The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-08-09
CaInpnIRn NIectInR.

great advance on the precinct OF
Pickens. About 1900 assembled at
The grove by the academy. The
meeting was called to order by Chair
man Hon. 3. j. Johnston. Rev. w.
G. Seaborn was invited to open tho
proceedings with prayer, which he
did in eloquent and appropriate
terms. The chairman said he expect
ed good order and trusted he would
not be disappointed. He apoloSizod
for the poor accommodations, which
resulted from the failure of the secre-
tary to notify the committee Of it's
appointment to provide arrangements.
But there WAS q good shade.
w. II. Yelldcll, for railroad COM
missioner, was the first speaker. He
was delighted with Pickens-its fine
crops and beautiful and sublime sccn-
cry. He would toll them some things
he proposed to do. He wanted to
have separate coaches for white and
colored passengers. 1t was SO III
Georgia. In this State they charge
81 cents q mile for first. class passage,
while in Georgia and North Carolina
the charge was only 3 cents q mile
He was proud Of the fact that he was
n reformer and an alliance man. We
have given South Carolina the ablcst
governor she ever had. Ca voice,
'"Tho bost in tho Southern States. y
Io accepted the amendment.
j. G. Wilburn, of York, was the
next for railroad commissioner. This
was the first time the people had had
any voice i'll naming the railroad com
missioners, and there were nine want
ing the Office to be filled with three.
York had had little representation on
The State ticket and it was time for
York to have something. There were
enough good people in Pickcrs coun-
ty TO fill all the Offices, but give every
county fair showing. lo thanked
God for the reform movement and
tho ring which was composed Of the
whole people. CA voice: "What coun-
ty are you fromO Iloshoped to see the
time when the bone and sincw of the
coutry-thc farmers would rule the
country. Many were trying to rotate
out OF smaller Office into 4 larger
one. Yclldcll had u good Office and
he ought to be kept in it.
II, II. Thomas, Of Sumter, was the
next for the same Office. He had
been appointed to the Office of rail.
road commissioner because of his fit.
ness. He was the only candidate who
knew how to arrange railroad rates
(Wilburn wanted him to explain some
of lis rates. lie objected to inter
ruption.) Tho commission should Sc
euro to the people safe transportation
at reasonable rates. The commissions
cr should know when a bridge is safe
and when not These other candi.
dates do not know. Tho Pickcns
railroad would be allowed to charge
higher rates to sustain itself The
best thing you could do would be to
send the others to school to me two
years.
General j. w. Gray for railroad
commissioner, was the next speaker.
One commissioner is to be elected ev-
cry two years So there will always be
two experienced men on the board.
Ca voice: "Speak LOUDER, Waltcr.' y
tie scored n good point on one of
Thomas anecdotes hy tnrning it on
him. lie thought we should he fair
and just to the railrcoads. CA voice:
You arc our man."
| fNboc w I(n;tt r,, S4,ta c.,
tcndent Of Edrcation, was the next
to be heard. lie had had experience
as common school teacher and knew
how tho business should be carried
on. The school districts aro bodies
corporate and have the right to levy
taxes to run the public schools.
w. D. Mayfield, of Grccnville, for
the same office, was tho next speaker.
tle said the watchword of this ad.
minlstration bad been education. The
proof was Clemson College and the
Rock Hill College which was now be
ing erected. 1t would bo the fines
college in tho South. These institu-
tons had not injured the other colt
leges in tho State. They were still
prosperous. There is Il law now that
each community can say whether or
not it will have better schools. MANY
people arc moving from the country
to the towns and villages to get edu-
cational facilities. There must be
some mistakes and some grumblinp,
but time will correct all mistakes
You have a right to go to your board
and have mistakes corrected. You
name tho school to which your money
goes. Tell tho treasurer when you
pay your tax. Wo have run the
school four months on $3.50 per schol-
ar. Tie had just got in q good way
when time WAS called on him.
G. w. Whitman was the next
speaker for the same Office. He ouot
ed from Atticus G. Hagood as au
thoNlty to show that the lrlxuries OF
college education was not a function,
of government. This was used as ,
text through which to attack In,
South Carolina College. He said $50
600 was spent to keep fifty. seven son,
, OF well.todo people at school min,