The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-16

lAture do not and cannot realize the
nsht that was waged to defeat the
Recommendation made In the report
Of the majority OF the legislative
committee that investigated the asy-
lum. From the day that II was first
limited that tho asylum would be In
tysstigated a determined and adroitly
planned and executed campaign has
been carried on to suppress In every
possible way all facts damaging to
the asylum management; and but for
the courage and persistence OF the
majority Of tho investigating commit
tee the facts would never have been
known outside OF Columbia. The
charges of mismanagement against
the of1cials Of the asylum were scout
~ a. Incredible. impossible and not
70 Be seriously considered. Every ef-
fort was made last year to defeat the
when the legislative probing could
not be warded of. the whole matter
was belittied systematically In every
way. While the investigation was In
progress very meagre reports Of the
proceedings were sent out through
the usual news agencies and the To-
cal papers treated II In the most gen.
sral and indefinite manner; the vital
facts and the shocking details dis
closed by the investigate \ were new
sr made public until the report Of
the committee was printea. When
the investigation could not be con-
vsrted into q whitewash. and ma
5ority OF the committee went before
shs Legislature with clean-cut state
ment Of facts. fortified by the testi-
mony before the committee. and a
well considered and business-like rec
ommendation for the correction Of
conditions and abuses that were
found 20, exist. the effort to sup
press the facts entirely having failed,
the next move was to defeat the plan
rcommended by the majority OF the
committee. This has been accom-
plished after the most strenuous and
psrsistsnt effort and the friends of
ths present management have won
cut The action OF the Legislature
ssts the seal Of approval on all that
Aas been done and left undone in the
trestmsnt Of the unfortunate people
whose sad fate II In to be confined in
the asylum II the ,oficers charged
with the proper management Of the
asylum and the humane care OF the
insane could shut their eyes to the In
tolerabis conditions that have pre-
vailed for years. there Ia little hope
sf Improvement In conditions In the
future. now that they ana their meth
DDS have received the endorsement
of the Legislature.
The determination Of the receivers
Of the Seminole Securities Company
90 prosecute Gen. Willie Jones and w.
A Clark. presidents of the two lead
ing banks OF South Carolina. Ia a
most encouraging sign. II high I'm
ance I'm high places can be made as
unsafe as highway robbery. con-
scienceiess and greedy financial free
booters OF place and position will not
90 frequently engage In the profitable
sport of skinning the public. But for
the personal influence and efforts of
the trustees OF the Seminole swindle.
the people of South Carolina would
never have fallen into the trap. Tho
letters Of endorsement written by the
trustees did more to promote the
swindle than all the smooth agents.
The swindIe was made possible by
Jones. Clark and Bryan and they
should be punished. IL there is any
law TO reach high financiers who hap
pen to be bank presidents and promi-
nent citizens OF seeming integrity.
Is T. =. Bryan the Jos. B. wylie. of
tho Seminole case7
The formation of the boys corn
club here last Saturday was one of
the most Important events that has
taken place here In some time. In
terest In farming Is increasing. and
the people are beginning to realizs
more and more that the farmer must
he seif-support.ng. He must raise
his home supplies. This movement
begins at the root OF our present one
crop system. which has robbed the
South OF millions of dollars OF wealth.
and aims at educating the youth OF
the land TO grow the "staff OF life"
IL should meet with announcement