd ed and Intelligent farm, r can con clentloualy any i am arraying city against country. I have aa much right to express mv opinion ns any rich tax dodger. i did not intend to array city against country, i love the country districts where i havi apenl weeks and months fighting against disease and death, and always won out, thank Ood. I was always hospitably treated in the country districts. I love my country friends, and i am proud of their friendship, 1 would tM.i intentionally wrong them, and! If In the inat of political discussion did se.-m to do thorn an injustice, the fanm rs and thetn wives, may God bic.-> tin m, they would forgive and forget, knowlne my Impulalve way. There is more religion, charity, hon? esty ami hospltallt) In one square mile of tin- rural district a <>f Sumter count) than you ?an find in the big? gest city in the world, notwithstand? ing tb. re I* a lot Of all four in Cities ami town*-, if aome of the religion la In the w if< s name. As a matter of fact it la immaterial I to me whether we have good or bad roads, or whether the bond lasue ii voted for <??? agalnat, 1 have lo I all interest in public affaire, i am eure I Mr. Jennings win now do the Justice t<? feel that he was hasty in con? demning m<. No matter whh h Bide wins today let US all put ..'ide ill feeling and remember that "The fairest action or our human lifo, is scorning to revenge an in? jury. For who forgives without further strit'.', his adversary's heart to him doth tie. And 'tis a greater victory, truly said, to win the heart than smash the head." Although a representative of the nationality that has for its emblem "the big stick" I endorsia the above sentiment, but like all true Irishmen I am still no man's man and not afraid to say what 1 think whether it suits the rich hypocrit and liar or suits the poor man. I value every one's good opinion, but I fear no man and will always express my views and I am respon- j slide physically for my assertions and actions to all men at all times' Whether the man be rich or poor. ES. I. Reardon, MR. REARDON EXPLAINS. Disavows Any Intention to Reflect Upon Mr. Jennings or Any Other Particular Person?Ready to be a Booster Again. Editor Daily Item: In my article yesterday replying to Honorable L. D, Jennings, I used the words "I will always express my opinion whether it suits the rich hypocrite and liar, or the poor man." Now as the discussion was incident to a difference of opinion between Mr. Jennings and the writer, I am afraid, although no one has so intimated to me, that some one might think I w as referring to Mr. Jennings. 1 desire to intrude further upon your gene? rosity to voluntarily and must em? phatically disclaim any such inten? tion. I referred to no one in particular. 1 have always found Mr. Jennings a very candid and truthful, fair and generous gentleman In all of my deal? ings with him. He has always been courteous, and In our little differences of opinion about municipal or coun? ty affairs, which wc- have aired to some extent in the newspapers, he has always "hit above the belt" and Conducted his side with strictly im? personal and parllmentary lan? guage. The^-e are no hard feelings between us and WS have always worked to lane, ana i will fall in line, and 'get in the game" again and In the front ranks of the "Boosters" for the "Gamecock City, and Country." I hope that all Sumter citlsens Will now lay aside any ill feeling, if any exists over the road bond issue. As one of th? vanquished I "take my medicine" and am ready to do my part, as a public spirited citizen, bowing as gracefully as possible *o the will of the majority. R, I. Reardon. (The above was written before the last returns were received reversing the apparent majority in favor of the bond issue, and putting Sumter county on record as opposed to a complete system f>f good roads and unwilling to pay for them. Mr. Reardon be? longing to the victorious faction is en? titled to a full share of the honors that the result justifies.?Ed.) CROSS GARXER'8 FERRY IN CAR. Messrs H. v. Reld ami J. it. Mercer First to Cross Proposed Ferry Road. Messis. H. v. Reld and J. R. Mer? cer are the drat to cross the Gar? ner's Perry road Into Rlchland coun? ty in an automobile, While these gentlemen ware out tiding In an Everltt roadster Sunday morning they decided to run to the swamp leading to darner's Perry and after arriv ing tin re they found that the tool through the swamp was bo good that they decided to g i to the ri\er, w hieb they did, ? >n arriving at the river they met Mi, House, who Is in charge of a gang v. ha h |h now working on the cross? ing. Mr. House very kindly bad the machine ferried across the river, Af? ter tiding a short time on the Rich land side Messrs, Reld and M< ret r re? turned the car and were ferried back across the vVateree, These gentle mon were very much surprised a* the good condil oi which the swamp road Is now in, and the gentlemen who are building this crossing do* Borve much credit for the way they are pushing the work which gives Kumt? r people a shorter route to our eapital City. The distance from the river t-> the ? ity limits of Sumter was measured and found to be exactly 18 1-- miles, The width oi the swamp on the Sum? ter side of the ti\er is I L' -10 miles. Blla Stokes and Phillip Johnson, ,,f Tin.i.ii. called on the county clerk Wednesday and expressed their de> sire to secure a marriage license. A>s there was i.ne to oppose giving them tin- license II was granted, CKOI'S PEEL liUK OF KAI N. Cooler Weather and Need of Moletore Characterises Crops. Washiigton, Aug. I.- Cool weather and a la ;k of rain characterized crop growing conditions during the past week, a< cording tu the weekly bulle lion of t ie weather bureau issued to? day. Over ihe corn-growing States west Of the Mississippi favorable weather continued except in Nebraska and western Iowa where there was little rain. Ii the principal corn-growing States el It of the Mississippi cool w eather >revialed hut rain was. scarce. I In the -otton belt much needed sun? shine an? dryer weather prevailed in the centr il States of the belt and the entire section east of the Mississippi was with-; ut any large amount of rain? fall. It was practically rainless in parts of Georgia and Alabama and i there wai little'rain or none over the geater l?art of the Carolina*, where B large dellciency in the seasonal pre cfpitation continues. In the cotton-crowing States west of the Mississippi the weather was generally favorable. Conditions are greatly improved In Oklahoma and good showers occurred in many por tlons of Texas, although parts of that Sta'e are still suffering for rain. GOV. IIOKi: SMITH CRITICISED. Washington, August 1.?While the Senate today passed the House free list hill with a compromise, to insure insurgent .Republican support on reconsideration of the hill, after it , had failed to pass, the original bill would have been adopted if Senator J elect Hoke Smith, of Georgia, had been in his seat to break the tie. There is a good deal of bitter com? ment among the Democrats in Con gress of this unfortunate fajjure to ? raise the one needed vote. Turnip Seed #TT We have just received our first m shipment of new crop Turnip Seed. This being the proper month to plant Ruta Baga and other tur? nips, we solicit your valued patron? age. Siberf s Drug Store, W. W. SIBERT. 8 South Mam St Phone No. 233 2 tLESI 3IN< INNA I I VIA Southern Railway Iu tonuecttng with C N. O. and T. P. Falway Consisting of Com? bined Bargag? and Srook'.ng Car. First Class Ceacb. Pullman Drawing Room Sleeping Car, Pu.lujan Obsarratlon Sleeping OM and Dining Car Service. Soll? between I harleston aud Cincinnati on the following conven? ient scl edules : WESTBOUND NO. 7 Lv Charte *oa .AM Lv Summ TYllle. .AM Lv Orang* bunt.1117 AM Lv Coluaoia.l.M PM LvSpsrtai burs.4.15 PM Ar Aih.vi Ic.7.J7 PM Ar Ciucin tad.It ft) AM RASTBOUND NO. 8 LvOtnciiiaatl.iNPM Lv Aaheville . II 2* AM Ar Spartaaburs .1 41 PM Ar Columbia.4.45 PM Ar Oranstburg .?.15 PM Ax&ummerviUa .SM PM Ar Chirleoton.1.45 PM OOOD(CtlDJ at Cinclnnat. with through train* for Chicago, rieve land, Ih trolt, Seattle. St. Louis. Kansas City. Denrer, San FrtHifT*. and Pot ta Wont and Worthwssi. Kor lurthor information call Southern Hallway Ticket Offlc?. L. I>. K >BINSOX, C. P. sad T. A. K. H. COAPMAX, V. P. and O. M. W. E. McGEE, J. Ll MEEK, 1). P. A. A. G. P. A. S. H, HAHDWICK n. F. CART, P. T. M. G. P. \. r'WS BW An Annual Mountain and Seashore Excursion The Atlantic Coast Line announces extremely low round-tr p aates for the above occasion t?> Washington, Norfolk, Richmond, Wilmington, Myrtle Beach and to the Mountai i, Lake and Spring Resorts North and South Carolina Tickets will be on sale tor all trains on Wednesday, August ruh, It noted to return i n or before September 2, 1911. The round-trip rates from Sumter to the following points ar! as follows : Washington $9.00 Richmond 8.00 Norfolk 8.00 Ashevillo (>M Hendersonvilte 6.05 Saluda $5.85 Spartanburg 5.00 Wrightsvillc 5.50 Proportionate Rates to many other points Full i iformation, reservation'-, etc . may be obtained fromO.V. Player, Ticket Agent,Sumter, S. C, or by ad? dressing T. C. Wl 1 I K. W. J.CRAIG, Gcucrol Passenger Agent. Pass. Traffic Mgr. Wilmington, N. C.