The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-08-06
THE FLORENCE POST.
OFFICE MIDDLE.
HR. RAGSDALE EXPLAINS The PART
PLAYED By HIN And By Mr.. e.
LERBE In The MATTER.
(From the Florence Times

The following statements were
presented yesterday by Hon j "
Ragsdale at the campaign meeting
explaining his position in the Flor
ence postoffice wraugle. Mr. Rags.
dale received the undivided attention
to the large number Of voters present
and was frequently applauded. AT
the conclusion of his attack on
Congressman Ellerbe he was given
an ovation. In the course of his
speech he was frequently interrupted
by applause.
A little more than year ago, l
think it was in the early part OF
1907, Mr. G P Berry came to my
Office and asked if | would draw d
petition for his appointment as post
master at this place to succeed the
incumbent, ] E Wilson, a negro.
Idrew the petition and at Mr. Berry's
request l signed 1t. Mr. Berry had
not supported me but had worked
and voted for Congressman Ellerbe
and the sole question at that time to
be considered was whether nv lntlu-
ence would 60 for white man or
negro. His petition was subsequent
" circulated in Florence and signed
by number of prominent citizens
and Mr. Berry claimed that Congress
man Ellerbe had pledged him his
support and had promised Mr. ? A
Wilcox of Florence, S c, and Mr.
VIM Godbold of Marion, S G, to
give Berry his support. In the
summer of 1907 a smoker" was
given Mr. Ellerbe by the Board OF
Trade of Florence and at this
"smoker" Mr. Ellerbe pledged HIM
self 10 support anyone for post
master whom the people of Florence
selected. A number of candidates
were in the field and in order to
centeralize the support of the white
men and Democrats upon one can
didate mass meeting was called
in January, 1908, at which Mr.
Ellerbe was expected to be present.
He did not come and nothing was
done at this meeting. A second
meeting was called for the same
purpose and when / went to this
meeting and learned that Mr. Ellerbe
would not be present, | left. l am
informed that Mr. j W Stroud Was
endorsed at this meeting and two
days afterwards, his son-in-law, DR.
n w Hicks, came to my office and
requested me to 60 to a meeting at
his Office for the purpose of trying
to secure the appointment of white
man as postmaster here. l went to
this meeting and found some of the
most prominent business men of
Florence assembled to discuss ways
and means to accomplish the removal
of the negro and the appointment
of a white man. A number of
suggestions were made-to pay Will
son a sufficient sum of money to
secure his resignation; to tell him
that sentiment was too strong to
allow him to remain in ofice-to try
to deal through John G Capers and
Others. Finally we decided to go
straight to President Roosevelt and
appeal to him as President of all the
people to lay aside all politics and
consider the interest involved. To
call his attention to the feeling that
existed on account of the retention
of a negro In position of this kind.
To present for his consideration the
number of business houses in
Florence conducted by whites and
how few by negroes and appeal to
him to give us his boasted "Square
Deal" A committee consisting of
ED Smith, president of the South
Carolina Cotton Growers association,
Rev W B Oliver, pastor of the
Florence Baptist church, and Mr. W
r Barringer, firm of Barringer &