The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-01-13
THURSDAY, JANUARY ,13, 1921

The mass meeting of Williamsburg
citizens held at the Court House here
Saturday was, to say the least of it,
one of the most farcical affairs of
its kind that cana be recalled by an
intelligent citizenship. The meeting
was held at the instigation of the
newly elected delegation for the pur'
pose of getting a line on the needs
of the county and comprehensive
view of the wishes of the people
the taxpayers-relative to such mat
ters as can only be brought about by
legislative enactment at Columbia.
Similar meetings were recently held
in many counties of the state and it
is we'll that our delegation should
have a citizens meeting in order that
the several members should go to Col
umbia fortified with the best ideas
and most urgent needs of the tax pay
ers, regardless of the difficulties that
are more than apt to confront them,
even hose who 60 with well-defn-
ed plan, to carry out the wishes OF
their constituents and the: .lss Elves.
More than likely they will find condi-
tions different from what was ex-
pected and new conditions con-
stantly arising. Then, general ad-
monition from the people to do this
or that, without a thought as to the
detail necessary to do the thing de-
sired, is utter folly. For instance, to
tell the legislators to reduce taxes,
means little unless after the mat
ter is fully discussed in the general
assembly it is found that taxes can
be reduced. The chances are it will
be found impossible. Hysteria about
high taxes is unnecessary. Whatever
it takes to run the governmental ma
chinery and the schools of the state
must be put up by the people, and
that is all there is to it.
On the other hand, new projects
can safely be deferred, and if the leg
islature should find it possible to abol-
ish some departments, boards and
commissions, which may be found Of
little actual value to the people, by
which some money may be saved, all
we'll and good, but one thing should
be kept constantly in mind: Let moth
ing be done that will reduce the eff
fciency of the schools. Any legis-
lator who does not carry this in his
mind throughout the deliberations over
tax reduction will fail Of his duty. If
taxes are to be reduced at the expense
of the schools, let there be no taX re-
duction!
By deferring the payment Of taxes
until September would seriously in
iure our schools or force the county
to borrow money at heavy interest
rate. Yet the delegation was author
lied to work to this end.
No factors operating in Williams
burg County during the past ten years
have been more valuable to its agri-
cultural interests and progress than
the work accomplished through the
unremitting enegeries of our farm and
home demonstration agents, each fac
tor in the counties industrial PROCESS
well worth many times the measley
amounts paid them as salary and trav-
cling expense. 1t would be ruinous
to discontinue this work. Yet the sug-
gestion was blaringly made and the
delegation instructed to that end.
Then again our road system was
attacked. One citizen seemed to think
it should be discontinued because the
present plans for a state highway
did not include his premises in its
course. would sacrifice st2te and
federal aid for road improvement to
save the expense of competent road
engineer. Wonderful retrerchment
this, as it would nullify and put at an
end for time to come the best and most
progressive legislative work ever en-
acted to the inclusion of Williams
burg County.
The rural police system was attack
ed. In fact, it looked to US like every
thing for which the county has to ex-
pend money was in imminent cang-r
for awhile but by a great many prob
ably becoming disguised at the ab-