Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-07-31
COUNTY CAMPAIGN.


charge" said Mr.. M. P. Wells in
openisg his speech He referrel.
to the fact that the National Den O.
cratic platform recently adopted in
Baltimore embodied two measures
which he had enac ed into
law.
Through his efforts bill was
passed providing that all public
funds held by the state treasurer be
deposited in banks Offering the
highest rate of interest on said de-
posits, the banks selected to be ap
proved by the state bank examiner.
According to the figures submitted
by him the state will derive some
$50 or $4,000 annually from this
source.
Mr.. Wells introduced a bill re-
quiring all shippers to pay a tax 20
cents per gallon ion all intoxicating
liquors shipped into the state. He
said shippers of stock feed and fer
tilizers were required to pay SINH
lar tax and it is but reasonable TO
require outside liquor dealers to do
likewise. Foreign insurance COM
panies are also required to pay a
tax to do business in South Caroli-
ma. The bill passed the House
practically unanimously and was
sent over to the senate.
Mr. Wells called attention to the
fact that an exact copy of his cot
ton tare bill has recently been pass
ed by the Georgia legislature. The
courts have declared the law to be
constitutional but it is not enforced
because the buyers of cotton have
| placed boycott on all cotton that
is entirely covered with bagging.
y, He passed a bill requiring super
{Sors and county commissioners to
Drrow money from banks and pay
an claims in cash instead of hav-
ing merchants and those who work
for the county add 25 per cent or
more to their accounts because they
stand unpaid for a considerable
length of time.
Mr.. Wells secured the enactment
| of lew making it a misdemeanor
for negro to rent land and then
abandon it, or make a contract to
work a certain piece of land on
shares and fail to comply with his
contract after supplies had been ad-
vanced.
He was member of the special
committee appointed to look into
the advisability of remodeling the
State House, but never attended any
of the meetings, having received no
notice Of the meetings. He had
nothing to 40 with the letting of a
contract for drafting plans and
specifications by the sub-commit-
tee.
AS to the governors race, Mr..
Wells said: i am not running for
the office of governor; | am a can
didate for the legislature. Pm not
responsible for the record of Gov.
Blease or Judge Jones. You have
sent me to the legislature for two
terms and you know my record.
Try me by my acts. Do not try
me by their acts. While / am a
member of the House / will wear
no mars collar. There are three
departments of government and l
will endeavor to keep them separate.
1 believe the people are going to
send me back. If can't go on my
record / do not want to 60 at all. l
am not running on either Jones' or
Blease's coat tail.
Il have pat into the legislative
incubator some valuable legisla-
tion. l have halched out some of
the bills that are for your good, and
hope to hatch out others if you
don't shoe me off the nest.
No decided stand was taken by
Mr.. Wells as to which of the candi-
dates for governor would receive
his vote and support.
]. P. DeLaughter.
The last of the prospective law
makers to address the meeting Sat
urday was J. P. DeLaughter, who
was practically among his home
people. He stated that the first
thing he will have to learn in this
campaign is to think while standing
on his feet. Mr.. DeLaughter said
he can make frst-rate speech
when alone but as soon as he gets
before an audience his speech i'm
mediately leaves him.
Concerning the Bristow amend
ment, Mr.. DeLaughter said he has
always advocated the election of all