The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-02-11
Ltion. Our idea of a free

no discrimination because of
poverty. We do not think the
founders Of this great govern
ment ever intended to make the
ownership of land a license for
special privileges, nor do we be-
lieve a land owner should have
the right to dictate who shall
not engage in a lawful business.
Is the country in such a condl-
ton, that because a man does
not own land, he must submit to
serfdom? God forbid that the
day should come when the land
owners of this country are to be
prayed to, for the privilege Of
earning an honest livelihood, or
as the Senator from Clarendon,
according to The News and Cou-
rier's report of February 9TH
would have it, that none but
landowners are to be permitted
to engage in a legitimate traffic.
How many Of the Senators began
life in a cheese-and-cracker-
s1n ke oh erin g-seed-cctton
shop? Would these same men
have favored such legislation
then? We think not. Then
they should not take advantage
of the wealth they have amassed
to Cypress those from whom 1t
was amassed. Claus Spreckles,
the great sugar king, laid the
foundation of his great fortune IN
Charleston, and had to leave for
ssnigger" trading. Spreckles is
so much attached to the place
where he first saw the glimmer
of wealth that he refuses to sell
the property be did business in.
This great acknowledgements
not permitted his -Mea1th to turn
up his hscorn at his hum
bic beginning, but is it so with
ourfawmakers? We cannot con-
ceive of how any man, who ever
engaged in the seed cotton traf-
fc, could give his consent to IA
vor legislation which tends to
put the traffic in the control of a
monopoly, or breed a lot of vio-
lators of law.
We have through these col
umns and in another forum op-
posed such. legislation as this,
because we do not think the prin-
ciple is right; the purpose for
public welfare will not be accom-
plished by it, and because any
law upon our statute books
which seeks to throttle the hon
est products of a peoples toll:
tends to monopoly, and accord
ing to our understanding of civil
government, when a General As
senbly puts upon its statute
books a law requiring a license
of $500 to deal in, barter or buy
a legitimate and a necessary pro-
duct Of commerce, made by the
sweat of the people for bread
winner, it is arbitrary, unjust,
coercive, and tyrannical, to only
result in oppression.
In order that our readers may
judge Of our position we repro
duce the full text OF the measure.
THE BILL.
SECTION !. The traffic in seed cotton
or unpacked lint cotton by purchase,
barter or exchange within the period
August 10Th and ending De-
cember 1st of each year without license
or between the hours of sunset and sun
rise, is hereby declared against the
public welfare, and is prohibited.
SEC. 3. The clerks of the courts OF
common pleas are authorized and en-
powered to issue licenses to traffic in
seed cotton or unpacked lint cotton by
purchase, barter, or exchange within
The period beginning August 18th and
ending December lst of each year, and
within their respective counties to such
person or persons as shall file with said
clerks, respectively, a written applca-
tion therefor, the granting OF which
shall be recommended in writing by at
least ten land owners residing within
the township wherein said applicant
intends to carry on such traffic. Such
license shall specify the exact place
whereat said traffic shall be carried on
and the period within which such traf-
6c is permitted, and shall continue in
force for the period Of one year from
the date of issue: and for such license,
if granted, a fee OF $500 shall be paid by
the applicant to the county treasurer
for the use of the county.
SEC. 3. All persons engaged in the
traffic in seed cotton and unpacked lint
cotton are required to keep legibly
written in book, which shall be open
to public inspection, the name of the
person or persons from whom they pur-
chase or receive by way of barter, ex-
change or traffic of any sort, any seed
cotton or unpacked lint cotton, with
the number Of pounds and date of pur-
chase.
SEC. 4. Any person who shall engage
in the traffic in seed cotton or unpacked
lint cotton within the period beginning
August 18th and ending December lst
of any year without license as herein
provided, or between the hours of sum
set ard sunrise, or who shall fail to
keep the book OF record as herein pro-
vided: shall be deemed guilty of a mis-
demeanor, and on conviction shall be
punished by a fine not exceeding 500
or imprisonment not exceeding six
or by both fine and imprison-
ment, at the discretion Of the court.
SEC. 5. The provisions of this act
shall not apply to the purchase of ''lint-
ers" nor to the purchase Of seed cotton
or unpacked lint cotton sold under pro-
cess of law or in the collection of rents
or OF liens or mortgages previously
given on the cotton sold.
SEC. s. The provisions of this act
shall not apply to sea island cotton.