The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-03-14
THE LEGISLATURE.
~T. J. W. Discusses Some OF the
Measures Enacted and Some That
Were Not.
Editor The Herald and News:

Editor The Herald and News:
Well, we have arrived at the close
of another session of the general as
sembly of South Carolina, and we
have no criticism or. condemnation to
offer for what has been done; neither
for that which hasn't been done. But
you can't keep people from thinking
it doesn't differ whether they think
right or wrong.
l have been reading the newspaper
reports of the session pretty closely,
and I find it would take whole lot
broader mind than l have to evenly
review the workings of the session.
I notice that there has been 1913 Acts
ratified by the governor which are
pretty we'll all Of local nature, and
many other measures have been nam
mered at b both branches of the.
house.
But it all reminds me somewhat OF
a play we boys used to practice some
45 years ago, I believe we called 1t
"see-saw." Any way l will describe
the play: A post was sunk in the
ground and strong plank was fas-
tened at about the center so as to be
on balance, then boy would get
on one end and another boy about the
same weight on the other end. Then
it was a general bobbing up and down
until both parties would get tired or
one would get little rude and give
the pole a sudden jerk and throw the
other boy off, then there would be a
general mixture of words, etc.
Then don't blame me if call the
whole machinery "see-saw" play.
1t was a long time we only had two
factions in the legislature, now we
have three.
The senate holds one end of the
pole. The lower house holds the oth-
er end, and the governor has grabbed
hold in the middle, and says, Boys
I'd like to see you ride over me-" And
everv now and then some fellow vii!
give tilt and down comes the pole
and "nly oh" such a mixture of words.
Finally everybody will rise to his feet
and some one will break out in a
new spot and say, Look here, boys;
something's got to be done" You
know what we promised the dear peo-
ple last summer from the stump. Yes,
] am going to pass bill, says the low
er house, to abolish the hosiery MILL
or some Act regarding the approprla-
ton bill, or a hundred other things too
numerous to mention. Something's
got to be DONE" so here goes the Dill.
1t passes the third reading and is sent
to the upper house, and after a delio-
Grafton of two or three days the SEN
ate will finally pass upon the bill
with a great long amendment, and
sends it down to uue governor and he
will "veto'' it. Then the lower house
will take a recess and call upon the
Hon. Joshua w. Ashley to lead in one
of those beautiful songs, we have nev-
er learned the name of the songs, but
we suppose it is something like "Hot
times i'm the old Palmetto city to-
night"
|. Truly did the Saviour sa ythat "a
house divided against itself can not
stand" And these words are applica-
bic to any and all organizations on
earth, even to the family circle. Oh,
to God that our people could learn to
avoid quarrels. They are disgrace
to all those who are concerned in
them and there is nearly always blame
upon both sides 1t never fails to
bring dishonor upon those who en-
gage in the like. 1t would be Gods
blessing if all those who have been
drawn into such a controversy would
heed the voice of old father Abraham,
who said: LET there be no strife. We
are all brethren" Some time we
think that we are getting two many
smart men in the world. We mean
men whose smartness leads them to
think that they know things better
than anybody else And by the spirit
of strife they mean to rule or ruin
If there was anything that was look
ing for from the hands of this hon
oro ob1o ho5v If Voc come A. ct TO better