The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-08-11


not passed single bill Il national
importance. His rural credits bill
need not be commented upon, as its
provisions are so ridiculous that it
Will never be reported out OF the COM
miJtee 10 which ii was referred, much
less considered in tie house. His
bill f-r tie relic. OF the storm suffer
ers in Anderson county, while Lor
worthy. purpose, was never introduced
by him with ally view Of passing it.
Why is it he did not Introduce a
similar bill. for tie relief Of the hail
storm sufferers in Abbeyille county i'll
the Wilmington and Bordeaux neigh
borhoods several years ago? The an
swer is simply tn, there were no
politics to be played. The people OF
Abbeyille county remember ilis letter
stating congress would not appropri-
ate ny money for such purposes, and
te s.nt measly contribution for the
sufferers.
Aiken's "0rat0ricap Efforts.
Let us now turn from his legislative
record to lis oratorical efforts that
have been the subject # much specula-
ton, not cnly in Washington, but in
the Third congressional district. The
record shows that mis- first effort was
on tie subject of immigration, printed
in the record on April %, 1904, sup
posed to have been delivered, but
witch was simply printed. This is
the speech that he circulated over his
district in defense of the foreign la
b3r that he wanted to establish
throughout the district to compete
with American-born laborers in order
to lower their wages. He also printed
a speech on tle subject Of the tariff.
This speech contained much valuable
data on the tariff, but the data in it
was furnished Mr.. Aiken by the late
Iamented and brilliant newspaper cor
respondent, Zach McGhee OF Green
wood. Mr.. McGhee told me himself that
ne furnished Mr.. Aiken with material
for that speech, and any one who will
read the speech will recognize the
truthfulness ossMr McGSee's statement.
See Record March %, 1910, pages
1865 to 1874.
@WOndering WiN Wrote IT,
He made speech as eulogy on
John C. Calhoun when the statue Of
that distinguished statesman was plac-
ed in Statuary Hall A prominent
merchant OF Abbeville, who was pas
sing through Washington and wanted
I to see Calhoun's statue, after viVWing
it in my presence, turned to me and
said: Wyatt Aiken sent me a copy
of his speech on Calhoun, and l have
been wondering who wrote it for
lim." | said to him that | did not
know, as my relations with Aiken We're
such that | could not ask him VINO
wrote his speeches. AS conclusive
proof of these statements, let the peo-
ple who know Mr.. Aiken read these
alleged speeches of his. Is it not pos
sible for tie v.ters of the Third con-
gressional district to elect some man
to congress who has views On pub
lie questions, and can express them
himself?
.His Departmental Duties"
Let US examine Mr.. Aiken's depart
mental duties" about which lae spoke
at Newberry as taking up so much OF
his time! What has ile done for any
o. his worthy constituents in the de-
partments at Washington? What has
he done at tie post Office department
to bring about change in the Ander-
son postmastership? Tlere was a
post office inspector at Anderson, and
after>a very thorough examination OF
its affairs, he recommended the re-
moval of tie postmaster at Anderson
for general inefficiency and persls-
tent intoxication; the punishment OF
four clerks for insulting the assistant
postmaster; and the reduction cl the
clerical force by two clerks and ne
also reported "2S Irregularities - There
is on file in the post office department
the strongest kind Of letter, dated
April 13, 1914, and signed by three OF
the leading ministers at Anderson,
telling of the deplorable conditions
existing at the Anderson post otlce.
T3ey stated in their letter tnat tney
wrote Tin the name cf justice and for
the cause of righteousness. . They