The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-07-22

acting as broker for other parties.
A Reader of The State Asks for Light
and Light is Freely Given to Him
The State.
The South Carolina political cam
paign is about half over. In most OF
the counties visited, John T. Duncan,
an entry for the gubernatorial nomi-
nation, has spoken, part of the bur-
den of his speech being an attack on
The State and "Gonzales.'
| It appears the attempt is made, in
more or less incoherent utterances,
to connect Gonzales" with the Semi
mole company; to induce the public
to believe that "Gonzales" advocated
the removal of the asylum from Co.
lumbia so that he and associates
might buy the asylum property, worth
100000, for 100000, and alleging
with more or less directness that
"Gonzales' proposed or planned to
sell to South Carolina for the use OF
the asylum, his farm in Richland
county for 5000 an acre when land as
good could be got by Duncan for $40.
It is alleged also that there were
meetings at. night which were con-
spiracies for robbing the people, in
which "Gonzales" took conspicuous
part.
Neither The State nor "Gonzales"
had anything to do with the disbar-
ment of Duncan by the supreme
court. Nor are they responsible for
the rules of the party governing en-
tries in the Democratic primary. Un-
derstanding Duncan's condition, and
assuming that it was known to the
people of the State, these attacks
caused neither concern nor bitter
ness. Even in this day, one may be
"arm'd so strong in honesty that
such allegations from such sources
pass by ''as the idle wind" It was
thought that all respectable people
would understand.
But one reader of The State, T. G..
Covington, of Bennettsville, stands
forth in all South Carolina, asking
for proof of The States integrity; he
thinks it due The States readers to
know whether those who assume to
lead can be vindicated. AS Mr.. C6v-
ington seems concerned he shall not
be denied, and those assailed say to
him:
1st: Neither The State nor "Gon-
zales' had relations, near or remote,
with the Seminole company.
End: The State advocated the re-
moval of the asylum from the city
limits Of Columbia, suggesting a bond
issue to pay for a new modern plant,
and holding that the judicious sale
of the Columbia property would fur
nish money for retiring those bonds.
1t was supposed by The State that
this property would be placed in the
hands of the sinking fund commits
sion to be sold gradually to the best
advantage Of the taxpayers. Neither
Gonzales" nor, so far as he is in
formed, any of his "associates" has
ever contemplated purchasing the
property or any part of it.
3rd: Neither The State nor "Gon-
zales" has any property in the Vicin-
ity of the asylum to be benefited by it's
removal; on the contrary removing
the asylum from Columbia and open
ing to; improvement and settlement
several hundred acres Of land within
and Immediately out of the city, as
advocated by The State, would have
retarded for years every other sub
urban development about Columbia.
In several of these suburban develop
ments the owners of The State are
financially interested The removal
of the asylum which was urged by
The State for the sake-as The State
saw it-of bettering the condition OF
the unfortunate insane, and improv-
ing a large section Of the city, would
have caused direct financial loss to