The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-18


Gut of Service.
The meeting Of the Sumter County
Council of Defense called for last Sat
urday, for the first time in the eX-
istence of this very efficient and pa
trictic body of farmers, merchants
bankers, and professional men, failed
. of a. quorum, and had to be postpon-
ell until IL o'clock Saturday, Decem-
I ber 28th. Rainy weather and muddy
roads accounted for the small num-
ber who were present and who de-
cided to postpone the meeting until
/ the 2Sth.
Chairman A. C. Phelps was very
much disappointed for several rea-
sons. First, it is the duty of the
members of this Council Of Defense
who are now, and have been serving
as official representatives Of the Nat
; ;cnal ard State governments, and VINO
viii continue as such representatives
until peace is formally declared. be-
| cause the war is not yet over, 10
meet and wind UP the 1918 years al
| fairs Of this business and patriotic
Body in as business-likc manner as
! possible, ard render a detailed flnar-
cal report OF The receipts and eXpen-
;li%ures Of public funds appropriated
/; for the support of this council, for the
year 1918. This IS a public business
! organization and must account to the
public for the monies received and
paid out.
l. Second the Sumter County Council
CT Defense has not been disbanded by
the signing Of the 80 day arrnistice,
aid the government does not wish the
State and county councils of defense
to disband, as there is a great dea! OF
important work ye. to be done. The
soldiers have finished the fighting, We.
the civilian population yet have much
TO do backing up our soldiers who will
remain over seas for some time yet.
Another matter OF no little Interest
and partaking Of a gentlenan's agree
ment, because Of the fact that the
Sumter County Council Of Defense. at
:ts' meeting on November 9th, which
was attended by about seventy per
cent of it's membership, representing
practically every township, instructed
Chairman Phelps to write q guaran-
tee to the State board Of health,
which he did, that this council would
see that s2,501 was paid over to the
State beard Of health for the coun-
t. health survey
HSow the chairman feels that every
! member CT the Sumter County Coun-
ell Of Defense is individually respon-
sibIe, as honorable men, to stand
back Of that voluntary guarantee,
which he as the county chairman was
ordered to make to the State board
os health.
The State Health Officer, DR.. J. A.
Nayne thinking that this was a de-
ocndable guarantee from a represen-
.ative body of Sumter county citizens,
which the Sumter COUNTY Counci! OF
Defense undoubtedly is, went ahead
and secured the s5,0o0.00 guarantees
from the International health board
and the South Carolina State board
Of health to put With the s2,5O0.oO
Guaranteed IN Chairman Phelps let
tei, of November l1th to the State
health officer. IT was intended to
close this matter up at last Saturdays
meeting which did not materiallze.
So that Sumter countys reputation
for carrying out it's promises to pay,
and the guarantee CT its citizens is at
stake
Every member saof this council
should consider himself personally re-
sponsible for carrying out this agree
r2cnt, and every member should not
only subscribe libcral'y himself, Du'
he should also get busy in his town
ship and neighborhood and collect eli
that ne possibly can. and come to tho
meeting of the Council on December
2Sth, fully prepared TO participate II
the Sumter County Councifs nonor-
! abe and bus:ness-liie carrying out OF
this gertlemen's agreement WI ca
they authorized their county char
man to enter into. This they eve -
Chairman Phelps, to Sumter county :;
good name. and to the reputation Q!
the Sumter County Council OF De
Tense