Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-04-07
EVANS TALKS out
Former Governor Evans Says General
Assembly Didn't do Much.
STATE IS WASTING MUCH MONEY

reaucracy-sees Need for Judicial
Reform.
Replying to an inquiry from Spar
tanburg newspaper man as to his views
on the political conditions in the ma
tion and in estate Former Governor
John Gary Evans has given out the
following statement, asking the cues
ton: as it condition that confropts
us. or is it a mere theory2" ~
THE South Carolina senate seems
to have regarded our crisis as q mere
theory and to have dismissed 1t as
such. AS a matter Of fact it is con-
dition that eonfronts US. The farmers
of our state are in worse plight n
nancially than they have been IN hfty
years. They have seen their fields
ravaged by the boil weevil, the market
for their cotton destroyed and their
ability to pay debts reduced to a min
imum. On top of this, the national
government under Republican rule has
decreased the money in circulation
over $S per capita and refuses in any
manner to restore cur foreign market
for cotton and cotton goods.
"The money power IS again in the
saddle and when such is the case, the
agriculturists, lahorers and debt pay
ers are oppressed and made to suffer
The Republicans have got back to
"normalcy", the president remarked
and that means, for us, cheaper cotton
less money increased debts and de-
creased ability to pay. The south and
west have got back to bankruptcy.
What must we do? you ask me. We
must get back to the weapons we used
thirty years ago. Our farmers must
be organized in every state in the un-
ion and made to realize the importance
of unity of purpose and action. We
must commence in the state and ar
range our, own house before we can
expect the aid, of others. The condi-
tions in South Carolina have been
brought about by two cooperating
factors: ID the boil weevil that seeks
to prevent us from raising cotton, and
(2) the Republican party that prevents
us from selling it abroad OF the two
evils, the Republican is the greater.
The people Of Europe are naked and
suffering for the want of American
cotton clothes. Our cotton would be
bringing SO cents pound if the gov
ernment would restore the foreign
markets. tGt-
Cotton Predominant.
Every nidhS:that tIfves IN the south
must realize that cotton growing and
cotton manufacturing will always be
the predominant industries of our
country. Our prosperity depends upon
the price of raw cotton and cotton
cloth. 1t is silly to write one down a
demagogue who pleads for fair treat
ment by the government Of the farmer
upon whom we are all dependent. Ac-
cording to statistics furnished by Gov
ernor Cooper, the land owners are now
paying about 20 per cent of the taxes.
This burden cannot be. borne much
longer and unless relief is given, the
farmers will soon become, as; their
brethren in Europe, the most abject
slaves on the face of the earth. The
only way out is to impose a tax on
luXuries, CREDITS incomes, stock and
other species of property that are now
escaping their just proportion OF the
burden. The farmers must be relieved
and at once, before it is too late. The
fCme of the people should rot be tax
ed unless absolutely necessary. The
policy of the true republic is TO afford
every head of a family a homestead,
free and unencumbered. We want
American PATRIOTS, and not European
peasants. The fSilure of the state SEN
ate to pass the bills, taxing luxuries
and a proper income tax was inexcus-
able. The tax system should be re-
formed so as to place the burden
equally upon all. There are hundreds
of men and women in the state who
are receiving salaries of from $4,000
TO $4,000 per annum and who pay no
taxes whatever except 4 poll tax. Is
this fair? The only way to reach them
is through the income tax and tax
upon the luXuries which they con-
sumo. l was much Interested in read
ing the report Q920) Of the special
Legislative committee on revenue and
taxation, written by Senator Marion.
1t was a clear and forced presentation
of the defects of our tax system. The
recommendations for relief were sound
and yet the senate refused to adopt it
or TO do anything to relieve the in
equalities therein set forth.
State Bureaucracy.
Our state government has evolved
into n bureaucracy. We have q multi
tudc of boards and commissions and
the whole system is wrong. 1t was re-
SponSivc 10 fad that extended all
over the country, Commission Form
of Government" We must get back
TO individual responsibility. 1t is bet
ter to have one good man in charge
Cf an office and hold him responsible
for its conduct than to have board of
gsf.s Nr gifr -. 1