The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-09-27
Matter Left With COMPANY.

1t is not an agreeable employment tc
criticize the action OF those entrusted
with the government Of the town, but
when there is manifested q disposition
TO disregard the wishes of an important
part of the citizenship the matter
merits such criticism as the facts IN
the case warrant.
The Barkout Carnival Company
through its representative applied &c
Mayor Bradham for a permit to bring
his shows to Manning some time during
the month of November. and before
any action was taken by council, we
informed Mayor Bradham that major
ity OF the merchants are opposed to the
company coming back here, as past ex.
perience showed that the Carnival in.
teriered with trade. Later in the day
we learned that, after. .conferring with
members of council, the Mayor granted
the permit: the merchants had not
been given an opportunity to enter a
protest to council, but when it was as
certained that a permit bad been
granted, a petition of protest signed By
nearlyI all of our business men was
presented to council praying them to
rescind the permit granted.
The Carnival Company spent one
week in this town last spring and it is
the concensus of opinion that trade was
seriously interfered with, labor was
demoralized, and the effect was gen
orally detrimental to the town and sur
rounding country. The council took
the petition of this strong element OF
taxpayers under consideration, and in
stead of acting in a defnate, positive
manner, either rejecting the petition
or revoking the permit, they Instructed
the clerk to write to the company. The
clerk carried out his instructions and
wrote the letter in accordance with the
tenor of the discussion in council, but
in our opinion, the document coming
from lawmaking body is weak, vac
illating, apologetic, sugar-coated epls-
tie, which virtually says to the com
panv that Notwithstanding the wishes
of large majority of the taxpaying
business interests, council shifts respon-
sibility. and leaves it optional with the
Company. whether to come here or not.
In order that our readers may know
Just what was written to the Company
we reproduce the letter:
Manning, S. c.. Sept. 20, 1905.
The K. G. Barkout Carnival Co., Mon
ongehela City. Pa.
Dear Sirs:-A strong petition signed
bv some seventy odd of the leading bus
mess men and citizens of the town OF
Manning was submitted to the Town
Council yesterday afternoon praying
that it reScind its action in
granting your company the priv
ilege OF returning here in Novem-
Der. After full discussion in
OF the matter it was decided best to
acquaint you with the facts in the case
and suggest that it would be better for
you, in the face Of such a strong peti-
tion and opposition to cancel your con
tract. There is no opposition specially
to your company the principle objection
being urged that it would be detrimen:
tai 10 the interests of town and general
public, owing to the shortness OF the
crop in this section. The town leaves
the matter with you, but thinks 1t
would be better for you TO cancel the
engagement rather than to attempt to
hold the carnival in the face of the op-
position.
Let Us hear from you at once.
Respectfully,
Z. j. BROWNE,
Clerk