The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-12-04
The Mass Meeting.

The Mass Meeting.
Tn response to the call OF the County
Senator for a mass meeting to discuss
various matters affecting the interests
of the county, fairly Representative
body met in the court house last Mon
iav. Senator Appelt called the meet
iur to order and explained It's object:
he was then made permanent chairman.
At times the meeting was IN CONFUSION
as a result of several trying to talk at
the same time Notwithstanding The
repeated efforts on the part OF the
chairman to conduct the meeting IN
decency and order.
The first question to be dlscussed
was the much agitated lien law Ii
was the product OF much vehemance
and heat, some wanted it killed out
RIGHT, a few others thought there
should be time given in order to not
work an injury to those who mad large
amounts of money buried IN the lien
system, then there were others who
did not want the lien law repealed un-
less the mortgage section went with 1t.
There were many divergent views, and
strange to say, people who have been
the benefciaries of the lien system,
and cannot get credit for pint OF salt
without security. were most anxious TO
saw this limb from under them--repeal
the lien law. There were some at THIS
meeting who imagine, if the lien law
is repealed it absolves them from any
mast debts whatever. and that 1t means
2 wipiuo out. it required conSlderaoIe
tact 10 bring order out OF dls0rder so
that some action could be taken. Inc
meeting adopted the following resolu-
ton. Resolved, that it is the sense of
this meeting, that all laws now upon
the statute books which permit lien
or mortgage on crops should be repeal
ed to 90 into effect not later than 1909. "
The next question was whether or
not Clarendon's representatives should
make provision for the building OF
new court house. This brought on a
perfect onslaught upon the chairman
who was charged by Col, Mitch Epps
with all kinds of impure motives, high
crimes and misdemeanors. He intl-
mated that the building OF a new court
house was trick to rob him OF some
cases he would have in court, but Col.
Epps was not alone in the opposition to
progress, there we're others, equally as
loud-mouthed, and as unreasonable,
evidently playing to the popular pref
udice with the expectation OF votes,
possibly next summer, but everybody
cannot be elected to Office in Clarendon,
and when a man contenplates being a
candidate he had better stop to exam
inc himself. think well Of what he is,
because if there is the slightest
taint the sin, matters not how far
back, will surely find him out.
After much discussion MIR. 7. n. Davis
of Jordan. moved that our Represen.
tariyes be instructed to secure the
necessary legislation to make provision
for bonding the county to build safe
and comfortable court house. The lew
opponents of the new court mouse kept
ND a constant noise making all sorts OF
dire threats, and predictions, but at
last a standing vote was taken, result
ing favor of building a new court house
four to one.
Il will be remembered that last year
the meeting was in the same proper
tion against the court house, but the
matter was not so well understood,
nevertheless the delegation felt bound
to do nothing, because the meeting so
instructed them, but now they have
the peoples instructions to 60 ahead,
and we take it there is not a man on
the delegation but feels as mucn oound
by this meeting as he felt about the
meeting last year, and therefore,
knowing the delegation to be made up
of men, and not little political syco-
phants, we can safely say there will be
at the coming session the necessary
legislation TO put Clarendon en- a loot
inc with other counties by providing a
safe depository for the records, com
Portable place for jurors, and au orna-
ment to the county.
It is proposed to erect building at
cost of S5O,000, about one-third the cost
of Sumter's court house, and it will be
so arranged that the taxpayers VIII
scarcely know they are paying any aa.
ditioual tax. The additional levy will
not exceed Two mills. which is two cents
on every one hundred dollars worth OF
nroperty. Therefore, if man owns
81, 900 worth of property his tax 1or
court house purposes will not eAceeo
twenty cents.
The result of the court house PROPOSE
tion was great surprise to some OF the
opposition, so much 50 that their lead,
ec rose and threatened the political
death of the delegation if they carried
out the wishes of this meeting, but ne
was given to understand in short order
bv the Senator, that the wishes OF the
meeting would be carried out, and SO
far as the threats OF political death was
concerned, he told them he proposed to
do what he consclentiouSly thought
best for the peoples interests, that ne
would introduce bill for a new court
house, in accordance with the express
sed wishes of the meeting, and II IT
meant his political death they coplo
take their votes and 60 TO thunder. he
submitted to the action OF last years
meeting, and he proposed now to force
the opposition to submit to this one.
There were several other matters 10
be discussed but many became disgust
ed with the wrangling and mounting
of few, that they moved to adjourn.