The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-07-03

trial, it probable that practically all
other States will follow suit.
Some of our baseball devotees
are Of the opinion that the baseball
team is the biggest and best advertise
ment the town Of Sumter has had in
several years. In our opinion this
view is mistaken one-that by long
odds the best and most substantial
advertisement Sumter, city and coun-
ty. has ever had is the new court
house. The new court house is an
achievement that stands for the best
and most substantial in the comriuni-
ty and is so regarded by thinking men
everywhere; and by such achieve
ments the character Of the oonlmunl-
ty is guaged. On the other hand the
baseball team and the success that
has attended its playing this season
has given the community large de-
gree OF beneficial notoriety, Of an
ephemeral character. We do not un-
oerestimate the Importance Of base
bali as the national game, for it is
the cleanest, most healthful and de-
servedly the most popular sport We
have, but we should not let our en-
thusiasm over the success and popu-
larity of the State League and our
pride in the winning team that rep
resents Sumter blind us to more i'm
portant things or to cause us to mag
Nifty a mere pastime until it aslmes
undue proportions in the life of the
The good roads movement inaugu-
rated by the Sumter Chamber Of
Commerce is the most important
measure bearing upon the future bus
mess prosperity Of this city and coun-
ty, which has been started in many
years. It therefore behooves the bus
ness men OF Sumter, and the delegates
invited from the various townships in
Sumter County, to attend the meet
ing to be held in this city, for the
purpose Of discussing and fornlulat-
ing plans for comprehensive syste-
matte and business-like method of
road improvement all. over Sumter
County.
Press dispatches sent out from Nor
folk announce the fact that senate
rial boom was launched for Maj. j. C.
Hemphill, editor Of the News and
Courier, at the Jamestown exposition
on South Carolina Day. The dis
patches say that Mr.. T. R. Waring,
editor OF the Charleston Post. is chief
custodian of the boomlet, and it is
he Will keep it safely hous-
ed where it cannot be molested by
he Latimer cohorts. But what we
would really like to know, is the
Doom a joke on Maj. Henlphill, or
only a patriotic outbreak Of State
pride, resulting from the festivities Of
South Carolina Day?
The bucket shops are all out Of
business in South Carolina, the anti
oucket shop law being effective July
lst. 1t is good law and will save
he people of the State hundreds Of
thousands of dollors annually. Many
men will. Of course, continue to gam
ole on cotton as long as the New York
COTTON eXcnange cOnllnueS III UuSl-
ness, but these confirmed cotton fu-
.ure gamblers did not constitute one
per cent. of the number who have
patronized the local bucket shops. By
The abolition of the bucket shops the
to gamble on futures has
been removed and hundreds Of men
who have been, each fall, inveighled
into taking a flyer by the stories Of
arge and quick winnings, Industrious
" circulated by the bucket shop peo-
pie. will never think of sending ali
the way TO Nev- York to make oct
on what cotton Will do.