The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-17

'"""S"O~ ~ ootn OF the ola papers.
and Is manifestiy the best advertising
mtiium I'm Sumter.
The Blease Jennings Matthews
controversy has reached the stage
that suggestion that II be taken out
aud buried Is in order.
Mr.. Todd. Of Charleston. the archi-
tect OF the Plaster of Paris State
House. Is a victim Of over confidence In
the might and influence Of the pow
ers that be, and his state is sad to
contemplate. He has fallen upon
parlous times when little claim for
SiS.5S0 cannot get through the leg
islature without the whole thing be-
Ing messed up by a lot of vulgarians
who have no appreciation In their
souls Gf art and beauty. To have
spent $4,000 and lots Of time draw
Ing plans and "acquainting'' the
members OF the General Assembly
with the beauty of a million dollar
State House. and then to have his
fellow members view the transaction
askance and question the legality and
validity OF the alleged contract is
heart-rending. However. since Ar
chitect Todd kept no itemized account
OF his expenditures and was unable to
furnish any vouchers for inspection
OF tho COMMITTEES. he would be
bereft indeed were 1t not for that
beautiful plaster model OF the imag-
mary state House. for he can keep II
as sad but precious memoir of the
effulgent period of his career as ar
ehitect extraordinary Of the sub
committee and ambassador pleni-
potentiary TO the members Of the
iegisieture in the four corners OF The
commonwealth.
i'ho race track gambling plant has
license To continue operations until
July. and IL may continue indefinitely
II no more attention Is paid the en-
forcoment OF the recent act OF the
legislature than the law against
blind tigers.
The cotton warehouse system to be
established under authority Of the
state OF South Carolina will be a radi-
cal innovation In business methods
and VI II IL properly managed will be
OF tremendous benefit To the farmers.
We are convinced that II is a begin
ming along the right lines OF a move
ment that will eventually revolution
izc The wealth producing crops Of
the south. Partial failure may befail
the initial experiment apd the revo-
iutlon may be retarded. or even
temporarily defeated. by the opposi-
tion Of those who fatten I'm parasite
cal prosperity on the producers by
reason OF the crude methods OF mar
keting; but a revolution Is necessary
IL the many producers are TO continue
to pay an Unjust and exorbitant tri-
butte 10 the few who control and
manipulate prices for them on profit.
The success or failure of the ware
house plan Is dependent upon the
men who are put i'm charge-if they
are men OF business ability end in
tegrity the chance OF failure will be
minimized. but if they are offit G
seekers and grafters failure is Gel =
tain.
Former Senator John l.. McLaurin
is quoted as threatening to enter>the
race for governor in the event that
Gov. Biease vetoes the cotton ware
house hill. VIII Blease take the
dare?
Mr.. IIartwcll NJ. Aver has trans
ferrcd the Florence Times To a com
pany In which he Is the largest stock
holder. Mr.. Aver will continue as
editor and Mr.. r.. II. Sallenger. for
several years with the News and
Courier. will be business manager
The rev company Is 10 have $4,000
and the stockholders are al
Florence business men. Many i'm
provements are planned for tn,
Times and " II has the support i'm IL,
home town that II deserves Messrs
Aver and Sallengcr will give Florenc,
n newspaper that would do credit T.
a bigger town than Florence. The,
know how. hut II takes a lot Of mon,
ey 20 run an up-to-date-, newspapei
and unless the support Is adeauat,