The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-04-12
Sumter, S C. April 6, 1911.
The Hon. L. d. Jennings,

Inc Hon. j.. ID. Jennings,
Mayor Of the City of Sumter.
Mr.. Mayor:
AT recent meeting of the Execu-
tive Committee Of the Chamber Of
Commerce the following resolution
was passed:
Whereas, we believe that it is
best for the interests of the City of
Sumter that our Mayor withdraw his
resignation.
Therefore. be it resolved that a
| committee Of five be appointed
urgently to request him to do so."
In conformity with the provisions
Of this resolution the undersigned
were appointed to wait upon you
and carry out the intent of the reso-
luton. 1t is not within the province
of this committee. nor is it our pur,
pose to enter into discussion OF
the merits of the questions
| involved; for we feel that the
sole result Of such discussion would
| be to accentuatc the difference of
| opinion that now exists. We wish
simply to convey to you the resolu-
tion as passed by the executive Com
| mittee and to endeavor to convince
you, from your viewpoint, of reasons
| which to us seem sufficiently cogent
to induce You to withdraw your resig-
| nation.
By way Of introduction, we would
have you consider this: We are your
personal friends, and not one of us
would give you advice which, if fol-
lowed, would according to our judg-
ment result in detriment to your
self. While, therefore, you may ques-
ton our wisdom, you cannot doubt
our sincerity. Moreover if, we are un-
animous in our opinions as to your
| course of action, is it not reasonable
to suppose that you may be in err
ror?
Sumter has been remarkably free
| from dissension and disaffection with
ing the governing body of the muni-
cipality. 1t would be unfortunate if
this resignation should SOW seed
which should yield in after years a
harvest of discord and division. If
there is the barest possibly of such
| an event, do you not feel it your duty
| to reconsider?
In addition to this do you not feel
| that, when you offered yourself for
the Mayoralty and received the NOM
| ination, you thereby entered into a
| solemn compact to discharge the
| duties Of the office, not merely to
the best of your ability. but until the
term of the office should expire d?
| Time it seems to us. is the essence
also of this contract. Your official
position imposes obligations which
YOU cannot, we respectfully submit
ignore, however grevious the burden
of some of these obligations may be
| to you personally, and we believe that
after longer deliberation the call 90
duty will sound to YOU now louder
and clearer than the protest of what
! YOU may have considered, outraged
official dignity. Whenever a decisive
step is necessary and one is i'm doubt
one cannot do better than to choose
the cours" that requires most cour-
| age. We leave it to your judgment
to determine which is the easier way
for YOU personally. IN this dilemma.
rnd We have reason to believe that
you viii choose the one that is
moro difficult and require the cNcr-
else Of more moral courage.
Now. Mr.. Mayor. we have NOT pre-
Sumod to teach you your duty; but
hay" sincerely ana simply considered
with YOU the solution of problem
! which "" know has caused you much
pcrpleNity We leave its final solu-
! tion i'm your hands, feeling assured
that your decision will bc reached in