Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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JOHN U M'LAtriUN 18SVIS OPEN LETTES* COMMENTING ON STATE CONVENTION. Says Thai Convention Was Duped by the ComNue That Hecks to Control the State and Make the Urns for ThHr 0^\n Benetlt-- Charges That Sooth Carolina Ma* {Cetew Had a Reel Bassens* Administration. To the Farmers of South Carolina: In coneoqutnee of the action of the rcent State Convention in teclinin.' to perasH the State warehou*? com? missioner to enter the Democratic primary this summer in the Interest of the warehouse system. I am receiving eo many letters from farmers t nrou0h out the State ankiok for an expression from me that It Is Impossible for me to answer them all. and it Is in reply to them that I am making thl3 state meet. Broadly' and briefly stated under our present financial system, tin busi? ness Interests of both town anil coun? try are at the mercy of concentrated wealth. It acts as a unit; the people act as individuals. Until the JTedt rnl Reresrve Law, money and* credit were under the con? trol of a knot of conspirator's, who used the|r power to expand or con? tract the currency so as to enrich themselves at the expense of the pro? ducers. The bank reserve* were concentrated In New York and con? stituted the vast fund of "call mon-1 ey" which fostered a tremendous ?peculation in products, controlled transportation, locked up credits and made money panics a part of our fin? ancial system. It was the fruitful mother of usury, which, through th ages. aes> enabled the drones to de? vour the workorn. To liberate tho producers, the new currency law mi ist have Tor Its ex? pression (he w i re house. If cotton values are stabilised, then cotton gam? blers are destroyed, u V the Federal Reresrve System Tcasamiaca warehouse receipts, and de? crees six per cent, mom y, then the useaer cam no longer ply his trade. The cenepal ban* now discounts for the member bank at three per cent It seily need* a little more legislation to deal direct through the State ware? house engt thus cut out the profit of s see leas middleman. If the product of kind, cotton, Is converted* into a .fluid asset, why not the land ppon which cotton la grown? JjTtT^jging^r n"' r~ r'~" and other professional Shylocks will f.nd their occupation gone. To tlntl employment lor all the hidden hoards of money, it must seek investment In commodity l>ak ? r, land bonds, or industrial en terprises, which will place labor In greater demand. Small banks will bo on an equal footing with the big dis? tributing banks. Small business men will have the same banking facilities now enjoyed by tl:o captains of fin? ance. With the Federal Reserve Banking . tern, cotton had become a liquid asset, and the last twclvo months has proved beyond any reasonable doubt that cotlon can bo valorized by Its use as a collateral us readily as stocks or l>onds. If cotton Is valorized by use as a collateral, then immediately crop mortgages assume a new basis of credit, and the tenant and share crop? per are placed in a more independent position to defy the chattel mortgage robbers. There are the hidden forces direct? ing opposition to the development of the warehouse system and denying a full and free exposition of its princi? ples before the people. I know that factional lines were drawn in the State convention to keep me from discussing these, questions. I know that men who believo In mo and my wdrk voted to cut me out of Hi logal right, and trampled under foot the^law of the State. They s.ore duped and deceived. The unqualified endorsement of the convention proves this, but the dia? bolical cunning of the seltish Interests, who, when Manning would not obey their behests on the mill strike and the anti-compact bill, misled and brought out Cooper, and have now double-crossoe) Cooper and gone back to Manning in consideration of his throttling a presentation of the truth before the people, led them Into the trap. There Is no man In South* Car? olina who is swayed less by faction? alism than I. All factions per se are fakes and frauds, through which hon? est men are blinded that the selfish 5?* few may thrive ? It is time South Car? olina passed out of political childhood and took on the sober thoughtfulneas that belongs to maturity. The vicious and under-handed at taoka made upon the State Ware? house system and upon mc, upon the floor of the convention, emphasize the necessity, based upon simple justice to the warehouse system and to tho people ,of taking the system directly before the people, and I shall take nv own way. which will later bo disclosed, of do^ng so. Lwaux U. distinctly ua-, ?-" - iVsi.? III II. -.-?-;-:-~ ? derstood that tVtls1 statement Ums noth? ing to do with the factional align? ments in this State, nor with the can? didacy- of any man lor governor, but the recent State Convention has not been able to abolish tbc true Democ? racy which lives in the hearts of the people of South Carolina, and they Shall have the opportunity, to which they arc entitled M a matter of right and not of mere privilege, of knowing the benefit which the State warehouse system has beei' to them and the*larger benefit which it can be to them, und the State Warehouse Sys? tem shall have the opportunity, to which it is entitled in the same man? ner, of meeting before the people of the State such vicious attacks as are constantly being directed against it, as exemplified by the State Conven? tion. I have no weapon save the thought which I can create; no appeal save to eonscienco and the true Interest of my fellow citizen. ^ The cencentrated wealth -which opposes every step I take forward, gatliers for its defense an army of faithful because well-paid retainers. They buy the best brain to speak, write and act for them. They have lawyers, politicians and editors con? stantly at work moulding public senti? ment. When the system demonstrates its usefulness, they attack my charac? ter and try to destroy confidence in me. No appeal to a senso of Justice avails; greed and self-interest out? weigh the rights, prosperity and hap? piness of millions of human beings. There is today in this State a close corporation of interests demanding an exclusive monopoly in making, de? claring and administering laws. They care not who hold the offices, sd" they control policies. "Whoso bread' I eat', his song I sing." Never was there so overwhelming a desire on the part of .the people for knowledge. Are they to be denied? If the State Warehouse System his one thing to be specially commended,' it is economy and efficiency. Is it dangerous to give the people a les son in these cardinal virtues? South Carolina has never had a real business administration. Taxas have doubled in twenty years'.' Who dares say efficiency has been bettered? I venture the assertion that about one in twenty primary voters are oil the public pay-roll in some capacity^ This State is Hooded with political" leeches performing no useful work, but bending thoir energies to keep up la machine which will perpetuate their I jobs. ^. Food inspectors tdrug ,inspec^ tors, tax collectors, oil Inspectors, fer? tilizer inspectors, whiskey constables, special constables, charity experts, la? bor experts, hook-worm and pellagra and tuberculosis experts, hog agents, anti-toxin distributors, mad-dog in? spectors, white slave agents, demon? stration agents, tomato club agents, crop bureau Information-gatherers upon whose information the prices ol* our products are forced down, trus? tees, purity congress delegates, drain? age delegates?anything that will cre? ate a job?all traveling over the same Held, everlastingly drawing salaries and piling up expense accounts to the profit of the political machine and the impoverishment of the ordinary tax j payer. Who pays the freight? Where is it all to end? What man outside 'of the lunatic asylum does not know that such a loose, diffuse administra? tion of its affairs would bankrupt the United States Steel Trust in a few years? The State only survives such a lack of elliciency at the expenso of a constant drain upon the taxpayers. We heed ordinary business elliciency and plain common sense in public service. ' This condition came about because after 1870, every time objection was raised, those in control said. "Hush, you'll split the party." Now, it is "Blcase In the wood-pile," and peo? ple are whipped into line by a threat I of "Bleaseism." God save the State, if the people can be fooled ,and If they allow themselves to be duped into bitter factionalism against their own interests by this incessant cry against "Bleaseism." The interests which are fighting the State Warehouse System because it cuts off their enormous profits misled the State convention into a factional line-up against the interests of the people whom that convention had been assembled to represent. Manu? facturers .exporters, and others w-ho "are now profiting at tho expense of the producer do not want a licensed graders* system under which cotton oan he storel and sold on standard irrades, and they do not want other laws which will stop the constant drain upon the people of the South which every day enlarges the for? tunes of the already rich. They de? feated these measures in the last legislature, arid they will defeat them In tho next unless the people are on l.', * i ? * 'the alert. I have no fear as to the 1 nal verdict when these matters are presented to the people fully, and I shall take that course which shall Seem t? mo nc8t t0 an exposition 1 of the .principles of the State Ware- j house System clearly before them. Respectfully, Jno. Lowndei McLauiin. BURGLARS ARE ABROAD. Residence of Mr. .J. m. Chandler En? tered Friday Night, A burglar raided the residence of Air. Jos. If. Chandler on West Liberty street last night between o and 9:",0 o'clock while Mr. and lire. Chandler were attending prayer meeting. The burglar effected an entrance through a rear window, using an axe which he found in the back yard, to break the sash lock. When Mr. Chaadler re? turned home about U:30 o'clock he found the back door open and he knew at once that the house had been entered. An investigation re? vealed the fact that the burglar had stolen a revolver and $1.30 from an up-stairs bed room, the pocket book from which the money was taken be? ing left on the bureau. Nothing else !>vas taken although there was jewelry [and ..her valuables in the same bu? reau drawer from which the pocket book was taken. The burglar left no clue. On Thursday night Mrs. Lc, M. King who lives on the corner of East Hampton and Harvin street was awakened sometime after midnight by a noise in her room,.and discovered a man on his hands and knees on the floor .between tho bed and the door leading into the hall. Mrs. King jumped out of bed to give an alarm, and the man dashed out of the hause through the front door which he left open. Mrs. King was unable to dis? tinguish whether the man was white or a negro, although there was a dim night light burning in her bed room at the time. ? There have been other reports of attempts to enter residences during, the past week and it will therefore be a- wise precaution to securely lock 1 doors and windows at night. STRENGTHEN BORDER GUARD. v Gen. FtiiiKton Anticipates Raids by Bandlta? San Antonio, May 20.?Gen. Fun ston hastens the rearrangement of the American border forces in anticipa? tion of new attacks by bandits. The Sixth cavalry has been ordered to the Big Bend region. To Patrol Border. El Paso, May 20.?The Sixteenth In ! fantry has been ordered out of Mex 1 ico to patfol the border to relieve I the Sixth cavalry. SUFFER TREMENDOUS LOSS. Austrian* Tay Dearly for Small Gain Oti Ralian I n>i;t. Home. May 20.?The Austrian loss? es overbalance the ground they have gained. They have lost thirty-live thousand in four days. Their regi? ments were hurled back time after time until they refused to obey orders i<> advance. The Italian guns on the Isonzo front do heavy damage. AEROPLANES RAID KENT. England Suffers From Another Air Attack. London. May 20.?Three German seaplanes Raided the cast coast of Kent last night. Three persons were killed, one of them a soldier. One .'.enplane was shot down off the Bel? gian coast while returning to Ger? many. A number of bombs were dropped. A woman and a seaman were hurt. British airmen pursued the raiders after the attack. ACTIVITY ON GREEK FRONT. Saloniki, May 20.?There is great aerial activity in this section. The French are dropping bombs on many Bulgarian encampments on the Greek frontier. ITALIANS HARD PRESSED. Vienna, May 20.?A fresh series of attacks have been made against the Italians in Southern Trcntino, seeking to take positions menacing the line of communications of the Italians in the Dolomites, in the Carnlc Alps and on the Isonzo river. GERMANS ATTACK DESPERATE? LY. Paris, May 20.?Avocourt wood and Dead Man's Hill is being bombarded severely by the Germans. German aeros raided Dunkirk and Bergues, killing one woman and wounding 27 persons at Dunkirk, and killing five and wounding eleven at Bergnes. Germans Repulsed on Yser. Paris, May 20.?In Belgium the ene? my tried to cross the Yser canal but were checked. In Champagne the Germans made strong gas attacks in the St. Hillair region, but were check? ed there also. British Destroyer Struck. Berlin, May 20.?A British de? stroyer was struck by a bomb from a German seaplane during the en? gagement off the' Flanders coast on Tuesday. YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO RUN YOUR CAR ANOTHER HUNDRED MILES WITHOUT THE Compensating Plug 30 per cent More Power 30 per cent More Speed 40 per cent More Mileage Less Carbon Parcel Post Prepaid Equipped for Slight Additional Charge NEVER HAS TO BE ADJUSTED Makes starting easy?-fits any car. Attached in five minutes. Never wears out. Fits any manifold. Instantaneous results. The Greatest Money Saver Ever Offered Motor Car Owners. You Risk Nothing All you want to know about the Compensating Vapor Plug is?will it do the things we claim for it? You risk not hing. The Compensating Vapor Plug will live up to its guarantee on your car the same as it has for thousands of other car owners, and in addition, you are protected by our uncondi? tional guarantee of money back if after 30 days trial you are not more than satisfied. One trial and you would not part with it at any price. Mail Coupon To-day Delay is expensive. You lose money every day you operate your car without the Compensating Vapor Plug. Accept our offer now. Fill out the coupon?send your $5 deposit under our money back if not satisfied guaran? tee. Any garage man or any mechanic or you yourself can attach it in a few minutes-full instructions free. _ GEO. F. EPPERSON, Sumter, S. C. Inclosed find #r> in full payment for one Compensating Vapor Plug? with the understanding that you guarantee it for life and will refund my $5 deposit in full If] return your device to you within 30 days. I use a.size carburetor Name of car.Year. Model.Name. Address. ' We have tested this Plug thoroughly and find that it does all that is claimed for it,"?Coffey & Harvin, Manning, S. C. GEO. F. EPPERSON, Sumter, S. C Distributor for Sumter County.