The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1913-07-16
A Letter from w. p. Coker.
Fountain Inn, S. G.

ed the Enoree. This Woodruff new
county fever seems to have come to
stay until killed by the voters of pa
triotic old Laurens. At present the
temperature Is rising, the disease is
contagious, the results are momentous.
But short time remains until the
ballots will fall. Many declare they
had rather remain in the good old
county of Laurens, which has one
among the best court house buildings
in the state, which was enlarged and
remodeled last year at cost of $46,-
600 or $4S,000; a good and secure Jail
and all necessary county buildings
with full and complete equipment
of road tools, Implements and machin.
cry, with plenty of good work stock
and convict labor to keep her pubic
roads in good travelling order. There
is just completed sixty-five thousand
dollar postoflice in the town.
Woodruff is making a determined
fight and some declare the ballots cast
in the boxes outside the new county
line Uf it can be told where that line
is) should not be counted, though the
voters are properly qualified t. vote
and live within the proposed new
of what we conceive to be their in
alienable constitutional right 1t is
said the now county lines do not run
as the law provides, that they run in
zig gag manner, which will make
it a proper case for the supreme court
Of the State to pass upon, both as to
the constitutionailty and the amount
Of territory included.
This being so, with many other
things, would it not be best for us
all in Laurens county to go to the
polls, the voting precents where we
are registered on July the 29th, and
bury this Woodruff new county idea
so deep under our ballots that it will
never be heard of again.
We believe in justice and a fair
deal in all things and especially in
elections. | have favored smaller
counties. properly laid out, for twen-
ty years, but if not formed according
TO the intent and meaning of the law
and formed against the wishes and
votes of the people l, as a patriotic
citizen. under such circumstances as
these, and many others not mentioned,
feel it my duty to go to the ballot box
and cast my vote against this pro-
posed new county, dismembering good
old Daurens county and | feel quite
sure that many more than two thirds
of the qualified voters of old Laurens.
true to the principals inherited from
their fathers, will now stick to the
old county landmarks, regardless OF
politicians or anyone else. We feel
sure the voters have long ago made
up their mind what they would do and
when the final talley is made. that
Enoree will be defeated with the votes
of the patriotic, liberty loving voters
cluded in the proposed new county
of Enoree with Woodruff as the coun-
ty seat.
Voters of Laurens, there is now eX
tended splendid opportunity for
every lover Of his mother county to
show his county pride by going to his
voting precinct and exercising his
privilege as an independant manly
man.
The boast has been made that many
will be bought Don't be for sale.
Don't be bought for a mess Of pottage.
Don't swap your vote. Don't stay at
home on the day of election. Don't
promise not to vote for it Is your right
and privilege; exercise it fearlessly.
Remember it takes two votes to kill
yours. Parties are now travelling ov-
or the territory begging voters If they
can't vote for the new county not to
vote against it. Make no one such
a promise. 1t Is unfair. If you have
made such an one, don't regard Ii
binding, but go to the boxes and vote
against dismembering your mother
county. Don't be hoodwinked. After
ward they would laugh at your weak
ness and want of discernment.. The
courts of the state will protect the ex-
ercise of your suffrage
/ deem it proper to say that prob
ably would have voted for this new