The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-07-25

L
willing to keep man in service of the
city simply because he controls
votes. Nor will | consent to the city
employees debating to the council
what its policy shall be or the salaries
that shall be paid, under the threat
of not being reelected, if we do not
do this. l have been told, but how true
it is ! do not know, that some of the
city employees are opposing my re-
against u general increase of salaries,
and that others are supporting me for
reasons known only to themselves. l
feel that all employees should vote as
they honestly think best, but that they
should not attempt to manipulate the
politics. Of the city, as does Tammany,
those of New York, and whether am
elected or not, I am against all such.
In addition to voting against the
above increase Of salaries, also
voted against the purchase of a gaso-
line fire truck, at cost of about $4,-
500 and a crematory for burning gar
bage at cost Of about the same
amount. I did this because 1 felt we
could not afford either of these at this
time, not having a penny with which
to pay for them. / have been told
by many Of late that my acts as coun-
, Gilman have made me unpopular per-
sonally, and l will lose many votes on
this account If such is the case, and
1 fear it Is, I am sorry for it. How
ever, If it is popularity, and not effi-
cheney you want, I can very we'll af-
ford to pull my hat, I would rather
have clean conscience, than public
applause without it. I have always
tried and expect to continue to do
what l think manly and right, wheth-
er 1T makes me popular or not. I
would rather know that l am right
than popular.
I hear all sorts Of reports as to why
am not popular. One man said, he
did not like me and was not going to
vote for me when he hardly knew me
by sight. He has only been in the city
for short time and my business re-
lations with him have been very
slight but pleasant. How do you sup
pose he came to have such a dislike
for me? Possibly some walking dele
gate has been telling him Of my good
traits and he could not have had his
mind poisoned otherwise. They tell
me that i went to Columbia and de-
fsated TIE Union Station bill. Now
gentlemen, the party who started this
report was either liar or n knave
Were l big enough and inclined to
manipulate the legislature Of South
Carolina in this manner 1 certainly
would not want the job as alderman
Of Sumter. l would be too big for it
which am not. 1t is too absurd to
think Of. My home and interest are
in Sumter and what affects Sumter af-
fects me and my interest. I'll bet the
man who started that report, was a
walking delegate, also, whose heart
was more in pulling me down, than
helping the city of Sumter; that pay
more taxes than he does. and that he
has an axe to grind in getting me out
of the way. Another just as absurd
|
always had heifer calves and by that
means I hope to control the milk sit
uation in the city. That's bad, if true
but all Of the calves are not heifers
Another very serious charge, my dog
ran my neighbours cats.
1t is claimed that have stated that
no man is worth more than so cents
per day The man to whom I told
that has never been born and the man
who tells 1T as true, is telling an un-
truth and he knows it,
Further, that I bought the Graham
property and had the street improv-
ed. Well, the street certainly needed
improving. However, it was ordered
done long before l bought this prop
erty. which statement my associates
on the council will bear me out in
But the most serious Of all is my
relations with the railroad company.
Now gentlemen, this calls for more
talk. / came to Sumter as railroad
agent and have been on the council
several times. l am now an employee
OF the railroad and hope to be as long
as they want me. My salary for the
past several years, as commercial
agent, Is so small, that l am ashamed
to tell you what it is. During my stay
here, if l have ever attempted to leg
islate in favor of the railroad, to the
hurt of the town, / have no knowledge
or 1t. ON the other hand nv being