The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-04-15
south CAROLINA
MEMORIAL FUND


CITIZEN TO CONTRIBUTE TO
THIS FUND NEXT WEEK.
The editor of The Record recently
received the following letter from
Governor Cooper, which we publish
for the consideration Of our readers:
State of South Carolina,
Executive Chamber,
Columbia, April 7th, 1920.
Mr.. w. F. Tolley,
Kingstree, S. C.
Dear Mr.. Tolley:
Though this letter is addressed to
you personally, it is intended not only
for you, but for those associated with
you in the memorial organization, and
for the people at large Of your county.
! More than twelve months ago the
General Assembly speaking for the
hearts of South Carolinians, took the
first step looking to the erection Of a
State Memorial to the many thousands
of men and women of this State who
rendered service during the great war.
Only a part of the money necessary
was made available from the State
treasury, the plan being for the peo-
pie of the State by voluntary sub
scription to supplement the one hun
dred thousand dollars provided for by
the General Assembly. Upon a mo-
ment's reflection the reason for this
will be apparent to you. Had all the
money needed for the memorial been
raised by taxation, the structure would
have lost some of its valuable char
acteristics, for taxation is highly un-
personal, and largely inexpensive of
of any particular wish on the part of
the taxpayer as to the purposes for
which the money is to be expended.
Six months or more ago the cam
paign for popular subscriptions was
announced, four hundred thousand
dollars being the sum agreed upon.
Approximately one hundred thousand
dollars has now been subscribed. For
various reasons the campaign was not
pushed to a speedy termination, ALI
of US had just experienced numerous
other campaigns; we were resting,
too, from the fatigue of high pressure
incident to the war and necessary for
its conduct. 1t is, however, not neces-
sary for me to elaborate on this
phase of the situation.
The issue we now face is this: We
must raise the four hundred thous-
and dollars. The purpose Of this let
ter is merely to refresh your memory,
to recall to you, and through you to
the people of your county, the fact
that this memorial is to be erected
and forever stand as one Of the tokens
of our undying appreciation, of our
everlasting gratitude, for the services
rendered by our fellow Carolinians.
The other "drives" are now over,
and we have rested from our nervous
tension. We have passed through a
year of unparalleled financial earnings,
and have every reason to believe that
prosperity, formerly scarcely dreamed
of, will be vouchsafed to US for many
years to come. Shall we, SO happily
situated as this, hesitate even for a
few days when asked to raise money,
small amount of money, for a men,
orial? Shall we swell our bank ac-
counts, add to our luxuries, expand our
pleasures, and have never a gift in
memory of those who gave their lives?
The memorial is necessary. The
State must find means for expressing
itself, else it stagnates, and memorials
are means of expression. The MEM
orial will be erected; I am sure of
that, because l know the history Of
South Carolinians. AS a symbol it
shall be raised, as token of affection
and as a perennial inspiration it will
ever stand.
/ wish to urge that you give your
time and thought to this campaign.
April 1880 are the dates selected for
finishing the task. Just present the
cause to your fellow citizens, and the
remainder, am sure, will be easy.
Respectfully yours,
R. A. COOPER,
Governor.
Ex-Governor Manning Coming