Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-08-03
HON. j. j. M'MAHAN.
He is a Candidate Tor Education
III superintendent Friend
Paws Very High Tribute to

He is a Candidate for Education
III superintendent. "A Frlent
Pays Very High Tribute t.
Him.
To the Editor of the Augusta Her
ald-Sir: One OF the candidate
for State superintendent of Edu
cation in South Carolina is Johr
]. McMahan, of Columbia. Mr.
McMahan is a young man, perhaps
Lot 35 years old, but he has had {
great deal of experience. He Isl
graduate of the South Caroline
college, has held the position Of
assistant professor of English IL
that institution for a number OF
years, was.a prominent member Of
the constitutional convention, is
an able and conscientious lawyer
brave, fairminded, intelligent
man, o. whom all South Carroll.
mans may well feel proud.
In The constitutional conven.
ton, Mr.. McMahan advocated a
forestry commission, whose duty
| it would have been to plant trees
along the highways and to prevent
the state from being denuded ol
it's forests. His course was indl.
cative of great scientific research
for it is we'll known fact thai
nea. ~ all scientists believe that
as the leaves of the trees liberate
azone and in that way purify the
atmosphere, the earth would prob
ably become uninhabitable if tht
forests should be totally de-
stroyed.
Mr.. McMahan's advocacy of
marriage commission subjected
him to some criticism, but in tina
be was in line with the leadln;
scientists aud humanitarians O
the age.' Such a law would pre-
vent the mariiage of persons whose
blood is tainted with scrofula o.
syphilis or any other disease tha
would injuriously affect their off
spring. Some of the leading
countries of the civilized world
have established a marriage com
mission, and so beneficial are iti
results that it's abolition would
not be for a moment considered
If only persons of pure blood were
allowed to marry, the race would
be healthier, stronger, and more
of us would possess sana mems IN
sane corpore.
As lawyer Mr.. Nc Mahan has
never neglected on opportunity to
befriend the poor and distressed.
About a year ago, an operative in
the L--cotton mill, on account
of some disagreement, decided to
quit his employment. Having
decided to remove, he placed his
scant furniture and houseoold
goods in the depot for shipmen
The mill people not only refused
to pay him what wages were due,
but also seized his furniture III the
depot and held it on the belief that
their former employe was guilty
of a breach of contract. l do not
doubt that they believed in the
honesty of their intention, and it
is not desired to cast any reflection
upon them. 1t was simply an
error of judgment. The man was
poor and friendless. No lawyer in
the town would take his case
especially as he had no money with
which to pay his fee. He then
went to Columbia and consulted
John J. McMahan. This brainy
and big-hearted young lawyer
unhesitatingly accepted his case,
although the fee was contingent
and the expense of bringing sui
considerable. In accepting the
case, he did not ask, is it popular ?
The question uppermost in hiE
mind was, is it right? And having
decided that question in the
affirmative, he set to work, and, by
his learning and eloquence, he
secured a verdict in favor of his
client, who was awarded con-
siderable DANCES.
A friend of the poor, the dis tress,
ed and the needy-educated
courteous and refned-no braver