The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-03-16
A Hint to Voters.

Manning by a fair and square vote
has decided to change her form OF gov
ernment, and we now hope the citizens
OF the town will also change their inter-
est in our municipal affairs. Hereto
fore very few men could be induced to
accept a place on the council because
there was nothing in it, and the powers
We're so limited very little harm could
be done, matters not who was chosen.
Things are different now, change was
brought about by a majority of the vot-
ers, and it behooves every voter, and
especially the property holders to see
to it that a good strong council is chos-
en-. We need mayor who Will carry
out the ordinances enacted by council,
and. we need a council that will enact
ordinances for the peoples Interests. II
the voters of this town are opposed to
the granting of special privileges, or
monopolies, without the same being
first submitted to the voters, then they
should look for six aldermen who Will
not use the power given them IN the
incorporation act, but will first submit
applications for monopolies to the vot-
ers of the town. So far as we are con-
cernedwe have no objection to either
the street railway, telephone or electric
lights: they are great convenlences,a and
deserve patronage, and as existing now
thev have no exclusive rights: they are
liable to competition at any time, but
from the moment council grants fran
chise, or monopoly or whatever name
thev choose to call it, the thing is done;
competition has the door slammed in
its face, and these institutions have 1t
in their power to demand any rates
thev see ft. The telephone company OF
Sumter by it's franchise kept the Bell
system out of that city even alter a pro-
loneed fight in council over it, and just
so will it be with US If franchises are
granted. There is no use to look back
ward: if majority of Manning voters
are opposed to monopolles, then let
them 90 to work at once, and Ind a
mavor and aldermen who will not
grant these things without submitting
it to a vote OF the property owners.
The present intendent Of the town IS IN
terested in one OF these corporations.
and although interested, we DO not be-
iieve he would take advantage Of his
position to obtain from council that
which majority of the property own
ers are opposed to, and we believe II ne
is a candidate for reelection he would
come out in the public prints, and say
if elected. whether or not he would
vote to submit applications for franchls-
es I'd vote of the property owning vot-
ers, and we think the same about every
man who runs for mayor or alderman.
In other words he should make known
his platform so that the voters may
govern themselves accordingly.
. Answers to the following questions
would aid the voters in their choice.
l. Do you favor raising the tax levy:
2. Do YOU favor installing waterWorks
around the business portion OF the town
only?
s. Would you oppose installing vat
erworks unless the same is Installed to
protect the whole town?
4. Do you favor license on trades,
professions, or other avocations?
5. Do you favor granting franchises:
6. Will you vote in council to submit
applications for franchises to a vote OF
the freehold voters?
I. Would YOU oppose in council en-
tering into a contract with any individ-
ual, firm or corporation to build stand.
pipe, and lay pipes for the protection OF
any one particular section of the town,
that would have to be paid for out OF the
towns treasury?
These are not idle questions. every
voter should know how each candidate
stands so that he may cast his vote IN
telligently. and we know OF no better
way than TO have each candidate an
swer the questions in the public prints.
This being our first city election we
will print the answers and the platform
of candidates free of charge.