The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-08-13
REPLY TO MR.. WICKER.
"Countryman'' Takes Issue With
MIR. Wicker's Article Against
the Road Bond Issue.

Editor Herald and ws:-There
we're some pretty good articles IN
your paper Of the tenth, especially
one from Mr.. J. c. Neel, who would
have thought it, coming from such a
big, easy-going, good-natured fellow
like John Neel, and he prohibition
list at that? Every one Of his points
in favor Of good roads and the bond
issue was braced by undeniable and
uncontroverted facts.
Much can be said on both sides Of
the question. In fact. anything goes
on the popular side, it matters little
what forcible arguments may be
made on the side Of the minority. But
Mr. Wicker. | must confess, said but
little on the popular side, and he was
like a great many people, even news
paper editors. who want everybody to
look at things as they see and want
them, simply because Il said So 1t
is barely possible that some few may
differ with these self-appointed CEN
sors of public officials and directors
Of public and private morals, and
personal rights and preroeatives as
we'll.
: Now. let us look at some Of Mr..
Wicker's arguments against good
roads and the bond issue. Listen to
him, this self-opinionated, this great
;"ego.n this great "I": "We are not
making the proper use Of the money
that we now have" How do you
know we are not? Is it just because
~ rise to say it," Do you think the
supervisors think like Mr.. Wicker,
Tor did you ever give them the credit
that they did what they thought the
best at the time? That they might
'have reasons Of their own for doing
as they did, or as they are now doing?
Monroe Wicker and Irwin Feagle are
pretty good fellows, and it will take
more than Johnnv's say-so to con-
vince the people that they would be
guilty of wrong doing wilfully.
Now. as to Johnny's figures, they
look mighty crooked to cross eyed
man. l never was any hand at figures,
and the way I got the most Of my
answers to sums when a boy was to
"foree them," as we called it. john
ny's answers to his sums look ex-
actly like mine did to me.
I fight shy of his figuring.
care we working the roads as we
ought? I say not" Just listen to him:
"I say not.' IF that is fact, why
don't you go to Mr.. Feagle at once,
and put him wise? Then suppose this
Mr.. Feagle would have the effrontery
to differ with you, and say, II am do
ing the peoples work the best that
can be done?" What would YOU do?
Knock him down7 Well, I don't
doubt he would deserve it, but I
would not advise that. Go to the
grand jury, tell them all about it,
and thev will settle with Mr.. Feagle
quick enough. That grand inquest is,
here just to attend to such cases as
that, and with poetry in the interim.
Then. again. Johnny asks about the
"mac,1inery we bought. " "Why is it
standing STILL" etc? and goes out of
his way. this Johnny does. good fel-
low hat he is, and graciously tells
Feaele "to buy more mules, "ge7
scrapes.' etc.. "divide the hands,
and so on. have no idea Feagle ever
knew a breath about this ma III cry
business, and Johnny, who is 80 lih-
eral with his advice, should have told
3!:im about it and showed him no" -
use it. The other mltter abolt Ike
scrapes and mules, and dividing hand:
if Mr.. Feagle doesn't act on this ad-
vice. he would better keep his ear
close to the ground, for something's
going to drop.
"He is too easy with them (the
chain gang), don't push. allows too
much talking, gets out too late, and
in too soon-they are there to be
punished, as they should be by all
rules of right and justice." etc, et,.
Well, that is a serious offence o& our
last couple Of supervisors, and should
be attended to at once. They should
slash them and work them like the
devil. But, then, suppose these SUPER
visors would say to you, Mr.. Wicker:
"Did von not know that the cruelty
and brutality to prisoners in Georgia
-, ,,octr;1N oH