The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-03-17
KELTON

Mr.. J. o. Gault is desperately sick
with complication of diseases at his
sons home near Kelton and is not ex-
pected to live IL hours.
The tragic death of Mr.. F. NJ. Ad-
ans last Monday was terrible shock
to the citizens of the Ridge. A good
man is gone. 1t was my pleasure to
serve as a public school trustee of
Pinckney township with Mr.. Adams
and Mr.. ]. v. Askew. I found Mr..
Adams agreeable and the board had
worked harmoniously together. His
place will be hard to fill.
We were sorry to hear of the death
of DR.. w. o. Southland of Jonesville.
He possessed a noble spirit. At the
very beginning of his practice 38 or
40 years ago he practiced in our COM
munity and it is said of him he never
failed to respond to call, let it be
from white or black, poor or well-to-
do. 1t is no wonder that such mans
passing away was in peace. Serving
others is serving God. We may con-
tribute to build fine churches and to
pay big salaries to support preachers,
but there is nothing like serving those
in distress.
I am truly sorry that our delegation
has seen fit to pass an act to vote on
good road bonds in our county after
the voters of the county had repudi-
ated at the polls before, but l sup
pose that they had nothing to do for
the dear people they wanted to do
something. 1t is identically the same
measure with a few catch words add
ed. Now, if this building of perma-
nent highways was not for pleasure
seekers then it is unjust for them to
pay for travelling on them and if it
is for automobiles the people should
not be taxed to build and keep them
up. If such a law is not class legisla-
tion then what is class legislation?
In the other election for road bonds
we were permitted to have a full dis
cussion publicly on the question, but
now it is as silent as a stone wall.
What's the matter? Are the poll
ticians trying to run blind calf over
the voters of our county to keep them
in the dark and about the last issue
of the county papers before the cleo
tion they will be crowded with what
they call the good advantages the peo-
pie will receive if they only will vote
for the bonds and make some believe
them and vote for them. Now, voters,
read carefully who can vote in the
election. 1t doesn't make any differ
ence if you have lived all your life in
the State and county have moved
from one voting precinct to another
you have got to be there four months
or you can not vote. Now, Mr.. Voter,
who are they driving at? Nobody
but the mill people. The politician
has found out that the mill people
will vote as they want them to. They
are working the scheme to cheat them
out of their liberty which their faith
ers fought for They have one privi-
lege left, and that is to move when
they see cause. They may not soon
be able to use that. They are tighten
ing the screw every year and they
may not be able to move. Look at our
taxes now and compare them with
former taxes. l will give you some
on very identical property: In 1915
taxes $25.O3; in 1899 $1O.5O. Now
you can see that the taxes in 16 years
have gained SLABS. What will they
be the next 25 years? Now they
want to heap one-sixth or more on
us at one leap, $25O,OOO at 5 per cent
is $12,5OO. Suppose the bonds run
20 years. 1t will take $12,50O a year
to retire them; add the interest year
ly and you have $500 We would
have added about ore-sixth of our
present taxes at one leap and at an
early date we have rot to have $50
OOO for Jail to keep prisoners in,
etc., until taxes will be so high d
poor man can't stay here.
Now, my fellow voters, we are now
paying taxes on a railroad in North
Carolina, for over 40 years that we
voted. l say we, because / voted for
the bonds, because | was young and
did not have any more sense. | had
great deal to say about them before
the other election, but I did not tell
1T all. They hired June Mobley,
deep dyed negro radical to stump the
county to get the negroes to vote for
the bond and gave him $500, one
whom we had been trying to defeat
for years. 1t depends on whose axe
was being ground. | have been asso-
ciating with the mill people for 20
years and | find them as good and
honest as you will find anywhere,
bright little boys and girls, who, if
they have a chance, will make their
mark in the future.
Farmers and wage earners, don't
get too busy the day of the election
that you do not turn out and vote
again those bonds.
Let all read Rev. c. f. Felmet's let
ter i'm the last cnnu of The Tinnnn Ia