The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-07-03
F5ne 9Asraat Ant 81 II =
BOYCOTTED.
l.. II. AULL, EDIToR.


serveral boycotts during its life because
it stood for those things which it be-
lieved to be for the best interests Of the
public; and yet we are still here. We
have teen boycotted by the superinten-
dent of public works for quite while
when any work was to be done for the
public when he had the power to do so.
because, forsooth, we pointed out his
duty as we saw it in the matter of
flushing the hydrants and turning the
liqhts on when dark came and when the
people most needed them. This has
not swerved us one iota from our course
and will not We have felt that we
were right and we would rather feel
that way than to have the favor and
patronage of even so important per-
sonage as the superintendent Of public
works of Newberry. We have spoken
in the interest of the people and their
health which is of much greater con-
cern. The Board Of Health, even
against the judgment Of the supcrn-
tendent, has required the regular flush
ing of the hydrants which is justifica-
ton of our contention, but the super
intendent is even greater than the
Board of Health, for the order is not
being carried out, we presume for the
purpose Of saving few gallons of
water for "fire protection!
And now comes boycott from the
commissioners, and they will not permit
us to print their statement to the citi-
zens because in the opinion of the chair
man he was not given that consideration
which in his Judgment was his proper
and rightful due. Because, forsooth,
the reporter presumed to interview the
mayor on the matters under discussion
between the city council and the com
missioners and to print it in the same
connection. No, not exactly that, but
because the communication from the
chairman of the commissioners was not
printed at top of column next to read
ing matter, and thus his dignity has
been offended and he has been treated
discourteously and for that reason he
gives his statement to the public to the
Observer and punishes The Herald and
News by passing us by. 1t is some
thing fearful. Was it for the purpose
Of furnishing us or rebuking the dscour-
tesy Of a reporter who meant no dis
courtesy and never dreamed Of such a
thing. This cannot be, for surely a
public official who wants to reach the
public, would not refuse to gain all the
publicity possible, and The Herald and
News has a few readers and subscribers
in this community. Was it because we
called attention to the law and asked
the commissioners to make statement
to the public and take the public into
their confidence? 1t would not hav,
cost anything to have given this state
mcnt to both papers. The introduction
to the statement says to let the publ,
read it ''without it's being sandwichet
between editorial comments" Thel
why sandwich the statement between
lecture or courtesy directed at Tn,
Herald and News? Why not print the
statement at the head Of the column ant
let this lecture follow? According t(
the code Of ethics laid down in the lee
turc, here is a breach of courtesy tc
which we direct the attention of the
board. While on the subject Of cour-
tesy we would like to ask if it is in ac-
cordance with the code promulgated by
the commissioners and proper courtesy
to invite a committee from council to
meet with the board and leave off the
mayor who is member Of the commit
tee? Is 1t proper courtesy not to notify
any of the committee from the council
until the board is in session and then
send runners out for them to come in.
Is 1t proper courtesy to name the chair
man of the committee last? The Herald
and News meant no discourtesy and
means none now and is only seeking in
formation on this new code Of ethics
promulgated over the signature, '"The
Commissioners of the Board of Public
Works.. We want to get this matter
of courtesy straight so that in the fu,
ture we may not make such "breach
of courtesy
Then why was The Herald and News
not given this statement? The people
now have the entire case, let then
Judge.
1t may be that this new code is differ
cnt when used by the one promulgatine
it and when used by some one else. Is
1t proper courtesy to withhold from the
readers and subscribers of The Herald
and News an official statement of pub
lie officials and which concerns those
readers as much as the readers of the
Observer? 1t may depend on the point
of view. Some people are shortsightec
and some people think things are onl,
right when they go their way. Thi.
may be the rule by which this new
code Of ethics is to be measured.
But in this matter the commissioners
hnx, IL,