Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-08-18
Miseellaneulls gradins.
THINGS TO BE CONSIDERED.
Observations on the Political Situation
In York County.

cuSsing the road question advocates
a township system Of government. In
the early '9Os township system OF
government was adopted all over this
state including York county. Prac-
tical experience proved that this sys.
tenn was incompatible with county
government. The township rep
sentatives considered it their duty to
take care Of their townships and they
tried to get back for their townships
the amount their township had paid
in taxes, and, in the meantime the
county as a whole suffered. This
system has been tried and found
wanting and now practically every
county in the state has gone back to
county government.
Second. I see another candidate
advocates a bond scheme, and I am
constrained to make these observa-
tions in regard to the bond scheme:-
(a). Assuming for the sake of ar
gument that the figures used by the
bond advocate are correct, 100000
in bonds will repair one-fifth Of the
roads in the county. The taxpayers
living on the remaining four-fifths of
the roads will demand, with justice
too, that as they have paid their share
of the taxes to repair the one-fifth
already worked, there must be anoth-
er bond issue to repair the remaining
four -ffths. If 100000 will repair
one-flfth Of the roads 1t will take five
times that amount, or, $2,000,000 to
repair all the roads. Admitting that
these bonds could be foated at per
cent, it will take 100000 annually
to pay the interest on same. On the
present valuation Of county property
it will take levy Of twelve mills to
pay this one item of interest. A very
pleasant little tax burden for the
present and future generations.
/ CD. But Is a bond issue for roads
feasible in York county? In Neck
lenburg county, North Carolina, Char
lotte is practically the only town in
the county and consequently the en-
tire county Is interested in the roads
leading to Charlotte and there is no
local jealousy when the bond issue is
placed on the Charlotte roads. The
same is probably true of Chester
county where a bond issue would
probably be satisfactory all around.
But in York county, in case Of bond
issue, Yorkville would want the mon
ey put on her roads because she is
the county seat. Rock Hill would
want the money on her roads because
she is the largest place in the coun-
ty and pays more taxes than other
communities. Fort Mill would want
the money OH her roads because she
Is cut off from the rest of the county
and pays a goodly portion Of the
ltaxesr-~C Glover would want -fnger-in
the pie, and, so would Hickory Grove
and Sharon. The county commits
sioners like the fable Of "The Miller
his Son and Their ASS" would try to
please everybody and in the end
please nobody, and scatter little OF
the money here, a little there, and a
little elsewhere and the money would
soon disappear and not much work
would be done. But the debt would be
here for us and for posterity.
(c). But a bond issue, whether
county or township, would be in a
peculiar sense the white mans bur-
den-the property owner would have
it to pay. 1t would give special
privilege to the colored man. Even
If required to work, no work would
be done. The roads would be work
ed by taxing the white mans proper
ty.
Therefore, gentlemen, walk round
about the Saye law. Consider well
her bulwarks of taxation Of all classes
and no special privileges to any one
and when properly amended, as 1t
will be, you will conclude it Is the
only sound, sane and sensible solu-
ton Of this vexed road problem.
Second. AS I see the situation In
this state, there is a bold scheme on
foot to save wrong doers in high
places from punishment. This may
be accomplished by electing a gov
ernor in sympathy with them, or, 1t
may be done by electing a sufficient
number of sympathetic legislators to
repeal all acts on the subject, settle
up with the liquor houses and for
/ ever wipe out all evidence. Your
readers will recall that Republican
liouor house in Cincinnati, (the home
town of the rich brother Of Candidate
Taft whose owners were millionaires
with plenty of money at their COM
mand, employed attorneys who went
before a Republican judge and asked
him to tie up the dispensary funds
and consequently the dispensary in
vestigation. And that Republican
Judge did so ard still has it in his
hands. When Governor Ansel ap-
pealed to the Democrats in the gen.
eral assembly to stand by states rights
and pass such legislation as would
enable us to control our own states
affairs, that legislation was defeated
in the senate Of South Carolina unuer
the leadership Of one Coleman L.
Blease, who instead of condemning,
praised the Republican judge and
commended his course in this mat
ter and rejoiced over the discontinue
of Ansel and Lyon who stood by the
good old Democratic doctrine OF
states rights.
Now, Democrats of York county
look at the candidates for house and
senate in York county and inquire
and find out if any of them are hand
in glove with Coleman L. Blease. Will
any of them aid, assist and abet In
the scheme to let wrong doers go scot
free? This is a free country and this
is a free fight. IF you find such men
and you see fit to support them, that
is your privilege and your right. But
remember, Like priests like people
and as you SOW, so shall you reap.
OBSERVER.
Clothes Made From Wood.
prOhob1u NOT hp very lone