The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-01-30

down to war time footing. One is
issuing on wall paper, aud has sent out
an appeal to the printers of the country
for assistance.
Gov. Evans has returned from a tour
of the phosphate territory. lie says
that the royalty this year will amount
to at least 100000 And we are
all very glad to hear it.
The good point has been made that
it is not recorded that Jim Tillmap
and Barney Evans we're arrested for
shooting at each other iu Edgefeld.
If not, Why not? Or are such things
not unlawful in E5ge6eld
Provided the volunteer troops take
the enlistment oath prescribed in the
new militia law, there will be 90 option
about obeying any order the Governor
may issue. They will be sworn to
obey and will have to 60 when the
Governor says 60, and shoot when he
says shoot. The law appears to be the
thing that will accomplish what its
trainers desire-a body of armed men
entirely subject to the will Of the
Governor.
The Nicaragua Canal bill has pass
ed the Senate and the way seems
open for another big job at the expense
Of the government. The Government
guarantees the bonds of the Canal
Company to the extent of $50, 600, ,ooo.
and if the project is failure the Gov
ernmeut vii! be left With this debt on
its hands. If it is successful the coun-
try will be benefited to a great extent
and the Canal Comrony viii make mil
lions
We see no need of agitation over
McLaurin's letter. 1t has no porten
tous meaning, but is merely symptom
of his disease. Mr.. McLaurin wishes
to rotate into the Senate, but this is
impossible as long as the Tillman
Irby Evans close corporation has charge
of the machinery Of the reform clique.
Therefore Mr.. McLaurin writes bis
interesting letters. Rotation in Office
is great thing, but in these days it
cannot be accomplished with agitation
and a tincture of personalities.
The removal of the shops Of the
Mason Telephone Company from Sum
ter to Richmond, Va, will be great
loss, since it is an enterprise that was
just beginning to assume large pro-
portions But the removal can not be
prevented. A fair test has been made,
and it las been fonnd that although
telephones caa be manufactured here
cheaper than anywhere else in the
country, aud although b the demaod for
the machines caunot be supplied, yet
the company cannot meet competition
except at loss as long ss the shops
are situated here. Every one natural
ly asks Why? A few words answers
the question. Freight Rates. Rates
from the South are 90 much greater
than from the Nortn that manufacturers,
like the Mason Telephone Company,
are practically excluded from the
markets of the country There is no
use to talk enterprise as long as such
conditions prevail, and we cannot
understand why the railroads stand IN
their own light as they are doing.
The Mason Telephone shols will be
moved to. Richmond as soon as the new
$4,000 shops in that city can -be
completed. Sumter can then erect a
slab to the memory of the dead eIter-
prise and inscribe it. "Strangled by
unjust Freight Rates
President Clevelaud's Message does
not open the way for the settlement of
the financial difficulties Of the govern
ment, and is a decided disappointment.
His suggestion that an issue of fifty
years three per cent bonds be made and
that the legal tender notes be cancelled
will not meet with the approval Of the
country aud there is scarcely posi-