Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-05-23

gather on call at stated periods, and
in force at least once year. If ours
were literary people, the "Brier
Patch" would figure in many n mar
tiaI romance, and it is a wonder in
deed that Tom Dixon failed to make
! full use of it in his Klansman, for 1t
was here more than any other one
place in the country that the old Ku-
Klux Klans assembled for different
raids. The greater part of the crowd
that went after jim Williams got to-
gether here, and it was from here
that the party that went after Round
tree started. Before the civil war for
more than fifty years, the place was
muster ground, and on the big days
after the parades and the drilling, the
famous old fist and wrestling champ
TONS from all parts of the country went
up against each other to decide who
was the best men.
The "Brier Patch is now the prop
erty of Mr. r. b. Hartness whose COM
Portable home stands in a pretty
grove on the edge of it. 1t consists of
comparatively level area of about
some five or six acres, not quite as
level as might be desired for some
purposes but the levelest area of its
size to be found anywhere within
several miles of the spot. Mr.. Hart
ness now has most of it under culti-
walton, showing up very good stand
of cotton. He says he can remember
able to give very much information
about it except from hearsay as he
was too young at the time to under
stand on his own account what it all
meant.
Just why the "Brier Patch" be-
came an important rendezvous Of the
old day is not clear now, unless it was
because of its somewhat central loca-
ton at the conveyance of roads that
made it so conveniently accessible
from various different directions.
These roads come from the east, west,
north and south and if the railroad
had come through that way instead of
going several miles to the south, it
would probably have become the site
of quite an important town.
The Anonymous Communication.
NO" overheard the editor, whose
desk is next to mine, say, I'll not
print that unless you are willing to
have it printed with your name signed
to it. In that case will print it with
pleasure"
l became interested and listened to
gather what it was about. The visitor
had submitted a communication bear
ing on the municipal campaign now in
progress in Yorkville, and after read
ing the same the editor delivered him.
self as above.
But you do print anonymous COM
munications," argued the other, land
l do not see why you have not as
much right to print one for me as
anybody else"
THAT sounds reasonable enough"
the editor explained; but it is not
quite so reasonable as it sounds. This
is your views, not necessarily mine;
but if print it without any name, The
Yorkville Enquirer becomes respon~
sible for it, just as if it had been
printed in the editorial column. And
The Yorkvile Enquirer does not care
to do any such thing"
VERY well, give it back" said the
visitor as he took the paper, and
walked out.
Same old, old story" remarked the
editor to me. "On occasions like this
people get all wrought up on account
of real or imaginary wrongs that they
want to get before the public, and
write communications to the paper.
There is nothing wrong with that. On
the contrary if they have facts or
ideas that the public should have they
should go to the newspaper with them.
but lOO OIlIn lHtS arc iSiu''Nii' ~
use their names. Sometimes they
seem to think that if the newspaper
would say it, it would be more ef-
fcctive than if they would say it
themselves? Then again they have in
mind the raising of a row TO which
they listen without anybody knowing
their connCctiOn-that it will produce
a different impression if the author
ship is concealed. Still again they arc
lust little doubtful as to wether
they would be willing to take the
responsibility in the matter. But they
forget that the responsibility must rest
somewhere, and when there is no.
where else to place it, it must rest on
the editor. To be sure there arc cir
cumstanccs under which | will print
an anonymous communication. | have
done il a many a time and | will do II
again: but when | do do it, ii is witt
the full knowledge Of the personal anC
| legal responsibility | assume, and or
| that account | am not printing just
any kind of communication for JUS
anybody"
! SuartanburC MAY 10: Louie llaw-