The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-06-12
obligation is to become null and
(Signed)-


able information I learn that about
two thousand dollars in these notes
are worthless, and about three thou
sand more were not signed by sup
posed givers, but endorsed by other
reliable parties, and the remaining
$4,000 is only valuable to the e3-
tent of moral obligation, and l have
been informed by good lawyers that
legally, not a dollar could be col
lected. The moral responsibility in
volved in this amount is at present
good, but Mr.. Wannamaker says 1t
will be three or four years before
anything can be done. Human at
fairs, particularly the financial, are
so changeable that it is probable
that a number of men, now able,
if not exactly willing to pay these
notes, could not do so at the expira-
ton of four years. This must be
apparent to all, and Judge Watts,
while not interfering in local is
sues, is right in observing that the
best thing the town can DO, if it keeps
faith, is to cough up the cash"
Should the town fall down on the
$4,000 or any part of it, as re-
suit of finally coming down to the
individual note giver, the thirty
thousand dollars that he proposes
to raise from the county would build
a creditable court house and jail,
and the people would have ample
opportunity to mourn over violated
campaign pledges, with no hope of
redress. do not mean to charge
Mr.. Wannamaker with designing
such result, I am only point
ing out possibility.
Mr.. Wannamaker says that all the
proposals for this large bond issue
came from the country people. If
this be true, why is it that Mr.. Wan
namaker, a city banker, is only to
be found long and loud in advocacy
of the scheme?
l yield to no man in desire to
see the town prosper and succeed
in every line of progress, but I do
stand for absolute fairness to all in
the manipulation of this bond issue.
| am anxious to have creditable
court house and Jail, but my sense
Of fairness revolts at proposition
to the country people for thirty
thousand dollar bond issue, the bur-
den of which they are to bear, be-
ine placed upon them by the vote of
St. Matthews. Of course box would
have to be provided for the country
voters, but it could be understood
that the town electors would refrain
from voting on the proposition. and
1t takes the widest campaign fight
of imagination to conger up bond
sale for that reason. I am not OBJ
jecting to bond issue by our coun-
try friends. and would be delighted
to have 1t. but the effort to force
the issue upon the rural sections by
the vote Of St. Matthews Is tyranny,
pure and simple, direct blow at
liberty and step toward Carbon.
At very critical period in Jewish
history, the people heart-sore and
weary with burdensone taxation, re-
sorted to Rehoboam and said: Thy
father made our yoke greivous; now
therefore make thou the grievous
service of the father and his heavy
yoke which he put upon us light"
And he said, Depart for three days,
then come again" And the old men
counciled him, saying: Speak
good words to them and they will
serve thee forever" But he forsooth
the counsel Of the old men and con-
suited with the young men that were
grown up with him.
So the people came to Rehoboam
The, third day, and he answered them
and forsook the council Of
the old men and said: My father
chastlsed you with whips, but / will
chastise you with scorpions And
Israel saw that the king hardened
not unto them, and the people said:
ITO your tents, o, Israel.
Then Rehoboam sent Adoram, who
was over the tribute, and all Israel
stoned him with stones that he died.
Therefore Rehoboam made haste TO
get him up to his chariot to fee
to Jerusalem.
Mr. Wannamake- might ponder
this sad chapter of human history
with great profit. The citizens OF
the portions of Orangeburg and Lex
ington counties were told that they
were serving hard taskmasters, and
were given the most solemn promise
that St. Matthews would bear all
the expense of the court house and
Jail. and only faith in these assur-
ances gave US the county. We trust
ed the people then. and they stood
by us, now let the town stand by its
campaign promises. plank down the
$4,000 and not walt "three or four
years" to do it. II the people see
fit to supplement that amount with
twenty or even thirty thousand dol
lars, / do not object, but we cannot
afford to break faith with our friends
and thus "chastise them with scor-
pionS." Neither can We ask them