Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-05-04
REGULARITY OF SIGNATURE

In connection with our analysis OF
the recently filed petition asking the
town council of Yorkville to call an
election on the question Of changing
the name Of the town, we character
lied the petition as irregular and lille
gal, and in doing so we were prompt
ed not so much by a desire to discred-
it the petition as because we knew
what we said was the truth, and we
desired to take advantage of the op-
portunity thus afforded to emphasize
the slipshod methods commonly pur-
sued in the most important matters Of
this community.
There was a slight hope at the time
we published the statement that some
of the people who are working for the
proposed change of name would un-
dertake to refute our assertion. We
could not consciously say that we real
ly expected anything Of the kind, be-
cause we did not. We know exactly
what we are up against and we know
what to expect from them. We know
that they know that we knew what
we were talking about, else we would
not have talked, and we know that
they had sense enough not to come
back at us becuase Of what they would
likely get in reply. We can see how 1t
was so much easier to just leave our
statement go as it was and then un-
dertake to tell different individuals
who did not know any better that we
were only just talking.
There has been many wrong pull
ed off in the town over The Enquirer's
warning, by this method.
We assert that we can prove before
any court Of competent jurisdiction
that this petition is not lawful one,
and that the toul council was not
warranted in calling an election on it.;
but we do not expect to do so for yar1-
Gus reason. One Of these reasons Is,
that being thoroughly democratic and
believing in the people, that however
grievous a mistake we believe 1t would
be to change the name Of the town, If
majority Of the voters want the
name changed we would not thwart
them even If we could.
At the same time the town council
is here to do things in lawful man
ner or not at all, and we want to show
that the town council has not per-
formed its duty in this matter in a
lawful manner.
Now there are scores Of signatures
to that petition that we could attack
if we desired to do so; but for pres
ent purposes we will attack only a
single one, that Of
First National Bank"
That Is all there Is to the signature.
At least it is all there was to 1t when
the petition was acted upon and when
it was copied for The Enquirer.
First National Bank" Of what?
There is a First National Bank Of
Yorkville, and the First National Bank
of Yorkville, is the owner Of a free
hold: but there Is nothing on that Pc
tition to commit this freehold or the
owner thereof to a request for an cleo
ton on the question of changing the
name of the town.
1t Is quite evident that II this sigma
ture was not a competent one, it was
the duty Of the town council to strike
it off before granting the petition.
1t was the duty Of the town council
to strike off every incompetent name,
and every name that appears on the
petition otherwise than in strict con-
formity to the requirements that
would be necessary to a signature in
the transfer of a piece Of real estate,
is incompetent.