The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-08-08

his committee had had the appropria..
ton replaced and Bethel school had
gotten $500 of the money. In trying
to look after local affairs he had seen
That measure engineered by the shoe
trust of Ohio which would have put
the Sumter enterprise out of busi-
ness. had been defeated.
lie stood for Winthrop College and
would always do what he could for
that institution which had sent out so
many able teachers and mothers
throughout the State.
In conclusion, he asked that the
voters Of Privateer do their duty as
they saw it. If they wished him to re-
main in the legislature, he asked that
they see that his was one of the names
on their ballots when they cast them
on August 25th.
Mr.. II. b. Belser stated that it was
:, pleasure to be here before the peo-
lie Of Privateer. He was proud of
the fact that Sumter county was re-
puted to have one of the strongest
delegations i'm the house, although it
had but three members. These three
could kill any ibll which they oppos-
ed and could aid to a great extent in
passing any measure they favored.
South Carolina had wonderful ma
tural resources which should be de-
Tn inl, o,,I 1,
} working during the time he had been
In the legislature, and he believed
E that he was better fitted now by rea-
son of his experience to serve the peo-
pie than he had been before He be-
lieved that his past work had been
; partly successful referring to the pure
food bill, as it was called, which was
meant to benefit the shoe trusts and
8 hurt the infant shoe industry in Sum.
, ter.
? lie had introduced the communication
road tax bill which now put $1,000 to
$lO,OOO in the treasury every year, in
place Of allowing work on the roads,
which was usd by the supervisor in
| building roads. The bill was equitable
to white adm black. while at the
same time it made the negro paw his
part for keeping up the roads, which
he used, but formerly had not paid to
keep up. A11
' He had always advocated good roads
1 and continued to do SO, being for the
building of main roads first and then
good roads to stations, to and from
which the farmers did their hauling
and which were a matter of such i'm.
portance to them. Teh roads were
| rapidly getting better and he believed
B. in sufficient appropriation that the
4 State or county might receive the
benefit Of any government appropria.
I ton.
Y He WAS working for a cotton ware
I house system, which would give the
grower an opportunity Of storing his
= cotton or grains until he could secure
r price commensurate with the cost
e of production. The first warehouse
n measure had been passed, bL declar-
= ed unconstitutional. Last year it had
/ failed to pass for various reasons. This
q warehouse system would enable the
: farmer to diversity his crops with bet
ter effect than any other plan for his
, benefit.
q Mr.. Belser referred to the wonder
full water power in the upper part of
e the State. This was a natural asset
l. greater than in any other State of
South Carolina's size. He had kept a
lookout to see that a water power
=, trust did not gobble up these re-
sources, adding an amendment on all
, bills granting the use of water power.
tax bill to water power, which
would bring in $4,000 to the State
each year. had been passed by the
house but had failed Of passage in
, 'he senate. ~tN
He had always attended the ses-
sions of the legislature, except when
prevented by sickness, and would con-
tinue to be found at his post Of duty.
if elected.
Another measure which he had ad-
vocated was a bill to equalize the tax
assessments on property. This was
necessary and would he especially
beneficial to the small farmer, as per-
sonal property was generally return
cd at from 80 to 40 per cent Of It's
value. while real estate was returned
generally for from 10 to 80 per cent
OF its value, the large land holder in
this case getting the better of the
small land holder. He did not be-
lievc in discrimination between the
two.
lie was opposed the inheritancc