The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-03-21

she old papers, and is manifestly the best
advertising medium in Sumter.
The Republican majority in the
Il House seems determined that the ter
xitories shall not be admitted to state
hood unless New Mexico and Arizona
are made into single state regardless
of the wishes of the residents Of those
xerritories. Four new Democratic
seniors IS more than Uncle Joe Can
aon is wiling to stand for.
The Southern railway has met the
station agents and telegraphers half
way and there has been satisfactory
readjustment of salaries and the
threatened strike has been prevented
Thaf is the proper way to settle such
saisptes, it is best for both parties
from financial point of view,
prevents i'll feeling between employer
and employe, and makes far more
loyal and efficient service.
The fact that Sumter has more au-
tomobiles than any other town in the
South impresses every visitor and they
10 away and talk about it. Sumter is
} known as the automobile town from
one end of the country to the other
and it is a good advertisement.
The New York Herald states that
there IS remote possibility of form
,er Senator John l. McLaurin being
Invited to become a member Of the
Roosevelt cabinet as a representative
0f the South. If this should come to
pass what element in the South
would Mr. McLaurin be supposed to
represent? Not the Democrats. for
st is not to be imagined that the
Democrats would endorse him as their
representasixe: and scarcely the Re-.
pubncans. Tor Edmund Deas and John
G. Capers would surely rise up and
object. President Roosevelt might
s1nuggle hin in as the special repre-
sentative OF the Philippines. since Mr..
McLauria is responsible for saddiing
that burden upon this country, by de-
serting his party at the eleventh hour
and going over to the standard Of the
benevolent assimilators," Of whom
Cen Wood is a shining light, as he SO
fully demonstrated at Mount Dajo a
few days ago.
The sihirnnailion by our Hagood cor
respondent that there may be job or
something shady in Connection with the
erection Of tine new court house. plans
sor which have not yet been accepted,
IS both premature and uncalled for in
The circumstances. and we must be
sieve that he wrote while laboring un-
sier misapprehension.. The old court
house and. tot were sold for $4,000,
asrom which was deducted Cd $1,000
spaid fora right of way to the rear of
the lot which WAS guaranteed to the
purchasers. and (2) s25.0000 paid fol
the Solomons' property, the site Sc
1ected for the new court house to be
erected. The house on the Solomons'
property was sold for $500
and several lots on the south
side OF the SoIomons' lot have been
sold or are to be sold, the proceeds Of
which when added to the residue Of
tie s6o,eo0, after paying for the right
of way and Solomons' property will
bring the amount available for the
erection of the new court house up to
about $4,000. The architects and
others who have been called into con-
suItation by the county supervisor and
commissioners advise that the cost Of
the court house, such as the needs OF
the county require, will be approx
snately $4,000 to $4,000. AS this
necessary amount was not available
for the purpose, the authority was
sought and obtained from the legisla-
ture to order an election to decide
whether bonds to the amount Of $780,
zoe, If 50 much should be necessary,
should De issued to provide the addi-
aional money needed. Thus far there
nas been no job OF croohedness and
no opportunity for anything Of that
character had had there been a dispo-
sition on tke part OF anyone con-
cerned in tae matter so to do. We
believe that every care and psecaution
Min be exercised by the supervisor and
county commissioners in accepting the
plans. in awarding the contract, ana
IN supervising the work. under the
advice Of a reputable architect and
the committee Of the Sumter bar
called in ty them, to safeguard the