The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-15
"REFORm ADMINISTRATIONS"
"a Letter from a Common Laborer OF the
Cotton Mills Of fEewberry.'

To the Editor OF lhe STATE: having
never been interested in politics what
ever, especially in the campaign OF
education, until two years ago; when
we were told that We needed reform IN
our Government, when were told that
this Government was led by "ringters y
of aristocracy who had bambooZled and
defrauded the poor man out OF his
rights; and when we were told many
other things with such firmness oi
speech and audacity Of manhood we
were led to believe it must be true-we
have seen the success Of the reformers,
and we have come to the conclusion
that it is an inevitable fact that there
is needed reform, and the cotton mill
people of South Carolina will put forth
an effort for the best men in the best
place.
What does reform administration
meane 1t has always been a trulsnl that
there is q calm after storm. Then
does stormy campaign mean a reform
administration? We remember well
the storm Of nearly two years ago; and
vet, while this storm of bitterness, envy
and strife has swept South Carolina
from the mountains to the sea, 1t now
seems that peace and unity would be
our lot. But already the storm has
begun. Reform, Reform, Reform"-
not in the government, not in the pres
ent administration; it must be in the
campaign; for while the taxes or South
Carolina have been increased, While
the State house clerk is still wearing
kid gloves, we do not hear no immense
charges of "perjury" and "leprosy" IN
our government. But we do hear the
same old song: Boys. you are working
hard. Ye sons of toll, you are still op-
ores ed your cotton mill people are
working thirteen hours per day
What's the matter?
You have got to give me the right
men in the Legislature! Fellow-laboreIs
of South Carolina, to this one point
especially ask your attention, for here
lies the secret of reform, or rather non
reform.
What does right men in the Leisla-
lature mean-right men for Governor,
or right men for the people? Right
men for the Governor under the pres
ent administration would mean a s.
poll tax imposed upon every laoorlng
man in South Carolina; but is this tax
upon the people who are working thlr-
teen hours day? Is this tax upon
the "sons of toll" who are oppressed?
o, but some say this is tax to reach
the negro. Yes, it is 8 tax to edu-
cate his children, and it is tax to
make the white laboring class pay for
it.
Thou farmer, the reformers, of the
present age, search South Carolina over
and find white laboring man who is
not able to pay for his chilcrens school,
ing ten months in the year would be
able to send them free. In the pinch
of the day the honest laboring man is
compelled to keep his children at home
in order to maintain his honesty in the
future; but the negro will 60 to free
school if be has to live on crumbs from
the rich mans table. Thus, it is very
plainly seen who will get the benefit OF
a ten months free school. Then, so
much for the So poll tax; so much for
right men in the Legislature, and so
much for reform.
But why all this talk of reform, and
rings, and banks, and corporations?
Every man in South Carolina knows
that Tillman was put forth and elected
by the farmers movement. They well
know that the order of this movement
is down on "rings" and corporations
and vet, while Tillnan claims to be the
best part of this movement, he has
come forth and said openly and above
board that two years ago he broke the
so-called old ring to atoms and formed
another ring. Then it now seems that
there are two rings, and more offices
established under the existing order Of
the day. But while Tillman has formed
ring he may be able to form a bank,
and perhaps in the not far distant fu-
ture he may form cotton mill, and
when he does that want to be among
the first to get a job, it will be soft
place for the poor laboring people.
And now, why all this talk about
poor people being oppressed? l am
poor, yet it is of little fault but my own,
and when man or an offiee-seeker
comes along and tells me. that [ ain
poor, and that he syrnpathizes with my
condition in life, and the only hope for
me is to vote for him in the next eIec-
ton, to help put him into office (ant
relief will Gomez 1 have more sympathy
for him than he has for me. What DO
those men mean that the poor people
shall get better pay for their labor, or
do they mean that the honest laboring
man shall not work at all-that he shall
be supported by the Government the
balance of his days? In this prosperous
land of ours there are men ofeducation,
men of ambition, who would have US
believe these things; but when it comes
to the test they would have us just as
we are, only little poorer, because we
cast the vote on the election day. If,
on tie other hand, the bank presidents
and the cotton mill presidents and tie
richer class of people welded the vote,
the song would be sung in different
tune. There would not be so much