The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1912-08-22

with the interests of the great cor
porations, Mr. Ragsdale was found
working for legislation that would
be fair. With no desire to prevent
progress or injure capital he was al
ways ready and eager to respect
and protect labor.
AS citizen of Florence he has
worked untiringly for its upbuilding
and enjoys to a large degree the
confidence. esteem and friendship of
her people. He has been connected
with many of her business institu-
tions and has always favored pro-
gressive administrations. He has
for twelve years consecutively ad-
vised the County Commissioners of
Florence county and was for years,
and until he refused reelection this
summer, county chairman of the
Democratic party.
AS a public speaker he has been in
demand and he has responded cheer
fully to all requests. Within the
past several weeks he has been call
ed upon to respond to a toast at the
United Commercial Travellers ban
quet; to present State flag to the
public schools in behalf of the
Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton; to deliver an address of well
come to the new Baptist pastor, the
Rev j S Sewers, D D; to deliver a
memorial address of welcome to the
State Confederation of the Eastern
Star; to deliver an address of well
come to the Farmers Institute and
to make other public addresses. The
invitations to make these addresses
attest his popularity among all the
citizens of Florence and show the
esteem and confidence in which he is
held by her manhood and woman
hood.
He is a trustee of the South Car
olina Industrial School, having been
appointed by Governor Blease about
one year ago. He has taken great
interest in the institution which is
designed to set Alright the wayward
feet of boys who have gone astray,
and the school is now growing very
rapidly. He worked hard for its es-
tablishment in Florence, co-operat-
ing with her other citizens, and feels
that this school and all other schools
and institutions of learning should
be developed and encouraged, and
is enthusiastic and earnest in all
work that makes for learning and
improvement among white boys and
girls of the State.
No one in Florence was more
Jealous, enthusiastic and generous
than he in his efforts to secure suit
able quarters under Christian influ-
ence for the railroad men who live
there or whose work brings them
there, cooperating with the Inter-
national Y M CA. He worked un-
firing for a Railroad Young Mems
Christian association and was made
general chairman and treasurer of
the committee and no one in Flor
ence is prouder than he of the hand
some, commodious, comfortable
structure erected there where these
men and boys find clean, and econo-
mic sleeping rooms, sanitary baths,
resting and reading rooms, and
games for their amusement.
As chairman of the Finance COM
mittee, he points with pride to the
fact that Florence's A C L Young
Mems Christian association exceeds
in membership and attendance that
of any of the other Y M G A on the
system.
AS a Democrat, he is absolutely
without spot. Believing in the DEM
cratic party as an organization, ne
is a strong party man. He regards
the tariff as the main plank in the
platform and feels that when the
Democratic convention builds plat
form, no Democrat has a right to
refuse to support it and retain an
office and enjoy its honors and en-
oluments. Agreeing with Senator
Tillman and Senator Smith in their
Interpretation of pledges to redeem
the plighted word of Democracy, he
felt that every Democrat should
have voted to take the tariff off
lumber and revise the tariff down.
ward as was pledged by the Demo-
Gratis in convention assembled and
as was promised by them in the last
campaign.
He is a strong believer in the doc
trine of States rights" and oppos-