davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-22
Opposed to Road Taxation.

Editor Daily Item:
I'm under constraint to write.
Our country is In desperate con-
dition, with a far worse staring US
IA the face. Pm no pessinist be-
cause I say this. ] can come as
near living under adverse condi-
tions as any I think. We have no
family and enough extra money
ITO go awhile providing we have no
taxes to pay. But we have taxes
with the probability of increase.
It costs something to keep small
place in repair, but it is expensive
to keep up a large farm.
We see. now. il we did not be-
fore. that we must fence and that
zaeans considerable extra expense
with the farmer in the dark as to
The outcome. Some folks are SO set
on taxation until they may propose
s. tax to build fences. All at once
the big automobile fellows with a
large cash balance and cEentage
sufficient to Offset burdens even a
bit extra, folk who hold mortgages
bonds, etc, with small burden in
taxes are dead set on having mac
adam roads. Perhaps if some of
as who dig, have to dig living out
OF the ground kept so everlastingly
at e by force of circumstances that
we could not dig" down the big
read, even if we had a fine touring
car, had We their leisure might
preach up good roads too, but
then we would think Of the fell
low we left behind digging for dear
life and would go slow. So they
sold half a million dollars OF
bonds to fix. the roads, but what
roads? Not those that pass our
homes unless you happen to live
on a national highway. If you
could see some of our neighbor-
nood roads, rated public, your un-
deratanding Of the matter would be
helped.
Tax, Tax, Tax. Do you know
the people are heartily sick Of it
Certain gentlemen declared before
the civil war they would drink
all the blood shed. in it. Certain in
our county, so am told, in order
to persuade our gullibie people te
bow their necks for the yoke o1
the three 4million dollar bond sale
made some broad statements. Be.
fore it is over those same people
will be made to feel "Ye Gods
how they lied" We can have
roads, good roads. without SO much
taxation. Depend on it I believe
we will hear from. the people and
in no uncertain way.
H C. Bethea.
Rembert, Oct. 1S.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-22
War Risk Insurance

Providence. R. l., Oct. 1S.-
Whether former soldiers whose
minds were wrecked by she'll
shock. wounds and gas are tenn
porarily or permanently insane is
10 be determined in three suits to
compel payment Of war risk in
surance by the government, filed
in United States district court here
by James B. Littledeld, attorney
acting for the American Legion.
The action has been taken in
behalf of three soldiers, Adam
Mikillwicz, Giuseppe Vitullo and
James McGee. 1t is alleged by the
Legion attorney that the three are
totally disabled as result Of in
sanity. The. government insurance
bureau. Mr.. Littlefield charges, has
refused to pay the insurance Of the
men on the ground that they are
but temporarily disabled and may
recover their mental faculties.
Hundreds of New England SER
vice men, their minds dwarfed
from S1lell-SIlOSh, "OOllttS elLl0 0eH,
are confined in state institutions
for the insane and in private hos
pitals. If Attorney Littlefield wins
his cases, similar suits will follow
in federal courts in all New Eng
land states and, with precedent
established, in all parts of the
country.
These men were returned from
service in the army as insane, and
it has been established that their
insanity is due to army service, '
Mr.. Littlefeld declares. "Yet the
government refuses them the flnan-
cial relief to which they are en-
titled under the war risk insur-
ance act and they have not drawn
a cent frem their, policies. Two
must remain confined in the state
asylum unless they can collect the
$3.50 month for 20 years on
their policies. This amount would
enable them to be released from
the asylum and allow their fam
lilies to care for them"
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-22
Laymen's Mission
ary Movement
Presbyterians Will Take An
Active Part in Progressive
Program

OF interest not only to Presby-
terians but members of other de-
nominations is the announcement
that members of The laymen's mis-
sionary movement of the Southern
Presbyterian church will take an
active part in some Of the items on
the progressive program. 1t has
been decided to make use of the
four-minute men Of the movement
in presenting: Tithing. in Decem-
ber; the Use of the Family Altar,
in January; the Every Member
Canvass, in March; and the Call to
the Ministry, in August.
The laynnen's missionary move
ment has grown rapidly within the
past two years 1t was organized
for the purpose of doing much of
the work heretofore devolvlnG on
the ministers; and working with
the ministers, it has accomplished
a great deal. There are now over
thirty of these associations over
the entire south, and others are be-
ing organized as rapidly as pos
sible.
The officers and executive COM
mittee consists of the following:
Chas. A Rowland, Athens, Ca,
chairman; J. P. McCallie, Chatta-
nooga, Tenn, vice chairman; DR..
NJ. McH. Hull, Atlanta, Ga, re-
cording secretary; +. H. McEntire,
Athens, Ga, treasurer; T. L. Slay-
maker, Athens, Ca, secretary: A.
J. a. Alexander, Spring Station,
KY; H. 3. Arbuckle, Davidson, \.
c.; Jno. w. Friend, Jr., Peters
burg, Va; J. Allen Graham,
Greenville, S. c.; ]. Nat Harrison
Petersburg, Va; Jas. Lewis
Howe, Lexington, Va; Rutherford
Lapsley, Admission, Ala; VIM. j
Martin, Davidson, N. c.; A. d. Ma
son, Memphis, Tenn; ]. r. Nc
Cain. Decatur, Ca; w. S. Nc
Clanahan, Roanoke, Va; c. T
Paxon, Jacksonville, Fla; A. r.
Phillips, New York City; E. H
Scharringhaus Knoxville. Tenn; ].
Hart Sibley, Union Point, Ca; J.
3. Spillman, Columbia, S. c.; w.
A. Watt, Thomasville, Ga.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-22
MRS. w. j. MCKAY.

Mrs. Wilson James Mckay, who
has made her home in Sumter for
the past seventeen years. passed
away Tuesday evening at I o'clock
in Charlotte, y. c.. at the New
Charlotte Sanatorium where she
had gone one week ago for treat
ment. For the past few years Mrs.
McKay's health has not been good
but the message that she had suf-
fered q stroke of paralysis last
Friday came as shock to her
many friends in the city. The
body will reach Sumter this after
noon at 4:20 o'clock over the
Southern The funeral services
were held at Brick church (Salem
Black River) Thursday morning at
II o'clock, the funeral party lear-
ing the family residence on Broad
Street at $50 o'clock.
Mrs. Mckay was a daughter of
Hamilton and Nancy Witherspoon
Of the Salem Black River section
Of Sumter county. She was born
on the 18th Of July 1858. On No
venlber 9th 1879 she was happily
married to Rev. w. j. McKoy. d. D..
who died on the 10th of last De-
cember.
Mrs. Mckay is survived by one
sister. Mrs. George E. Wilson Of
Charlotte, \ C. one brother. Mr.
Robert Witherspoon CT York. S.
c.; one daughter, Mrs. S. X. Nash
of this city: two sons. Dr. Hamil-
ton w. Mckay of Charlotte. \. c..
Mr.. Robert Mckay. a medical sta
dent in Baltimore; her daughter
in-law Mrs. Helen Mckay and one
grand child Shepard kolloci1
Nash Jr., of this city.
Mrs. Mckay was a woman Of
strong Christian character a most
useful and up to the time of the
failure Of her health most active
memuer Of the First Presbyterian
Church. She was wise and de-
voted mother. a kind and Thought
full neighbor anG a minister of
mercy in many homes Of suffering
and need. The news Of her death
will bring sorrow to large circle
of friends
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-22
More Work
Than Workers
Tobacco Stemmery Finding
Difficulty in Obtaining a
Full Force Of Hands

There must be some mistake
about the generally accepted belief
that there is a scarcity of jobs ana
an oyer-abundance of common Ia
bor in Sumter. The Sumter To-
bacco Stemmery, which began op-
erations here in July, and then and
at intervals since, has advertised
for hands to stem tobacco, has new
er succeeded in securing 1uu
force. The stemmery has work for
four hundred or more hands and
the work will be continuous until
December 1st or later, but has
never had more than two hundred
to two hundred and twenty-five on
the pay roll. At one time during
the season, when approximately
two hundred hands were employed
and the stemnery was working
overtime to get out rush shipments
the pay roll amounted to more
than $1,400 week, but the aver
age pay roll for the greater part
of the time has been around $500
a week. The stemmery still needs
more hands than it has been able
to find in Sumter and in order to
get the work done has been forced
to import stemmers from Lake City
and other tobacco towns of this
state where stemmeries are oper-
ated. Not only does there seem
to be scarcity Of men and women
desirous of steady work, but even
many of those who are working in
the stemmery will not put in full
time. Few of them will work on
SATURDAY.. a great many are off all
or part of Friday, and on Monday
comparatively few are on the job.
Stemming. tobacco requires a GER
tain amount Of skill that can be
acquired only by practice and be-
ginners cannot earn large wages,
but average person can earn fair
wages after a few days and the
amount they earn is dependent up
on themselves, for all stemmers
are paid by the piece.
There is no excuse for idleness
among the people who are accus-
toned to pick cotton or perform
other common labor. There is
work st the stemmery for both
whites and negroes, separate de-
partments being maintained.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-22
All Interest In . 2:
Conference
! No Further Initiative is Taken
by Government /.

Washington. Oct. 1s.-Interest in
Wa Washington in the strike situation
was centered today in the forth
coming conference Of brotherhood
leaders and the Railroad Labor
Board tomorrow in Chicago. Hope
that a definite program upon wnlcn
compromise could be constructed
to avert the strike would fesuN
from that meeting was generaf IN
government circles.
With President Harding and ser-s
eral members Of the cabinet out ez
the city, there was no announce,
ment of further initiative by the
government. The Interstate COM
nIerce Commission also n1aintalnea
silence regarding reports that the.
tentative program Of the Chicago
conference would include preVls-
ion for reduction IN raiir9aa
freight rates in proportion to the
July cut in railroad wages. - :
Attorney General Daugaerty sad
the Department of Justice was gfg-
ing considerable attention to the
matter" of the threatened trans
portat;on tie-up. He declined TO
elaborate on this statement. but
there have been reports that
agents of the department have Sub
n1itted comprehensive reports bas-
ed on investigation OF the activity
Of both parties 10 the controversy.
The suggestion that certain pro-
visions of the Adamsen act and OF
the Esch-Cummins railroad bIil'
were impeding "a prompt retltsn
to normalcy in railway rates and
service" was made to- Chairman
Cummins, Of the senate interstate
commerce commission, by the
American Farm Bureau Fedora
ton, which served notice that We
will move at an early date for the
repeal of these two measures in
| whole or in part. -. ''.'saa
The federation plans to file to-.
morrow with the Interstate Com
merce Commission a petition ask-
ing immediate reduction in rates
on basic commodities of from 10 to
20 per cent" the letter to Mr.. Gums
Minis said, adding that the petition
would be accompanied by a re-
quest for reflection Of all reduce
tions of operating expenses in low
er rates until the freight advance
since August, 1920, is eHminated."
Joseph II. Defress, president OF
the Chamber Of Commerce of the
United States, expressed confdence
today that, in the event OF the.
strike, commercial organizations
throughout the country would take
the lead "in maintaining the nat
| ional life"
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-22
PERSONAL.

Menda1l L. Smith, Esq, OF Cam
den was in the city yesterday.
Miss Rena Myers left last night
for New York city where she will
continue her hospital works:
Mrs. E. w. A. Bultman is In
Charleston this week attending
the lutheran convention.
Mr.. NJ. Goldberg left yesterday
for Baltimore on a business trip.
Mr.. w. r. Mcleod Of Lynchborg
was in the city yesterday.
Mr.. John D. Lennon left last
night for Atlanta where he Will
! spend several days on business.
Mr.. w. H. Folsom of fsBashop-
vile was in town yesterday
Mr.. r. l. Wallace of Atlanta
! scent yesterday in the city with
his brother, Mr.. B. C. Wallace.
Miss Reba Spann is spending
sometime with friends in Colum-
Bia. . =
Thos. G. Mcleod, ESQ.,, and R.
E. Dennis, ESQ.,, of Bishopville,
were in the city yesterday.
Mr.. q. a. Weatherly is spending
the day in Columbia on business.
ME-. A. Boyle left this morning
on shSrt business trip to Oar
llhgton.
mr. Alfred scarborough was a
visitor IN Sumter today.
Mrs. Wise Of Prosperity passed
through The city this morning while
refurning to her home from a visit
in the lower part Of the state.
mrs. Lancaster Of Selma, \. c.
is visiting her sister, Mrs. P. j.
Maye. -,
MRS "A. Prince and little
son have returned to their home
in the city after having visited IN
Rock Fill for a few days.
afr. w. A. Hill returned yester-
day from Atlanta where he has
been for; several days in attendance
at a convention Of the agents OF
the Atlanta Georgian. He reports
a most enjoyable visit to Atlanta
having taken in the Southeastern
fair while there.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-22
Meeting of
Peach Growers
Farmers Organize Association
at Cheraw-L. |. Guion
President

Cheraw, Oct. IA largely at
tended and very satisfactory all
dav meeting of peach growers was
held here today, with representa-
tives from eight counties, and with
DR.. w. w. Long in charge. Or.
Long said that the sandhlil lands
are the most profitable in South
Carolina. especially when put IN
peaches; but that no peach grower
will make success Independently,
but that cooperation and organ
ization among peach growers are
necessary. He introduced as the
first speaker r. c. Berkman, OF
Macon, Ca, president of both the
Georgia Horticultural Society and
the Georgia Fruit Exchange, who
spoke on peaches as commercial
crop. He said that early varieties
should not be planted, and recon-
mended carly fall planting Of but
two varieties, the Hiley and the
Elberta. He strongly advised CO.
operation through marketing ex-
change, else the business would be
a failure.
S. w. Moore, of the department
of public welfare of Ohio, was the
next speaker, and outlined briefly
what to do and what not to do to
make a success of the industry. He
was followed by A. F. Schilletter.
of the extension department of
Clemson College, who spoke on the
possibilities Of commercial peach
growing in the sandhills, and by
j. NJ. Mcbride, development agent
Of the S. A. L. Railroad, who talk
ed on marketing the crop: Messrs.
J.. I. Guion, Of Lugoff; D. S. Mathe-
son, of Montrose, and w. J. Tiller,
county demonstration agent, also
spoke.
At the afternoon session a per-
mament organization was effected
with L. I. Guion, of Lugoff, pres
ident: T. S. Evans, Of Cheraw, vice
president; A. E. Schilletter, Of
Clemson College, secretary, ard an
executive committee consisting of
Messrs. J. B. Smith, Of Greer; NJ. S
McKinnon, Of Hartsville; T. S.
Evans, Of Cheraw, and L. I. Guion,
/ of Lugoff The board Of directors
are w. L. Mccoy, Of McBee: A. C.
Smith, Of Columbia; L. I. Guion, OF
Lugoff; E. G. Mungo, Of Pageland;
H. NJ. McLaurin, Of Wedgefeld; j.
A. Mangum of Pageland; T. S.
Evans, of Cheraw; NJ. S. McKin-
non, of Hartsville; r. L. Donald, Of
Society Hill; r. NJ. Watson, OF
Ridge Springs; J. B. Smith, of
Greer; Ben Gramin, of Gramlin,
| S. c..
At the morning session a COM
mittee on resolutions was appoint
! ed, which reported to the after
noon session:
Whereas, 1t has been called to
our attention that the present con-
gress is considering placing an i'm
| port duty on potash, largely used
in agriculture for the purpose Of
protecting the potash manufacture
] ing in this country; and,
Whereas, We have in the past
used Trona potash On our crops
and have found it very injurious
to the growth of the same; and,
Whereas, Agriculture is now
staggering under a heavy load, in
cident to defation and the high
cost Of everything necessary to pro-
duce crops;
Therefore, be it resolved by the
growers in session, That we implore
our representative in congress to
employ their every effort to defeat
the placing of a tariff on imported
potash
Resolutions against the railroad
strike Were also adopted
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-22
Parham-Martin.

One Of the most interesting fea-
lures Of the season was the mar
riage of Miss Beulah Green Par
ham to Mr. Alva Elmo Martin.
which was solemnized Thursday
evening last at o'clock at the
M. E. Church
The church was beautiful in its
decoration OF the ever-famous
Florida green's" being entwined
with the yellow and white roses.
An improvised altar was made of
green and white to which the
young couple were directed to make
their vows.
Mrs. R. E. Turner sang "Be-
cause" accompanied by NJ. c.
kerndon, piano. and Virginia Ba-
ker. violin. The bridal party en-
tered the church under the strains
Of Mendelssohns wedding march
rendered so effectively by Mrs. r.
2. Turner, piano, and Virginia Ba-
ker violin.
The bride entered on the arm Of
her father, lovely in her spring go
ing away suit of Rookie color Tri-
cotine, with all accessories to
match and met her betrothed at
the altar. who was accompanied
by his best man. Clifton Bateman.
Tie ring ceremony was very i'm
pressive, Rev. A, II. Hancock re-
eeiving the vows of the grom and
Rev. w. H Verndon those of the
bride; being made even more i'm
pressive by the music soft and
low. being played throughout the
ceremony.
The bridal party went immedi-
ately to the home Of the bride to re-
ceive the blessings and congratu-
lations of their many friends and
relatives.
The bride is the charming daugh-
ter of Mrs. ]. D. Parham one of the
most prominent families in Liberty
county.
She had been a teacher for sew
eTal years and was esteemed and
loved by all who knew her.
She possesses a rare musical tai
ent and lovable disposition which
has endeared her to many friends
who wish her married life to be
one Of perpetual bliss.
Mr.. Martin comes highly recon-
naended by all who know him. He
is a mechanic. and his good traits
of character have won him a host
of friends, who wish him sue
cessful life.
Mr.. and Mrs. Martin left early
Friday morning in their car enroute
to their home at Thomasvil!e. Ga.
Their many friends extend then
most sincere wishes to them for a
union Of long life and happiness
Free Press. Bristol. Fla.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-22
Fail Migration of Birds Coming
Earlier Than Usual.

The annual flight of wild game
birds southwark from their breed
ing grounds is on and is ahead this
year of the usual time such flights
start, according to the Biological
Survey, United States department
of agriculture. Many more thou
sands of birds are now on the wing.
the department states, than have
flown south for years.
All indications are that the
fight will not only furnish hunters
excellent sport. but that there will
have to be little waiting after the
open season starts. No reason is
assigned by the department for
the earliness Of the southern flight.
CDly the birds know.
The pintail and the teal already
are on the wing. The mallard, the
canvasback, the redhead, the
widgeon. the black head and other
later emigrants soon will be on
their way to warmer clmes. Re-
ports from almost every section
tell of the great size Of the flights
already under way.
From the sandhills of Nebraska
come reports Of larger numbers
of ducks than seen for years. Lit
tie Goose Lake in South Dakota,
visited recently by representa-
tive Of the Biological Survey. was
reported TO be literally alive With
ducks. From almost every section
of Iowa ducks are reported to be
plentiful. In the Green Bay sec
ton of Wisconsin there are said to
be more ducks than ever before.
Many more black ducks are re-
ported in Maine than were seen
last season Along the New Jersey
coast there also has been q big in
crease.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-22
Trustees Approve of
Attendance Officer
Quarterly Meeting of County
Association of School
Trustees

The Sumter County Association
of School Trustees met "Wednesday
in grand jury room of the court
house. with a large attendance,
considerably more than a ma
jority of the twenty-siN school dis
tricts of the county being repre-
sented. President H. Drane Tin
dal was present and presided.
Several matters Of interest to the
members Of the association and of
importance to the schools OF the
county were discussed.
The first matter taken up was
that Of the enforcement of the
compulsory school attendance law
and the continuance in office OF
the School Attendance officer. 1t
was decided that the compulsory
school attendance law should go
into effect in Sumter county on No
vember 1st The continuance OF
the School Attendance officer was
discussed at length and it was the
unanimous sentiment of the trus-
tees that the Attendance officer
was needed in Sumter county and
that the Office should be continued
a resolution was adopted, without
a dissenting vote, re-afflrming the
request of the trustees association
made in similar resolutions adopt
ed in August 1920, in January 80
and in April 1921, that the Attend
ance Officer be continued and that
the county board of education as
sign to him certain additional du-
ties so that he may act as an as
sista3t to the county superintend.
ent Of education in supervision OF
the schools and in the clerical and
other work of the Office of the
county superintendent Of educa-
ton. y committee was named tc
confer with the. members of the
county legislative delegation to OBJ
tain their approval Of the con-
tinuance Of the Attendance Officer
as is provided in the act.
The question of school finances
and the necessity of care anG
economy in school management
was discussed. The negotiation OF
loan to provide funds for the
prompt payment of teachers sal
! aries until taxes are CO. 'ected was
approved, which matter is in the
hands of the county board of edu.
cation and the county superintend
ent Of education.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-22
Our Tax SYSTEM
Hon. c. j. Jackson Addresses
League of Women Voters

The regular monthly meeting of
the League OF Women Voters was
held on Tuesday afternoon, Octo-
Der 11th, in the basement of the
Carnegie Library at 4 o'clock, with
Mrs. G. L. Stubs, the president
presiding. The speaker of the af-
ternoon was the Hon. c. ]. Jack
son Of Horatio who talked to the
League on the Present System Of
Taxation. Mr.. Jackson explained
the present law and the machinery
for enforcing that law. He told
the women that in spite of the
count auditors, local boards Of
tax assessors, county boards Of
equalization, state tax commission
and finally q board Of review, the
present results were not only un-
fair but inadequate, the law re-
quirinG that property by listed at
100 per cent value being violated
by perhaps so per cent of the tax
payers. The remedy nlanifestly, is
a revision Of the tax laws. Mr..
Jackson's s talk was not too techni-
cal for the women and SO logically
arranged that even the most indif-
ierent could not fail to acquire a
clear idea of the subject The mem
bers of the League of Sumter who
failed to avail themselves Of this
instructive lesson. were much the
losers thereby.
Mrs. r. B. Furman.
Chairman Publicity, League Of
Women Voters of Sumter.