The Gaffney Ledger from Gaffney, South Carolina • Page 1

rm EDGER HE A Newspaper in all that the Word Implies and Devoted to the Best Interests of the People it Subserves. GAFFNEY CITY. S. FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 20, 1895.

$1.00 A YEAR. VOL. II, NO. 32. FT VV ill 11 1W II CI The Ledger has gone it's made COL.

STRAIN TO MR. PICKER. FINANCIAL LEGISLATION. in paymont of tho Mora claim, says tho Cuban revolutionists are in no condition to ask for recognition from the United States or any other government, and that Spain will in a short time crush out the revolt. THE NEW COUNTY.

A REPRESENTATIVE BODY, THE CONSTITUTIONAL CON-VENTION A CREDIT. The Sufferage Question the Foremost in the Minds of the Members. The Heavy Work Not Yet Commenced. groes will do tho same. There are indications that tho chances aro In favor of making the Constitutional tax three instead of two mills and of adding the poll tax to the school fund.

It seems to be decided too that tho judicial system is to bo remodeled, but how has not yet been indicated. The most favorably received plan is to constitute all of tho circuit judges Into a supremo court of appeals, and to provide for a system of county courts. The right of appeals is to bo much abridged. There aro a largo number of anti-corporation men in the Convention and it is probable that corporations will be put under strict laws, but the anti-corporation men will not have everything their own way. It is not probable that any of tho higher institutions of learning will be interfered with, and tho probabilities are that Clemson, the South Carolina College, and the Woman's College will be incorporated in the constitution, and even the Citadel may bo protected also.

Tho heavy work of tho convention has not yet commenced, and the most interesting proceedings are to come, but the indications are that whatever is done will bo done with friends for itself. It does so from its own worth. I have no objection to your taking the banjo along with you wherever you go. It is very convenient in case you fall in with a fodder pulling frolic, a corn shucking, quilting or other social gatherings where the young folks wouldn't care to Indulge in something liko "twistiflca-tion." Prof. A.

Q. Davis closed his singing school at New Hope last Saturday. A large number of people were present to see and hear as well as to take part in the exorcises. New Hope is the centre of attraction for our North Pacolet people and we have nothing but kind words for them. I had the pleasure of viBiting the Flint Hill Sunday School yesterday.

I enjoyed the music I heard at the home of my friend C. C. Davis very much. Mrs. Lula Stroup performed on the organ while Mr.

A. G. Davis and a corps of singers joined In the music. The people of that section are enthusiastic supporters of The Ledger and the new county movement. I took dinner with Mr.

and Mrs. O. B. Wright and their family. They aro good Sunday School workers and are proud they have such a' promising outlook for their children's ro-ligious training.

To all such my heart goes out in sympathy and I can take them by the hand and from the bottom of my heart bid them God speed on their prosperous journey. The Flint Hill Bchool was organized fifteen months ago as a Union Sabbath School with a total membership of 23. Since then it has reported 11 of its members as having joined the various branches of the Christian church. J. L.

s. 'Tis Funny To Uncle Jake. Correspondence of The Ledger. Lawn, S. 17.

Isn't It wonderful how many funny things there are to be seen while travelling around. There are enough funny things in this world to keep people laughing half the time pleased the other half. But there are a great many people who can't see the funny things, the good things and the pleasant things because they are all the time trying to see the sad and the unpleasant things. But this is getting off the subject. We started to tell some of tho funny things that we've seen and heard lately.

The funniest thing that we've heard of lately is that of a run-away couple. Jim Husky, who has been keeping bachelor's hall all the year, ran away the other Sunday and went to Trough Shoals and married. We heard cf a lady who got mad twice when her daughter ran away and married. Mad because her daughter married and mad again because she would not come home when she, the old lady, sent for her. It's funny how some of these old people "cutuj." They all like to have son-in-laws.

It's right funny to see what a pre-dioament Flaw Picker got into at Blacksburg last week. But the most part to us is that the people of Blacksburg did not subscribe for The Ledger. It is because, though, they are like a great many of us over here, they don't know a good thing every time they see it. Uncle Jacob has had some "special 'sperience" about Cowpens lately, for Mr. Picker stayed at home and let him take The Ledger to Cowpens.

Well when Charley and Uncle Jake drove into the little town the other day, although Uncle Jake's hair was not two feet long, neither did he carry anything that looked like ft "rusty fowling piece," while his dress might have appeared a little uncouth(?) to the Cowpenians, they eyed him somewhat suspiciously as the villiagers did Old Kip when he returned from his nap. They did not ask Uncle Jake "on which side he voted;" whether ho was a Federal or a democrat or any such questions, but they interrogated him closely as to whether or not he had a petition for a new county. Now isn't it funny to see how hard these places are fighting against our proposed new county. While perhaps these two cities have got every thing that they do not need and want nothing that they do need and are therefore satisfied. We are not, so we want a new county.

But while Cowpens may and does take the wrong side of some questions she gets on the right side of others. Uncle Jake was struck with the spirit of thrift, energy and growth which seemed to characterize the Cowpen-" Several new dwellings and one ck store are going up now. Of lrse in such a growing villiage. as Is there are some broad minded men. ill Moore is one of Cowpens' broad oindecl men.

He does not make an jgly face at Gaffney and surrounding country because they want a new county. It is funny, too, to notice that almost all of those in the county who ohjppfc to the new county because they think it will raise taxes, are those who have very little to pay tax on. Tom Spencer, who was confined to his room last ffwk, is able to be out ajtrtn. UXTle Jake. HE GIVES HIM A FEW HINTS TO HELP HIM ALONG.

The Crops, Social Lite and Sunday Schools Form the Basis of an Inter-Ing Letter From Our Union County Correspondent. Correspondence of The Ledger. Etta Jane, S. Sept. 10.

The weather is several degrees cooler than it was last weok and week bofore. Mr. Frank McCluney whose sickness I reported last week, is getting better, but his sister, Miss Lois, is not. They both havo typhoid fever. Mr.

and Mrs. T. J. Estea are both sick. Mr.

and Mrs William Fowler have a very sick child. Ono of the most contemptible sights to bo seen in thoso closing years of the 19th century is a "dud-ish" coxcomb standing about the church grounds puffing the fumes of a cigarette into the faces of respoc-tablo people. He ought to be tied to his mamma's apron strings until he learns the elementary principles of politeness. A cigar is in a close place when it has fire at one end and a fool at the other. Brother Buster In regard to the feet washing montioned in your last week's letter and upon which you ask my views, I refer you to "Holy Writ" for the Scriptural constitutionality of the ordinance, and you can draw your own conclusions.

It is a divinely appointed sucrament. No doubt of that. But from a social or worldly standpoint I will say: It will no doubt cure many church members of going to bed with stinking feet; and I would recommend it as a good plan for all to adopt provided he does his own washing. It will also prevent many otherwise gayly dressed people from wearing stockings with the toe and heel both out. Mr.

and Mrs. It. A. Foster are rejoicing over the event of a new comer to their home it's a boy. As many as six such events havejitaken place within our bailiwick in the last month that we can recall, Our colored friends had quite an enjoyable time at their Odd Fellows' Hall, near Sunnyside on the 7th instant.

They had the Mt. Tabor Brass Band, colored, Capt. Ben Smith, to furnish them music. Everything went well and the crowd was an exemplary one in point of good behavior. Maj.

J. H. Littlejohn gave us a call last week and spent a few hours very pleasantly. lie is a man of extraordinary mind and is far above the average in book learning and intelligence. Mr.

John W. Alexander, of Lawn, also paid us a visit. He is a third descendant of the Alexanders of Mecklenburg, N. who form no small amount part in Revolutionary, history. For a long time he was thought to be "Flaw Picker," and some still believe he is.

We have too much cloudy weather for saving fodder. Much of it has burned up on the stalk. Brother Flaw Picker, your dilemna at Blacksburg a few days ago sounds very much like a wail from the calaboose. Are you certain you didn't go, over there and intrude upon some of their town ordinances? It may be possible that those people are prejudiced against our new county movement and wanted to wreak their vengeance on you. If they did, they are wrong for the people of your own town say it shan't cost them nary red cent to build the court house and jail Gaffney City will do that it has the money.

But Flaw it's no more than I expected for you. You have been pitching into these new fashioned dresses and making war upon womans rights, generally, until they can't stand any longer. When you get on the wrong side of the cook you will find rough sailing, always. But journalistic condemnation is never eternal. I hope you will survive it.

In many things I fully agree with you, but not in all. Whenever such a place as Blacksburg is to be canvassed in the interest of The Ledger you let Mr. DeCamp, or some one else go and do that work. He is a good looking man, and can pass without the aid of a banjo. Besides, The Ledger is its own advocate, and it wi iortunateiy for you its circulation has made the the Piedmont belt too well ted with you and your denuncia' of styles and fashions of women say nothing of the habits of m'eTV to allow you to canvass for it successfully except in the "coaling ground" or in some other rural district likewise where good banjo picking is more entertaining than good reading.

I don't. mean to say that your success as a canvasser in the country depends upon people's likes or dislikes of the banjo, Not at all. People In tho country arc their own Judge ot a prod paper ftmi wtororcr aV WILL CONGRESS BE CALLED UPON TO ACT. The Civil Service Commission Defines "Pernicious Political Activity." Senator Call Booming Cuban Revolutionists. Correspondence of The Ledger.

Washington, D. 1C Tho ablests talkers among the politicians have assured the country many times during the last few months that finance would not figuro at the coming session of Congress, and that it would not be the leading issue in the presidental campaign. Notwithstanding the thoso assurances, tho finances of the government aro again the livest issue now confronting the administration and tho coming session of Congrass. Tho bond syndicate says It will continue to give the treasury gold as long as "existing conditions make it reusable to do so," but at tho same timo it claims that it fulfilled all of its obligations to the government last Juno when it made the last payment on those bonds. But what the syndicate says doesn't count for half as much as the act of one of its members, who drew from tho treasury and shipped to Europe more than one third of the in gold sent last week.

Acts are always moro telling than words. Since January 1, 1894 the gold shipped from tho United States to Europe aggregates the enormous sum of $100,28 1,300, while our actual importations from Europe during the same period were less than $19,000, 000 in value. A man doesn't have to be a great financier to grasp tho idea that this sort of thing lias got to be stopped in someway. This country is rich, but it can't stand everything. With this situation before tho country it is ridiculous to say that congress will not touch financial legislation.

Congress has got to do something. It is admitted by everybody in Washington who is familiar with the situution that the question of another issue of bonds before Congress meets lies, not with President Cleveland and Secretary Carlisle, but with the bond syndicate. Will Congress let that condition of affairs continue? Not unless it betrays the real interests of the people. The Civil Service Commision has given a partial definition of what it considers "pernicious political activity." In reply to a letter charging that a member of a Cival Service board of examiners in one of the states, had been guilty of improper partisan activity in connection with a recent political convention, the com mision in a letter to the accused examiner, asking him for an explanation of the charge, wrote: "While attendance at a political convention as a delegate is not in itself a violation of the civil service rules, the commission holds that partisan activity sufficient to impair usefulness as a representative of the civil service commission is sufficient cause for removal from membership in any of its boards of examiners." It would be difficult to state the matter in a more unsatisfactory manner than this, so far as those who believe that true civil service reform means non-partisan Federal officials are concerned. When tho commission decides that one of its examiners has been guilty of "partisan activity sufficient" it will remove him not from the Federal office ho has to hold to be an examiner, but from membership in the board of examiners, and tho commission uses its direction entirely in deciding.

Lots of people had supposed that the spirit, if not the letter, of the civil service rules was against office holders attending political conventions as delegates, but the commission says it isn't. If there is any way of being more active in pr' Vies than being a delegate to a con on the commission should lose pe in pointing it out, not only fi benefit of the office holders, (or the edification of thoso who are lying hard not to believe the whole cival service business to be a colossal humbug. Senator Call, of Florida, is in xh-ington openly booming the f-this government recognizing the be ligerency of the Cuban revolutionists. Ho says the present position of this country makes it practically an ally of Spain, vvhile the sympathy of our people overwhelmingly with' the Cubans. Mr.

Call does not favor the annexation of Cuba, but its entire independence of Spanish Control, and he says he has no doubt that that would at once be accomplished if this county would recognize the insurgents. For three or four days there have hvvu rumurs that the administration was contemplating such recognition, but they cannot -pe traced to any one in The Spanish minister, who- returned4' 'to Washington to turn over to the State Department the dfaft-fbt Gowdeyville Wants it Together With a Telephone Line. Correspondence of The Ledger. Gowdeyville, S. 11.

I see that Mr. Picker is having some moro trouble I think the cd'tor should give him some money to holp him out of trouble. If Mr. Picker don't watch some one will do him like tho dobber done tho spider. Tho people around Gowdeyville are in high hopes about our now county.

To have a courthouso at Gaffney and then have a telephone from Gaffney to T. D. Littlejohn's, then to I. M. Peeler's store at Skull Shoals, then to Kelton and then to Lockhart Shoals would bo worth a great deal to the farmers that raise cotton, for when a farmer starts to the market ho don't know what cotton is worth.

The merchants along tho lino could keep up with tho prices of everything. In fact it would be worth a great deal to this part of the county. Mr. A. A.

Sarratt, who owns several plantation near Skull Shoals, could uso the phone to great advantage, also I. M. Peeler, so let us hear from Brothers Sarratt and Teeler. I have heard several farmers say they would give money to build the line. If the Gaffney people would take hold of it we would soon have it up, for everything that she takes hold of prospers.

Let us have a new county and a telephone and let us all swing together. The editor that says we don't need a new county lies and the truth is not in him and I would not read his paper, for he is not a friend to his country. I think that Capt. Charles Petty, editor of the Spartan, knows enough about our country to know that we need a new county, and if our members to the legislature don't work for us I will work for them when they offer themselves for election. I will work for them to stay at home.

I have not heard of but four that would not sign the petition and they were only common clod-hoppers. The health of this community is very good. Cotton crops are very sorry, corn is very good. Jack Kendrick has the Gowdeyvillo saw mill and cotton gin for this season. Jack is a hustler and will do good work for his many customers.

Clib. Skull Shoals Sketches. Correspondence of The Ledger. 1 Skull Shoals, S. 16.

Cotton picking is booming. Some people are ready for selling. It is hoped we will get nine or ten cents. We can live at nine and ten cents and no less. Crops are very short, cotton in particular.

"Rev. A. 1). Davidson filled his pulpit at Skull Shoals yesterday and preached a good sermon. The postollice at Gowdeysville is nicely kept by Mrs.

J. T. Brown who gives entire satisfaction to all. We get our paper promptly just as we do all mail at this office. If our community was filled with such ladies as Mrs.

Brown we would have the happiest community in Union county. There is a great deal of talk about the new county at uailney. While we find a few opposing it we find the majority in favor of it. llev. Mr.

Ilickson baptized fourteen at Elbethol last Sunday. We can speak a word of endorse ment for 1 he Ledger. It gives the people nows of the country and is not always wrangling on pontics. Big Ike. Bowlinsville Budget.

Correspondence of The Ledger. Bowlinsville, Sept. 18. Mrs.Mary Clary has the mammoth pig of the season. It measures five feet long, fourteen inches across the back and we don't know how old it is.

Mrs Hettie Brown and her son Hush, of Asbury, were in our settle ment not long ago. Capt Clary is making some very fine molasses this season. Fodder pulling being done, picking cotton is the order of the day Among the prominent visitors this week were Mrs. Ann Waters, of Mid way, Mrs. Mary Turner, of North Carolina, and Mrs.

Tom Petty, of your city. Capt. II. Itichardson is prepar- ing to cut all the nice barrell staves you are His saw mill is situated Porter's residence. lumber and lookihg for.

near Sam P. Slim Sam. Picnic At New Hope. Correspondence of The Ledger. Mt.

Moriah, S. C. 11. Joe Phillips and little daughter aro quiet sick. Mrs.

Hattie Byars is quiet sick with fever. There, "was a larc picnic at New IJope the occasion being the Alfred Davis singing, scuooi, xne. singing was goo.d and theattendanco The dinner Was a most glbrlon's JiT Bird, Correspondence of Tun Ledger.1 Columbia, S. has btcn a great deal of cheap talk in South Carolina in recent years of "men now doing their own thinking but however much domogoguery there hag been in that general declaration there is none in the assertion that the very largo majority of the members of the constitutional con-gtitutional convention "do their own thinking," and a newspaper man on duty In the hall curses tho fates that brought such a hard headed set of men together, when his dinner hour has long since passed and ho sees little chance of even a cow snaut. As might bo expected in any gathering of 10 men there are a number of puddin' heads" but tho largo mass of tho members are men that any commonwealth might be proud of.

And one good thing about it that they represent all classes of the people, they are men of great experience, many of them have pushed their way up In life against tho severest bulletins of fortune, and whether or not they can be said to be fully rounded they are men who remember what they have passed through, and who with the lovo of humanity in their hearts, will attempt to make the path smoother for thoso like conditioned that have to come after them. And one might go farther and say that the highest" patriotism has thus far been shown on tho floor of the assembly, and there seems to be an earnest search for the best way in everything. As is to be expected the suffrage question is foremost in the minds of of the members, but so far as the committco on suffrage with Senator Tillman at its head is concerned, the best plan has not yet made its appearance. It is believed by some that tho Mississippi plan is yet the nf Mm committee, but there has been no public action that shows such to bo the case. man vuu ias presented a plan, of course, thinks his plan to bo the best, but the convention has not had opportunity to pass upon any as they are yet in the lianas or mo commuiec, which Is determined to let this matter remain in soak for the longest possiblo time.

The four plans submitted by Messrs. Elird, Johnstone, Patton and Aldrich provide for alternative property or educational qualifications. Mr. Efird adds the exception conferring sufferage upon all who wore eligible to vote in 18G0, practically saving all Confederate soldiers. Mr.

Johnstono wants county boards of examiners of electors who will be able to confer the right of suffrage upon persons not able to comply with the conditions, but who are otherwise fitted for the exercise of the right of suffrage. Mr. Patton wishes to make an exception of all who served in the confederate war, and their living descendants. Mr. Aldrich saves those who cannot comply but are thought to be fit to vote by the legislature, by allowing It to enfranchise them.

He would disqualify negroes from holding seats the General Assembly. So far as municipal suffrage is concerned it seems to be very certain that tho qualifications will be somewhat different, and that women property holders will bo allowed to vote either through agents or directly. It is understood that the Committee on Municipal Corporations has practically decided upon that, and there seems to be a general sentiment that only taxpayers shall be allowed to vote in municipal elections. The women suffragists are much encouraged on account of this, and are hoping for still further success. The matter of woman's suffrage is now being considered in a non-sentimental sense, and members of the are asking themselves the practical question why women of equal intelligence, paying taxes, and doing as mucn ior me support oi-tne government as men should not be allowed to vote.

The cry that -Mrs. Neblett and the other womam Buf-fragist have raised of "taxation without representation" is having ta effect, and many members are considering tho matter in a soberand Its true light. It is almost practically certain that the Convention will not prohibit woman's suffrage, but will leave the question opon to be considered by the Genernl Assem- There is littlo doubt but that tho Constitutional school fund is" to be divided between tho two races as theypftylt. The whites will support their dwh Bch661s and the ne the best interests of tho State at heart by tho men who aro Intrusted with the framing of tho organic law. F.

II. McMaster. Mr. Picker Becomes Sentimental. Correspondence of Tun Ledgkb.

Duaytonville, Sept. 17. For whom the Lord loveth he chas-teneth Heb. 12 :6. I wish, if you please that you let me make a slight change in the above.

If you do I'll have it this way For whom Flaw Picker loveth he chasteneth. Now.that sound3 sorter like Flaw Picker loves the emiline sex, don't it? Well, I 1 do. There's nothin' arrayed with more beauty, there's nothin' more noble, there's nothin' in this world that God ever made that Flaw Picker prizes higher than a sweet woman in her proper place. I mean women. I'm not talkin' about these stuck up pieces of God's creation that won't notice you on the street nor nowhere else because they've got on puffs and ruffles and tucks, or because they've got more money and sich as that, nor I don't mean that kind that alius talkin' about their neighbors and raisin' musses and ruouses with their neighbors and in their own family pouMn' and goin' on, I mean women that tries to make home pleasant and happy and tries to make the world better by their good examples.

Without sich women this old world is without its crown. With sich women this old world is clothed in happiness and wrapped in comforts of glory. For one of sitch (Mrs. Picker), Flaw Picker is ever gladly and happily toilin' from morn-in' to night with the feelin' that he can't do too much for her; yea, if needs be I would work till the blood run from my hands and feel that I was doin' only what God required at my hands for the noblest pieco of his work. I expect I'll git "strained" over this.

Somebody'll bo ready to call me a turn-coat or somethin' of the sort, but, do you know how much I care for it? Just about as much as tho lion cared for the donkey's bray-in' and kickin' not enough to notice it. Flaw Picker. Probably a Juvenile Robbery. Correspondence of.TiiE Ledger. Thompson Mill, 17.

Miss Sallie Ingham, whom we reported sick a few days ago is improving. Miss Mollie Kirby has been suffering with a rising on her Winger, but she is better now, Your correspondent and W. C. Kirby was on the puny order last week. Washie Childers, of the Corinth section, was in our community last week.

B. G. Clary, the beef market man of Gaffney, and S. II. Blanton, of Bowlinsville, were in our town last week.

John Hughs and Pierce Pool, of 'Gowdeysville were in these parts last, week. Somebody went under the store house of 0. H. II. Clary Son and knocked up a plank and went in and took a box of candy and ten cents in money.

It was probably a cnua as a man couldn't have got under, the house' where the entrance was made. After looking around the houso the ten cents was found where tfe intruder had lost it in crawling out from under the house. William E.urgess, of Sheron, was in our town last woek. Mr. and Mrs.

J. J. Kendrick, of Skull Shoals, visited the -family of W. C. Kirby last week.

Your correspondent was at Skull Shoals church last Sunday andlieard Rev. A. D. Davidson preach a very able sermon. Now, Mr.

Flaw Picker, if you will come down to our little town and bring your old ban jo we will see that you and Charley will get plenty to eat and that whi6h is good. FtJSNf FRANK..