The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-29
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"hat we may have learned, but we
VIII also keep to ourselves our own
ignorance and our deficiencies as far
as we can, and we will offer no free
advice to any one.
nave naught but the warmest
feelings of friendship and good will
for every city official and employee
from the Mayor down to the scayen-
ger cart drivers. Most of the city
officials 1 have served with for manv
years. They are all my friends and
love them all. To the newspaper
men of Sumter 1 feel grateful. They
have always backed up my every eff.
fort for improved S -.litary conditions
some of which 1 inaugurated and
others in which I did my part to OBJ
tain and in those in which we failed.
Inc sewerage system, municipal con-
troll of the water works plant, medi-
cal inspections of schools physician
to the poor and free medicine, better
drainage, better scavenger service,
and no more cess pools, are among
the sanitary improvements and faciIi-
ties for improving the physical and
social conditions Of Sumter which I
advocated and all of which came dur
Ing my administration as health Of
ficer. The newspapers were with me
in all of these and in everything for
Sumter's good. The newspaper men
nave treated me fine. They never
told all that they knew about me and
they have thrown the cloak of char.
ity over my faults and frailties. They
have boosted me and said many nice
things about me when they could
have said some things hard, but not
once in sixteen years have the news
papers ever adversely criticised me.
To the ladies of the Sumter Civic
League and hundreds of other Sum-
ter ladies who have been my true
friends, and who have honored me on
more than occasion. I express my
sincerest gratitude. In securing their
friendship and confidence 1 obtained
the highest honor a Southern man
cares for, the respect, confidence and
friendship Of Sumter and Southern
women. prefer to be a private cit
lzen with their respect and that Of
my fellowmen than to hold any Of
flee by bending to any man, or set of
men, the hinges of the knee that
thrift might follow fawning."
Mr.. President and gentlemen. As
you all go out of office l desire to go
with you. We will all go out togeth-
er. Tonight We dissolve the official
bonds which have held us so pleas
antly together. We met first Official
ly two years ago this omnth. At first
we were almost strangers to each
other. But since that first meeting
our official relations have ripened in
to the Warmest of friendships. No
dissension nor discord has entered
our ranks. We have observed the
golden rule in our dealings with each
other You have sacrificed much
time and labor for your community.
Your reward has been poor while
have been paid for my services. 1 re-
gret that your services have been re-
Warded so poorly, and that the end
has not been different. But the pub
lie appreciates your valuable services.
of that l am sure from what / have
learned. Time will show YOU this.
l bid You good bye officially. But
we will still work together as citizens
for the welfare of Sumter. l know
that YOU will do your part. Speaking
for myself. as long as l remain in
Sumter | will aways be "E. l. r."
ana although only a private citizen I
will he ever trying to hold a place in
the very front ranks Of the =. N
of progress, waving the bann III
hlcmatic of the Game Cock, and the
sumter spirit" thereon, with my
motto Of "sumtor first last and all Of
the time"