The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-08-16
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1912.
COLONEL LONGS LETTER.


to open it's columns to every man
who comes with message which he
deems worthy of publication, no mat
ter whether the article expressed the
editors ideas or opposed them.
AS to the article of Col. Long: We
to do. We published Mr.. Lawson's
piece for the same reason. We do not
undertake defense of Mr. Lawson. We
presume he is able to take care of
himself. Anyway, he wrote. There
was nothing offensive in language or
sentiment in his article, regarded as
a newspaper article, so we willingly
published it. So did we publish, in
the same issue, if we mistake not, an
article from Mr.. Suber. This latter
article was the very opposite of our
own convictions; yet, we published it,
willingly and without comment. A
newspaper VIII ich opens it's columns
to the public cannot stand sponsor for
the views of its correspondents. Ev-
cry man, with common sense knows
that to be true.
The writer has stood for law and
order. This may be seen by Col. Long
or anybody else who has read the
editorials from week to week. Does
he condemn us for that? Is he not
the executor of the law in Union
county? Instead of decrying such
position of an editor, the deputy sher-
lff of a county should stand four
square for the enforcement of law.
The humble writer has paid taxes for
seventeen years in Union county for
the protection that should be rend-
cred by the officers of the law. Has
Col. Long any kick coming on that
score? Most of the years lived by
the editor in Union county Col. Long
has been supported by the tax-money
of the citizens of this county. We
contributed our humble part to his
support, and did it freely and willing
ly. Has he any grievance on that
score? Be it said, furthermore, that
no one has stood for the defence of
the fair name of Union county" more
l.
have unflinchingly called attention to
conditions that were bad when we
honestly saw it in that light We said,
when the lawless element threatened
to rob the county of her fair name
that the trouble was caused by a
mere handful of lawless spirits. We
still believe that to be true. We be-
lieved then and now that the great
bulk of the citizenship of Union
county is made up of honest, law
abiding, God-fearing people.
AS to the Jail being empty, that
will be good news to every man and
woman in the county who loves God
and their fellow men. We had
thought that perhaps prohibition was
failure. It's enemies have frequent
ly so stated. But Col. Longs COM
munication gives us new hope. If
this is the first time in long while
that the Jail is empty, it's most as
suredly a feather in prohibitions cap.
Whether that be true or not, the
writer certainly rejoices in the fact
that the Jail is without a tenant. We
have never wished it to be full. Have
never gloated over it's being full. Per-
sonally would not care if it were
raised to the ground and the sheriff
discharged. We understand that has
happened in some of the Western
states. If there should come a day
when there is no further use for the
Jail and sheriff, no man will more
gladly welcome that day than will the
humble writer. But until that day,
the sheriff, the deputy sheriff and
every officer of the law should stand
firmly, unfiinchingly for the eHfo~ce-