The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1922-08-23

the colleges and universities, and not
many more get to the high schools, It
is of prime importance that the rural
schools receive the best support that
we can give them. It is better that
all Of the people have an elementary
education than that the masses be lg-
norant and the few be educated. Right
now, many Of the rural graded
schools are in an embarrassing sltua-
t;on because the state has not kept
it's guaranteed contract of support.
Many districts have voted the re-
quired tax, and met all the other re-
ouirements, and now the teachers re-
main unpaid for many weeks OF SER
vice, in this one item. the state has
fallen short in the sum Of s116, 100000.
If am elected to the Legislature,
propose to insist that if the state can
not meet it's contract, it would be
better not to make it at all.
There is a demand everywhere that
the burden of taxation be reduced. If
that is to be reached, there must be
big curtailment Of expenses. Some
Of the candidates have been saying
that they are in favor of economy
and leave the matter there; but that
is not sufficient. Economy is not
'the word: it is retrenchment. 1t might
be economy to invest a million dol
lars this year in order to enjoy good
results five or ten years hence; but
how can we invest money when we
haven't it? And how can we secure
it except by taxing the property?
Certainly, we do not want more taxes!
We now have more than S60,O0O.O0
of unpaid taxes for this year, and
many of the delinquents are unable
to pay. That is going to mean bor
rowed money-with interest tackled
on. The last General Assembly
made good beginning in tax reform,
but we must go further with it. I
am in favor Of taxing luXuries-the
things we do not actually need-and
thus reduce the levy on lands and
other visible property. My idea is to-
build uo system of taxing property
heretofore escaping taxation to such
an extent that we can pay our obliga-
tion to the, state without taxing our
lands and other property except for
county purposes. When we reach
: that stage in reform, our county levy
will be lowered to such a figure that
it will not hurt anyone to pay; and
| then we can make it just what we
want it. If we want public improve
ments, and are willing to tax ourselves
to meet the cost, we can have them. ).
But we cannot do all this in a single
bound. The Lexington Delegation
made some reduction last year (per-
haps as much as they could), but
with past Indebtedness and our obli-
cations for. building good roads, our
levy for county purposes this year IS
i}s 12 n!lls-jusl one mill lower. than
i was two years ago: Your taxes
for this year will be. some lighter, but
that is due to the fact that your as
sessment for this year was made on
a lower scale -af-values. What We
need to do is TO cut expenses! Aad in
this connection, am in favor of u.s.
ing the pruning knife on the useless
offices with big Salaries attached! And
: am also opposed to creating some
new. offices to give a soft berth to
t some political helper. =, This applies
to both the. county and the state.
Right now, we are afflicted with of.
reduce your taxes to a satisfactory
( level, give you all of the good roads
you would like, and build all of the
good schools that we need. / do not
promise that. All that can promise
is that if you honor me with a place
in your delegation, 1 will be there at
the first bell, and will remain there
until the last bell-all the time work.
ing consistently in the interest of the
people of this county And af the stare
at large. Ii l am elected, will make
special study of the needs Of the
county so that We will be ready to go
I to work without delay. 1 have been
lifelong student of government
county, state, and national-and with
my age and experience, 1 can begin
work at once. l do not think that
you will have to spend a years sal
aly to educate me in the ways Of leg