Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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COrNTY l AMMHATFS SPOKi:. (Continued from puge 1.) their votes fur this office. Hi *9M* afdercd UltiM. lt' qualified to till tho of? fice and would give good SOffVlSOi if elecied. He asked that a good, he hoped, a 'unanimous vote, woti'd la cast for him on August 25th. 1 e was applauded. Mr 8. W. Hatlleld came before ?.'..e peoplo of Privateer fur the Drat 'hue asking their votes. He was a fanner and was from the country. He did not have tlmo to make a h>mse to house canvass, nor did he believe It u uro per method of seeking votes. If elected, he would always be ready day or night, no mutter how bud tho weuth er. to do his duty, lie received somo apprnusje. | Mr. W. J. Seale could not rnako a speech, he said, but he wanted the | pec pie to realise the importance of the office of coroner, as It was on the tes-, tilnony secured at the Inquest by the) coroner on which the ?olUltor made his fight In opposing bull In uny caso. j It elected he would secure ull the nec? essary Information possible and would make it his duty to hunt up witness? es. He hoped tbut Mr. Owens would net get a unanimous vote and he felt sure that he would get some votes here, which ho would upprccluto. He received applause The legislative candidates came ?ext. the eaudldutcs for senate speak? ing llr?t Mr. K. V. Kpps began his speech by expressing bis pleasure ut being with tin people of Privateer to thank them for tho largo vote given him two years ago, saying tbut It af? forded him pleasure to think thut he had merited their confidence as Indi? cated by their votes. The South was now fucing a mo? mentous era. The threatened Euro? pean war placed the United States In a serious situation und especially war ihe situation serious in the South, where the farmers would find that toey are making a mistake in living on cottou and not ruislng more foodstuffs. The war would bankrupt the South on i ess svmethtng was done to save the farmers when the price of cotton fell. "I thank Uod that the United States now has at its head Wood row Wllson, a man capable of guiding the nation In any emergency," said Mr. Krpa, BaSswf uppluuse. Unless the wur Is quickly ended cotton will not bring the cost of pro? duction, and if warlike preparations continued he wus In favor of the gov? ernor calling a special session of tho legislature to devise means of aiding the farmer and tiding him throut,.i this crisis. He bad been born and raised on the farm und knew the hardships of guinlug an educutlon on five cent cotton, i Ho was interested lit the cause of ed? ucation. Tho high schools should got aorn. aid, but tho common schools were not looked after us they should be. He hud taught school for nine years und thought himself capable of| representing the pcopl on education* al mutters. Mr. Kpps referred to recent Investi? gation which showed that the South was l?ottled up and not getting as low freight ratos as other parts of the country. saving tbut It had been stated on the stand that it would cost less to make * series of shipments irorn each station to the next than of one long haul of freight from tho west to South* Carolina. The southern farmers were pa>ing this freight. If one road could not make this haul profitably, why del It compete with the other roads? It was a common sense view to consider that the road made u profit or It would not endeavor to get the trallle. He stated that tho railroads generally started off on small capitals and unually Increased this capital by issue of watered stock and of course when the time came for dividends tin rail roads could not tdtow good dividends on this intlated sasdtsl Ho read a letter from a railroad attorney asking the Siimter delegation to oppose the two cent rate lull, but stated that be had voted for the two rent late bill, with a clause exempting short Urns from this low rate, but thought that the longer lines should have the low sr rates. ? >n this matter he referred to Mr. Clifton's record, reading from notes, which he stated wa re tak< n from the senate Journal, show ine Mr Clifton's efforts to postpone, Of cn ttnue the two gfjfljfl rate bill .acb tirm U cam.- mi in the senate The bill had been Bjsjfl through the house, but fulled to ,?a** the senate. Me understood ( that Ihe n.ilroads, through thcli agents, were lighting him in this cam nasg* In reference to his political afldla-' Hon. Mr. C.pps state,I tti.tI he WOUld riot VW%f for Oot I lb lie stood Where be rud stood tv\o \ i ;tra SRO on this Issue II? b.nl ., i I,,, stilt his positioi. Hl< sat htm and he ah ?wen b iters. sa>lns that Ihe) had been \\ilM?n to friend* <>u both sluV? end at hers Whose polltfc ,\ stand he did led kn< w. Statins hhl "p; istllhill to Oo\. Mango, "I hu\?- an tied ??** u< and the SSai who lias been Spn iilltii It sroond here that t\\.. || around here tbm Iwe year* ago i Voted for Judge Join s. bid now I would vote for Hlcase will have to go oil and make up another lie to sprenu," ln? declared. The inheritance tax, which he had opposed. Mr. Kpps .stated would have been harmful to the widow and not to the rich man. He did not consider this a subject of tax, but thought it a scheme to help the rich man and hurt the poor man. In the bill to redtlCf the rate or Interest Mr. Kpps stated he had found a measure to hurt the farmer, saying that with Its passage it would have been almost impossible to get money I when it was needed and it would have hurt those who depended upon the Income from the loans. He had voted against the bill to reduce interest from eight to six per cent. He thought that the money was worth eight per cent. He had not introduced any bills the llrst year he was In the legislature,! BBVjISjg that he wanted to learn the ways of tbet body. During his second year ho had pushed through the house every bill ho had introduced. He re? ferred to Mr. Clifton's work In the house, suying that In his llrst two years, only one bill introduced by him had gone through, in 1MI none went through and in the rest of the time he Was in the house most ofthe bills in? troduced by Mr. Clifton had failed to go through. During 1 ill3 and 1914 .Mr. Clifton, he said, had Introduced twelve bills, only two of which went through the legislature, one a bill in reference to hunting foxes and the other a bill calling for the dispensury election. Mr. Kpps referred to the present law which requires an election every four years on the dispensary question. He was an enemy to whiskey and would always work against it, but he was not opposed to allowing an election on tho question. He sturtcd to explain j his action on this bill when his time was up, saying that he would ask a reply in case any new matters were brought out by his opponent. There were several erics of "give him time," "go on," and applause when he stop? ped. Mr. J. H. Clifton was introduced und applauded as he took the stand. "1 havo been your very humble repre? sentative for twelve years," he stated, |H commencing, "and, to quote from Josh Ashley, whom Mr. Opponent seems to think such a common sense man, It is not the pai^sagc of bills, but the prevention of fool bills Introduced by young legislators which counts." I He was In favor of getting money ?I the lowest possible rate of interest j and thought that the farmers would like to get it at a lower rate than the present one. He had voted against the bill requiring insurance companies to reinvest In this State all of the1 money ohtutned here, as it would dr.vc them out of the State, und th?.s re? move the chief source from which money could be borrowed on long time loans at a low rate of Interest, 'lie had opposed the inheritance tax. He stated that he had not been run? ning around handshaking and did not expect to conduct his campaign in that way. He referred to the dispensary bill, suying that he was sorry this had been brought In as he had hoped that this would be an educatlonul cam? paign In which the farmer might be warned of the boll weevil and means discussed whereby the rural com? munity might be made a bitter place j to live, but since his Opponent had gesM into his record, he would point out a few thing* in the record of his opponent. "He can't point out a single administrative step or hill he has had passed m?r a single hill which he bus prevented from passage." The bill "ordering ami directing" the county board to sell the city hall property for $^,G00 had been pre? pared by the house delegation, bad come to him and he had stricken out I the provision stating the amount. This bill was passed ami the properl> sold for $ It, tea, Thus he had saved the county |7,IM, Tho dtspanenry bill of If IS had been peaeed and defeated by the people, In lilt another dispensary bill had been {prepared and had been recommended I In B statement signed by all of the [membon of the houae, including Mr. Kpps. When a legislator recommend? ed a bill, it was expected that he would vote for it and support it. Mr. Kpps had agreed to sign the recommenda? tion if nfty per cent of the names ol voters iu the count) should sign the petition. However. win n the time caret to vote on the bill, Mr. Bpp* bad asked the house to eXCtMH him from voting, He, Mr. Ullfton, bad always VOted oil any measure that e.ime up and he would get out of the race if anyone oould show that he had ever refused to vote one w a \ or the other Hy Inference bis opponent hud irled t.. shoe ib.it the railroads wer? sup? porting him, He was glad to gel the support of any good Democrat, He considered Hie railroad the greatest developer of Ihr countrj und II was ilolng a greni work for the people, He referred tu the amendment to the i Hpnrtanhurii union station bin rci|iilr< mi, i hi i a111 moli lo build a union stu I'D at .-'no li I This bill bud passed th. nennte, bill did not pass the hoiim bj reason of Ihe opposition of the delegation In the house and he thought that Mr. Bops was the mom-; her who hail done most to endanger ihe paaaage of the bill. Mr. Bpps bad opposed this i>i11 on the one hand, when he had the opportunity to re? quire tho railroads to furnish suitable accommodations but had wanted the tWO-cent rate bill, showing his course to be seemingly inconsistent. Mr BppS had not Voted on the Fortner 1?i 11 either time it came to a , vote, although he was present, at least one t ine. Everybody knew where he StOOd on the Blease issue too well to get his attitude mixed. Hi stated that Mr. BppS hud voted to override the veto of the governor to pay out $1,000 to the Colored Fair Association? His opponent had also voted to override the governor's veto to pay to four commissioners the sum of $T 500 to operate a farm of thirty acres for the bcno.lt of the inmates of the State hospital. Mr. BppS had voted to give $ 1,000 to the Live Stock Breeders' Association, again showing his seeming Inconsistency. At this point there was some laughing in tho nudienee at Mr. Clifton's sallies. Mr. Clifton warned those who were laughing that his opponent's record was not a laughing matter, saying that his opponent had written a book, and by that book he was being judged. Mr Clifton referred to the foot that some of the State oilleers wanted of? fices away from the State house, say? ing that Mr. BppS had voted to pay $?1,00) a year rent for quarters In the Union National Bank building in Co luinb a, over the veto of governor, but this item was not passed. He did not think that anyone could charge hltn with failing to do his duty in the time he bad represented the people. He bad lever failed nor would ever fail to vote for measures which would benefit the old soldier, as his opponent had done. He referred to the action of the last State convention in adopting tho new j primary rules, saying that he had op j posed the tw o-ycar rule and the per? sonal signing of the club rolls. He did not have the poor man in his mind, but he had sought to do justice by aver) white Democrat In the state. He bad thought Charleston the chief source of causes for changes in the primary rules, but the convention hao seen lit to make rules for Charleston county different from those through? out tllS State. He stated that he had been count) chairman and senator and during that time he had never asked anyone how to vote. He had always tried to vote as it was his duty to vote and to he I Considerate and courteous to ull. lie referred to some report concern? ing the Bell's Mill plantation which had been exempted from taxation by I act of the last legislature, saying that he had only one vote in the delega? tion. A hospital was a charitable in Istilution and its property, as such, was exempted from taxation. If any one, the township board, the auditor, or citizen, found that it was not serv? ing this purpose, he could replace It on the tax books. If a mistake had been made, it could Very easily be re? paired. Mr. Clifton was applauded. Mr. BppS asked for a reply to new matters mentioned by Mr. Clifton, but Mr. Clifton opposed this. There was Some argument, Mr. Clifton calling on the other legislative candidates tu set? tle the matter once and for all. Mr. Be 1str stated that it was immaterial to him. other candidates did not say i either way. The chairman and ment? is rs >f the audience settled the matter , by allowing the reply to Mr. Epps. la member Of the audience saying j "Now that w e have had rain, we can stay ill day to listen." Mr. BppS denied ever having cast a VOtC against an old soldier, saying that the vote was on a different mat? ter. He denied ever having taught in a Philippine negro school, a Hing I math by Mr. Clifton during his speec h. I lie stated that he had been the person j to discov er that the county had an In? terest in the city ball site and he thought for this reason he was some? what entitled to some ,,r the credit for the sum realised by the county by the sale of the property. In reference to the renting of the Cnlon National bank quarters for State offices, Dr. I ?ick had, no chair? man of the ways and means commit? tee, told him the offices ware needed and by getting these offices the state would be saved $800 a year. He had taken I ?r. Hick's Word for it, and now that tin appropriation was not passed the extra sum vvas being paid and tin offices of state officers were scattered o\ er I 'olumbla. I le stated thill be had a 1 wa Vcoll stilted Senator Clifton and the other mem >ers of the Kumtcr count) dele? gation um ii mutter of courtcs.v when? ever in Introduced i bill Mr < 'llftoii hud iimde bis amendment to the Hpurtutihui'K bill requiring n union I slut Ion In Hiimter wlthoiil consulting him. He did not Know how the peo? ple uf Sunder stood on Ihe matter and needed Infoi mal ion. i |e had tele gmplied to Mayor J? nnings and to President I m\ Im I?. Motsc (,f ihe ('bam Oer ? f I 'ommei i? usk n- i heir opinion 111 Ihe matter and he read ;i Iclcgm in from Mr. Jennings saying he wua per tonally in favor of it, but did not know how the cltlxcns considered the matter, and from the Chamber of Commerce asking the Humter delega? tion to oppose the bill. Besides he did not vote on the union station bill, as! it had novei come to a vote. lie voted to give the Colored Fair Association $1,000, as lie thought this but justice, as the White association had been aided liberally by the State, snd be favored encouraging the neg? roes in anything which would increase their Interest in work on the farm. Ho stated that the Live Stock Kais? ers' Association was an organization which Would be of benefit to the whole State. He had therefore voted to aid it, but the Plant Breeders' Association was an enterprise from which only in? dividuals secured benefits and he had Opposed the appropriation for it. He considered the Fortner hill an Insult in itself to the white people of! the State. He was for white su? premacy ami he considered voting on j I It an insult to the white people of the State. At the same time he was op? posed to white people teaching in ne? gro schools or negroes teaching in white schools, the mention of which he considered an insult. He explained that action on either side would in It? self lie an affront to white people and he thought that the only thing to be done was to ignore and smother the Olli. For these reasons he refused to vote cither way. Ho stated that Mr. Clifton had told of his (Clifton's) action in the recent Stale Democratic convention. He. Bp pa, had voted the same way as did Mr. Clifton, so if a mistake was made both had made it. Mr. Clifton in reply read the vote in the journal showing that Mr. Kpps had voted against a bill which In some manner referred to the old soldiers honte at Columbia. Mr. A. K. Sanders was applauded when he took the stand. He stated that he had come before the people of Privateer Unit seeking their votes just 2S years before, the day being the olst of August, 1S8(>, the day of the earthquake. He would not discuss anybody's rec? ord, fi r he did not believe in saying anything about anyone else unless it was good. He was qualified by past experience, having served four terms In the legislature, to till the office, but Would not make any promise of what ho would do, if elected, as they were too uncertain; except to serve with all the experience and ability he possess? ed. He advocated good roads and their upbuilding by the State. He believ? ed In the cause of education, but thought that in the past too much had been given t . colleges and not sulli clent to the common schools. lie praised Bethel school, referring to the good work it was doing. He believed that the legislature should be generous to the old soldiers, but more safeguards should be put around appropriations, as often those not deserving of aid secured funds Which should have gone to the man who had fought for four years. 11c thought that there should be a representative from the rural districts. The county hud not been represented in many years, although it was as good an agricultural country as could be found, and be considered it a re flectlon on the country that no one from It was elected. He bad been elected to the legislature four times, being the youngest representative ever sent from this county up to the time Of his first election He had been a member of the board of directors od the State penitentiary for sixteen years, fourteen years as chairman of of the board, being re-elected by the legislature several times at the ex? piration of his term. He stated that if elected, he would give Up a position which paid much more than did the position of legislator, that he was do? ing this in order to serve the people. He retired amid applause and one man In the audience shouted "We're going to send you there.' Mr. Davis 1). Moise was applauded I when he was introduced. He stated that he came before his friends and friends of his family, whose esteem was worth more than any office,. Ho would not seek into the record of any I .. . I man, nor did ho want election through the fault of anyone, He did not have' j |ti platform, but he promised to vote on I all matters w hic h came up for w hat ; he considered the best interests of , the people whom he represented. He I favored all educational institutions, es I pccially the common schools, saying thai the best (hing u parent could do was to ehe his children an education. I whether he left them any property or 1 not, for the property might prove a curse, but education would always be ii factor tu aid the child through life. "I am In favor of doing everything possible to help Ihe Confederate sol? dier," he declared, and the statement was greeted with applause. He hoped thai the time would iievi r en no when ;i Confederate soldier, seeking aid. would not receive from his hands. He warned the farmer^ of the com? ing of the boll WeeVil and udvlscd tin in (o plan I tobacco. In preparation for 'ts romlug. I lie thought th.tt laxes were ulready j high enough and he would always vote! against any appropriation w hic h made an increase in taxes necessary. If elected, he would give his time and attention to the duties of the of? fice, he would attend the session every day ami would work for the Up? building and betterment of the entire State, having a special regard for Sumter county, nor would he ever work for or oppose a measure for mere political reasons. He received ap? plause. Mr. J. C. Dunbar had lived in Sum? ter county eight years. He did not know all of the people, hut had met some of them. He did not have time to spare from his farm to make a per? sonal house to house canvass, lie re? ferred to his having been a represen? tative from Marlboro county, when he had served with Justice T. 15. Eraser and Hon. Altanmnt Moses. To the latter he paid a beautiful tribute, terming him as one of the master mind* of the legislature. He would not attack any man's record, but would give the best that was in him, if attacked. He referred to his work as a trustee of the Dalzell school, where he had worked for and suc? ceeded in getting a new school. He stated that he was proud of the higher institutions of learning in the State, but did not believe in their over? shadowing the public schools. He be ? lieved that every man should con tribute to their support, or he was not worthy of his citizenship. He read statistics showing that there were probably $o5,000 negroes in the State who held the requisite property to vote and other educated negroes who could vote, saying that he was afraid that the time might come in the near future when the negroes would outvote the whites. lie was there? fore in favor of a modified form of compulsory education, lie referred to the statement of Mr. Browning, a candidate for governor, that a com? pulsory school law would bankrupt the State, suying that Mr. Brdwning did not know what he was talking about. In showing the number out of school, he stated he had rather know that he had lifted the children in Union, Mr. Browning's home town, out of a State of ignorance, than to hold the office of governor. He stated that there was too much polities in the leg? islature now, referring to having in? troduced a compulsory attendance bill in the legislature when he was there, but the bill had been defeated by a few votes. As foreman of the grand jury he had fought the proposition to sell the city hall site to the county for Si',500, and it was afterward sold for $ 10,UUU. He again referred to the import? ance of education, saying a farmer must have an education to get the most out of his land and to farm in a scientific manner. He must be ed? ucated to know how to discuss vital questions which come up from time to time. Education was a great de? veloper that must he encouraged. He stated that he was opposed to the dispensary, or liquor in any shape or form and if elected, he would al? ways be found opposing any measure favoring the dispensary or the liquor interests. He favored a bill for rural cred? its granting long time loans on low rates of interest, such as was In ef? fect in various countries in Europe and such as that in congress. lie favored some form of land title registration, dwelling on the benefits which would come from it, although it should not be compulsory. Time was called and Mr. Dunbar did not discuss the clubs as some in the au? dience had asked him to do. Dr Oeo. W. Dick caught the atten? tion of his audience and put them In a good humor by telling some of his jokes at the outset. He had come be? fore the people of 1'rivatter eight years <?^o and every two years since. The people of Privateer bad been very kind to him and words could not ex? press his gratitude, lie may have made mistakes, but they were of the head and not of the heart. He had let his work for Sumter county stand llfst at all times, but as chairman of the ways and means committee, which he had been for the past two years, ho did not have time to investigate all measures which came up, being busy in seeing that the money which pass? ed through his committee was ex? pended in a just and necessary man? ner. He referred to the work of the sink? ing fund commission which had done more during the past year than over before in paying off the State debt of $6,000,000, The commission had paid oft $600,000 of bonds und ho believed that in a few years by careful man? agement the entire debt would be paid off. He had worked for a bill making it necessary to pay oft all claims through the office of the comptroller's office, making a more business-like system and a saving to the State. He referred to the Insurance on State j buildings, another ( hange in which | the Slate had been saved money. lie referred to the appropriation for the common schools which had] been stricken from the bill by the senate tlltaiice committee, saying that his committee hau" had the appropria? tion replaced and Bethel school had Kotten $300 of the money. In trying to look after local affairs he had seen that a measure engineered by the shoe trust of Ohio, which would have put the Sunder enterprise out of busi? ness, had been defeated. He stood for Winthrop College and would always do what he could for that institution, which had sent out so many able teachers and mother* throughout the State. In conclusion, he asked that the voters of Privateer do their duty as they saw it. If they wished him to re? main in the legislature, he asked that they see that his was one of the names on their ballots when they cast them on August 25th. Mr. It. B. Belser stated that it was M pleasure to be here before the peo? ple of Privuteer. He was proud of the fact that Sumter county was re? puted to have one of the strongest delegations in the house, although it had but three members. These three could kill any ibll which they oppos? ed and could aid to a great extent in passing any measure they favored. South Carolina had wonderful na? tural resources which should be de? veloped, to which end he had been working during the time he had been in the legislature, and he believed that he was better fitted now by rea? son of his experience to serve the peo? ple than he had been before. He be? lieved that his past work) had been partly successful, referring to the pure food bill, as it was called, which was meant to benefit the shoe trusts and hurt the infant shoe industry in Sum? te r. He had introduced the commutation road tax bill which now put $7,000 to $10,000 in the treasury every year, in place of allowing work on the roads, which was usd by the supervisor In building roads. The bill was equitable to white adn black, while at the same time it made the negro pay his part for keeping up the roads, which he used, but formerly had not paid to keep up. j m| H He had always advocated good roads and continued to do so, being for the building of main roads first and then good roads to stations, to and from which the farmers did their hauling and w hich were a matter of such im? portance to them. Teh roads were rapidly getting better and be believed in a sufficient appropriation that the State or county might receive the benefit of any government appropria? tion. He Wi s working for a cotton ware? house system, which would give the grower an opportunity of storing his cotton or grains until he could secure a price commensurate with the cost of production. The first warehouse measure had been passed, bu declar? ed unconstitutional. Bast year it had tailed to pass for various reasons. This warehouse system Would enable the farmer to diversify bis crops with bet? ter effect than any other plan for bis benefit. .Mr. Belser referred to the wonder? ful water power in the upper part of the State. This was a natural asset greater than in any other State of South Carolina's size. He had kept a lookout to see that a water power trust did not gobble up these re? sources, adding an amendment on all bills granting the use of water power. A tax bill to water power, which would bring In $75,000 to the State each year, had been passed by the house but had failed of passage in tho senate. ' *% He had always attended the ses? sions of the legislature, except when prevented by sickness, and would con? tinue to be found at his post yf duty, if elected. Another measure which he had ad? vocated was a bill to equalize tho tax assessments on property. This was necessary and would be especially beneficial to the small farmer, as per? sonal property was generally return? ed at from 30 to 4 0 per cent of Us value, while real estate was returned generally for from 10 to M per cent of its value, the large land holder in this case getting the better of the small land hohler. He did not be? lieve in discrimination between the two. He was opposed the inheritance* tax, but favored the Income tax and had voted for it. Mr. Belser stated that he bad been asked to state his position as to tho enforcement of the law against clubs. He stated that there were plenty of laws to cover the situation, as had been shown by Gov. Mease's closing of clubs iti Columbia recently, but this belonged to the executive officers Of the State and county and not to tin- legislative (?Huers and therefore he had nothing more to do with the law enforcement than any other citi? zen. The efforts of a number of legisla? tors to allow the judges of probate io secure the dtdi.tr paid for near rlago licenses and not only a fourth of it as at present, had been defeat? ed through his efforts and those or Mr. Kpps iti every Instance, he stated. except one, when it went through be? cause of an error on the part of the (Continued on paso 4.) -sal