The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-08-01

these trips? 1t is some of the road
bond advocates here in the city of
Abbeville who want good roads
running out of the city of Abbevile
in every direction for at least five
miles, and who care not a tinkers
damn what condition the other roads
of the county are in. Just look at
the letter-heads that the so-called
"Publicity Campaign" are sending
out, On these letter-heads you viii
see these words, America First,
Abbeville Second" Not word il
said about the county of Abbeville,
whether it lis first >>or second, but
when this three hundred thousand
dollars is spent the people will find
that Abbeville county is last.
The road advocates who pilot these
automobile trips to Greenville will
tell you that the people of Greenville
county are delighted that they have
to pay nine hundred thousand dol
lars to build roads-yet the people
of Greenville county by their vote
last summer, repudiated everyone.
Except one) of their delegation IN
General Assembly that voted these
bonds on Greenville county. Does
this look like the voters of Green
vile county are delighted with their
road bonds
Bonds were put on GreenviIle
county before the war. I do not be-
lieve that the people of Greenville
county would vote bonds during war
times. I can recall when the rural
police was first put on in AbbeviIle
county. Some of this same road
bond crowd here at Abbeville said
it was for the best interest of Able
vile county to have rural police, yet
the people at first chance voted out
rural police by overwhelming ma
jority. But rest assured these three
hundred thousand dollar bonds once
voted on, can never be voted of,
but must be paid by an increase In
present tax levy of six mills.
Some of the road bond advocates
try to make you believe that II
these road bonds are voted on, that
the Federal Government will give us
q large sum of money, this is false
just another case of "bamboozle the
people," Why misrepresent the
people. I realize the fact that good
roads will prove a benefit to any
county, but when we are already
taxed to the limit, and when we are
in the midst of a worldwide war,
that may last for years, do submit
that the voters of this county should
think we'll before placing three hun
dred thousand dollar bond debt upon
this county. Abbeville county VIII
be about clear of debt at the close of
this year and it will be calamity
to place a three hundred thousand
dollar debt upon this county at this
time, especially when the object for
which this money will be spent may
prove failure after a few years.
Greenville county is the only coun-
ty in the upper part of this state,
that has built roads with bonds, her
roads have been built only about
two years. In two or three years,
her roads may prove to be failure.
Then. is it not the part of business
judgment on our part, to wait at
least till after the war before bur-
dening this county with three hum
dred thousand dollar debt. have
represented this county for past eight
years in the Legislature and at all
times opposed increase in taxes and
extravaganza on part of the state,
and I would certainly hate to see
this county swamped with three
hundred thousand dollar debt, and
after year or two, have nothing to
show for it. For should these bonds
be voted, who knows whether the
roads will be any better after few
years use, than they are now.
Now, in conclusion, l am well
aware that some of my enemies will
try to misrepresent my motives, but
I am proud to say that the people of
Abbeville county believe that am
honest in my convictions, however
much they may differ with me. I
stand ready at all times to abide by
the voice of the people, and I hope
every voter in this county will go to
the polls and vote. 1t will be well
for everyone to think well before
voting to burden this small county
with a three hundred thousand dol
lar debt in this time of war, high
taxes and high cost of living, and
while our Young men are being cali