The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-03-31
BOND ISSUE WILL PROVE MYTH
Dear Mr.. Editor:

Much is being said about the bond
issue which is to be voted on soon for
the purpose of obtaining a loan, to
build good roads in Union county. The
people are in favor of good roads, but
are not in favor of voting a big debt
on the county that our grandchil-
dren will have to pay, besides bond
issues are dangerous, and always
proves detrimental to the taxpayers
happiness. We are already burdened
with taxation. To add $3.50 100000 to
our present tax the result would be
slow confiscation. We must profit
from past experience. Forty years
ago we had a set of silver tongue
schemers in Union who engineered a
bond issue to build railroad in North
Carolina. No doubt the silver tongue
schemers got handsome rake off
for their work, and the poor taxpayers
are sweating over those bonds today.
With such facts in hand would it not
be the height of imprudence as we'll
as an insult to honesty to ask the
people to saddle such an unjust debt
upon the old county. l say unjust,
for the scheme of this bond issue is
not for the benefit of the people of
Union county. Just the same old
trick that the silver tongue schemers
played on the county to build rail
road in North Carolina. But the prop
osition will not work for the people
don't intend to be skinned the second
time with the same knife. The sill
YER tongue schemer only hopes to get
his bond issue over was by the mill
people and by the working man.
Those educated schemers will go to the
mill people and ask them to vote for
the bond issue in order that they will
have good roads. With good roads
their wood can be bought for $500
per cord and save $500 per cord as
the mill company charged them $4.OO
per cord. To the working man they
will say, "The bond issue won't hurt
you. Your taxes will remain the
same; the banks, railroads and cotton
mills pay the taxes" With such in
famous stuff the silver tongue schem-
er expects to delude the working man
when the money gives out that road
tax will be raised as it has been done
in other places.
Ill oliC SouIlJy III SoIIil CdIOlllld
the silver tongue schemer succeeded
in getting the bond issue on the coun-
ty for road purposes before the road
was completed the road tax went up
to $1,000 to the man. Reference,
Mr. Snider at Lockhart Mills. ooh,
yes, the silver tongue schemcr will
promise the working man job on the
road, but if the working man fails to
pay his unjust road tax he will sure
get the promised job at his own ex-
pense.
In writing this letter l have used
the word unjust and must prove that
the word was used correctly. AS we
all rerember without single defalca-
tion that last summer the bontons of
the low country had their agents pros
pecting over Fairfield, Chester and
York counties with the hopes of find
ing highway by which they could
reach the mountains with their auto
mobiles. No bridge crossing across
Broad river, this route was aban-
doned and the party returned to CO.
lumbia where a safe bridge was found.
Then the prospecting party came
through Lexington and Newberry
county on to Union. While this party
was at Union no doubt but what they
bamboozled our delegation, which
caused an act to be passed by that
memorial legislature ordering an cleo
ton by which the people could ex-
press their wishes on the bond issue.
Now, Pete, you silver tongue schem-
er, did you not know that after
healthy rake off was made from the
proceeds of the bond issue would not
build the contemplated road through
the county by the way of Glenn
Springs. If the county was intended
to be benefited. why not suggested on
building a road from Union to Cross
Keys, or from Union to Broad river
those people have poor railroad fa-
cilities. Why not help the needy first?
But those bontons of the low country,
with their silk hats always was a
charm for the weak man. Now, Pete,
don't deny the charge, but the peo-
pie that the contemplated bond issue
was for the bontons of the low coun-
try who would not speak to a working
man when met in the road, so the sill
yer tongue scheme just as well go
into hole for the people are not
going to be bamboozled by those who
worship a silk hat or a new painted
automobile.
| will be loaded for bear in my next
letter. w. M. E..
Whitmire, S. G..