The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1921-09-07
SEES OPPORTUNITY
FOR DEMAGOGUES
Citizen of Summerton Asks Why Re-
publican Party Can Not
Initiate

South Carolina, and will probably
make the race next summer, in order
to take advantage of present eco
nomic conditions and the high. rate
of taxatioR John l.. McLaurin made
the charge not many months ago
that Woodrow Wilson had Debated
the currency for the sole purpose of
electing Cox to the presidency of the
United States, and even now J. S.
Wannamaker is yelling on the house
tops that the federal reserve board
Debated the currency for the purpose
of robbing the cotton growers of
the South.
IL appears to me, in, this connec-
tion, that the curse Of the South in
general, and Of South Carolina in
particular, has been the perennial
demagogue. l do not believe that
Woodrow Wilson or the Democratic
party or the federal reserve board
have had anything to do with present
economic conditions or the defation
Of the currency, because similar
economic conditions as prevail in this
country, also prevail in other coun-
tries, beyond the jurisdiction of the
united States, and, in fact, all over
the world.
1t is respectfully submitted that
prevail in the United States are due
to the fact that the nations of the
world having ceased to engage in
war, have likewise ceased to pur-
chase the raw products of the world,
the result being that the selling
price OF raw products has fallen i'm
mensely all over the world. If Wood
row Wilson Debated the currency and
reduced the price of raw products,
why in the name of common sense
can not Gamaliel Harding initiate the
currency and increase the price of
raw products? In other words, since
the Democratic party had nothing to
do with the decrease in The price of
raw products, for the same reason
the Republican party can not increase
the price Of raw products.
But there is a duty for the gov
ernment to perform, that is to enact
laws and to enforce policies which
will make everybody denate at the
same time, and if we are to have de-
fation, then force everybody to de-
hate.
II the price OF raw tobacco products
is SO low that the tobacco farmers
can not make a decent profit, it then
becomes the duty of the government,
through the mstrumcntality of the
federal trade commission, to dcnate
the purchasing price of cigars, ciga-
rettes and all other forms of manu-
tacCured tobacco. IF the tobacco
farmer is compelled to dchate be-
cause of worldwide economic condi-
tions, then let the government force
the tobacco manufacturer to deflate,
since If | can secure my cigars at a
cheaper price, have no serious OBJ
lection to selling my raw tobacco
FOR cheaper price. If the live stock
man must sell his hides on debated
economic basis, then it becomes the
duty Of the government to force the
shoe manufacturer to sell his shoes
at a debated price.
But there is another reason which
causes financial depressions from
time to time, and that is the prin-
ciplc of action and reaction. All of
US have known men who toilcd hard
all of their life and as result ac-
cumulated fortunes, only to have
these fortunes dissipated in the next
generation and the children of the
rich become the paupcrs of succeed
ing generations. The people of the
United States are too much inclined
to put the blame of financial panics
and financial depression on the gov
clnment, when, to Il very large ex-
tent, financial panics are due to the
fast and extravagant living of the
people themselves. The greatest as
set OF any people is the recognition
OF the principle that it is their moral
duty to work hard, to practice econ
omy and to do everything in dcccncy
and i'm order, and that a nation of
people will reap exactly what it
sowS.
The dcmagOguc never offers the
people any kind Of remedy for finan-
cial depression, and the dcmagoguc
invariably takes as MS sole text the
question Of excessive taxation. | do
not taink the people of this country
or the people of South Carolina are
much interested in the question of a
reduction is taxation, but most of us
who are interested in good roads,
good schools and charitable institu
tlons are willing to pay taxes until
1T hurts, provided the taxes are as
acsScd on basis of equality. Sew
cral years ago | purchased $50 acres
of swamp land in this county at and
for the sum of $40 per acre, and ever
since my lands have been assessed
by the auditor of Clarendon county
at and for the sum Of $1,000. At the
same time I made this purchase
friend Of mine purchased $50 acres
Of very fine land in this county at
and for the sum Of 5000 per acre,
and ever since tire lands of my friend
have been assessed by the auditor of
Clarendon county Mt and for the sum
Of $4,000. | have never protested at
paying taxes on $4,000 worth of land,