The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-10-05
THE KNOCKER.
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Gafney Ledger.

Carney Ledger.
One of our exchanges remarks
that this is day of boosters and
boosting. A great majority of our
people are desirous of seeing their
town grow. Everybody watches the
census report just to see how big
they have gotten. The thought of
advancement seems to be in the pom
ular mind.
But also we have a sort of counter
irritant in every community that we
commonly speak of as the. knocker.
We always have had him and possibly
always will. He is in Gaffney, and
possibly he has a mission to fill.
But whether he is of any use or
not, we have him, and should be able
to take care of him. Any movement
for improvement and betterment in
the community will bring him to the
fore, and it often happens that the
local knocker is the very one who
should be the bigger booster in your
town
1t often happens. too. that the
knocker is not a pessimist at hear.
but simply knocks for lack of under
standing. He works against his own
interest, against the interest of his
fellow townsmen, because he really
doesn't know what is best for him.
This often happens just because peo-
pie do not put forth any effort to be-
come better acquainted with those
about them.
The business men in a certain lit
tie city feel the need OF a new bridge
across the river, but the farmers on
the other side of the river have been
told, by some politician. perhaps,
who wishes to curry their favor, that
such a bridge would be an enormous
tax and those farmers are almost to
man against the bridge proposition
just because they do not understand,
they have not stopped and seriously
considered the situation, they have
not realized that the bridge across
the stream will bring them nearer to
the town to better markets, to closer
fellowship with those of the other
side of the stream, and that all these
things are of value to them These
not understand
Yes, every town seems to have the
knocker, but we can not afford tol
take him seriously; we must simply
go on and ignore him. If you have
work to do in Gaffney. do it, 1t may
require a little nerve, some back
bone. and courage, but if a thing
needs to be done it will pay you to
do it. Throughout this country there
are many towns that have absolutely
no reason for not progressing, except
that there are some few people in the
community who hold back-because
there are some knockers to be reck-
oned with.
Yes, we have him. 1t may be that
he has retired from active business. |
He has no children to educate, con-
sequently he is not interested in the !
betterment Of the schools. He is |
NASH DOuRnJ an au |
tomobile, so he doesn't care about
spending his hard earned money for
street improvement He doesn't hear
very we'll and so doesn't go to church. |
so he doesn't feel inclined to CON
tribute to the support of the church.
Yes, we have him. There are many |
such knockers abroad. He is usually
selfish, and the selfish person is never
the best for the community, but
since we have him in some form or
other it is necessary for you, the
real soldier of advancement to buck
lie on your sword and go out and
fight the battles of your town and
community without paying attention
to him. If you can just go on and do
things you will be surprised to see
how many of the knockers will Ill
in line. and after while ask to carry
the flag or beat the drum.