The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-08-15


would not discuss the public schools
or the Confederate soldiers, as the
state had a fixed policy OF caring for
them. lie spoke of his work to pass
the amendment to the One-mill tax
levy, already mentioned by Mr.. Bel
ser, and it's good to- Sumter county.
lie had not paid any attention to the
marriage license fee bills, as this was
not matter of any moment and there
was little difference whether the SAL
ary of the judge Of probate was in
creased directly or was increased by
allowing him to receive this little fee
for Issuing marriage licenses. The
water power tax bill had not passed
the senate for three reasons. because
1t was unconstitutional; because there
was no fixed rate Of taxation, and, pri-
marily, because it was to the best in
terests of the State to have this water
power developed for the upbuilding
OF the State. He voted against the
two cent rate bill because it was tie
confiscating Of property without due
process OF law and without seeing
that the railroad would have a rea-
sonable return on the investment. He
again stated that the union station bill
had been killed because ot the Opuo-
sition Of the Sumter delegation in the
house. He stated that he had always
had the courage to vote when he was
In the house, again referring to Epps'
request Of the house to excuse him
from voting on the dispensary bill
and his not voting on the Fortner bill,
showing Epps' action on the 1914 dis
pensary bill. He had always been op-
posed to white people teaching in ne
gro schools and had voted that way.
He belittled bills which his opponent
had passed, a bill for election of trus-
tees In Mayesville district, for re-an-
nexation Of portion Of Lee county
and as to the collection Of taxes. lie
stated that he was always ready to
serve and would be glad to continue
to serve the people in the future, as
he had in the past.
Mr.. Epps took up most of his time
In explaining the matters mentioned
by Mr.. Clifton, starting off by saying
that he had served the people of
Sumter county to the best of his abil
ity, nor had he lodged a single issue
Of moment to the State or county. He
stated in reference to Mr.. Clifton's
having expressed regret that their
records had been brought into the
contest, that he had been told prior
to the first meeting that Mr.. Clifton
had stated to friends that he would
attack his (Epps) record and indi-
eating that he meant to do so. he
(Clifton) had during his speech re-.
ferred to typewriter statement TAX
en- from his grip at Privateer. He
again stated his position on the Ii.
quor question, being personally op-
posed to liquor, nor had he ever TAX
en- a drink of whiskey or beer, or ever
chewed or smoked tobacco, but, as {,
representative Of the people he was
In favor Of their voting on the dis
pensary question every four years. as
called for now by the present law. In
reference to the defeat Of the union
station bill, he again read the replies
he had received from the mayor and
councilmen Of Sumter and the Cham
Der Of Commerce, the latter asking
that the bill be not passed. He
thought the railroads could stand for
the two cent rate bill and still make
profit. He again gave as his rea-
son for not voting on the Fortner bill
the fact that he thought it unneces-
sary and not matter on which to
legislate. as 1t would create a wrong
impression in the minds OF our pos
terity.
He was opposed to race track gamb-
ling and would have aided any bill
driving this out Of the State. Mr..
Clifton, he said, had worked against
a bill to stop race track gambling
and then after the bill had been pass-
ed, despite his efforts to kill it, he
had tackled on an amendment extend
Ing the time for the bill to go into
effect. His statement that he had re-
turned ticket sent him by the Char
lesion Racing Association, which he
had been assured was worth $50 and
which he might easily dispose Of for
500, II he chose, telling the assOcia-
tiOn officers who had sent it that he
was a member Of the legislature and