1936+-+1940

__ **An everyday history of Upstate South Carolina from 1936 - 1940** __


 * 1936**

//Energy Taxes// The state of South Carolina asked the supreme court to dismiss without hearing the protest by the Duke power company against a state tax on electric power. Attorney General John M. Daniel pointed out that the South Carolina tax had been approved by the supreme court and by three lower federal courts involved in the present appeal. Attorneys for the Duke company claimed the state tax discriminates against them because it was based on power generated, not on power sold.
 * April,25**

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//Governor Foils Prowler// Governor Olin Johnson detained, with gun in hand, a prowler early in the morning. Mrs. Johnston then called two city policemen to their mansion. The prowler was John Washington, a 30 year old African American, who was sentenced to 35 days of $30 for drunkenenness, petty larceny, loafing and loitering. The governonr was aroused by the barking dogs. He said the man had tried to make several attempts to break into the mansion and out-houses. The governor "covered" him with a pistol from an upper-window.
 * May 16**

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June 7 //First Night Electric// The state's first night time electrocution in the state prison took place when the chair took the life of Thurmond Harris. Harris was a 24 year old African American who was convicted in March of the same year, of assulting a sixty-year old white woman. He said, "I'm guilty, I've done wrong, and I know it,' as he was strapped into the chair. Since March he had been in the state penitentiary for "safe-keeping" after several hundred citizens had formed a mob to hunt him. Prison officials said that the night electrocution was held to avoid breaking into prison routine.

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June 25th //Cotton Ed// During the democratic convention in Philadelphia, senator, "Cotton Ed" Smith, walked out when an African American clergy, Marshall L. Shepard, was selected to offer an invocation. Smith received the nickname "Cotton Ed" after he declared "Cotton is king and white is supreme. Smith was restrained by several members of the South Carolina group, but then when Smith attempted to walk out again, a large group of South Carolina memebers walked out. The second walk-out happened when Arthur Mitchell, the only African American member of the House of representatives, spoke to the convention on Thursday evening.

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January 17, 1937 South Carolina education starts to go downhill. Teachers and school superintendents were complaining about not having funds to supply adequate teachers and equipment necessary for the students learning. South Carolina was spending an average of $160 per student while the national average was $250 per student. [] The Rock Hill Herald April 3, 1937 Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal forced Clinton Cotton to reinstate 96 former employees that he had axed for allegedly participating in union activities and pay them for their missed time. Clinton Cotton was from Clinton, South Carolina and when he found out he was being taken to court he appealed it and they had their hearing in Greenville, South Carolina. Mr. Cotton sent his appeal to the National Labor Board and they also agreed he had to reinstate all his workers. [] The Miami News June 1, 1937 new advertising to support the Carolina theatre if named appeared in adds on a certain page you would win tickets to the Carolina theatre. This was used to support the theatres and attempt to get acts into the Upstate. [] Herald Journal July 10, 1937 across the state of South Carolina 89 nurses were given their nursing licenses. 20 of the 89 were from the Upstate of South Carolina. The majority of the ones from the Upstate were from Greenwood or Greenville. [] Columbia AP January 20, 1938 South Carolina attempts to abolish the three and five mill levy for South Carolina schools. Senators Leppard of Greenville and Burnett of Spartanburg want every two cents per dollar from gasoline to be used for schools instead of one cent per dollar. They also wanted required blood tests for workers and marriage applicants. [] Columbia AP April 5, 1938 a group of seven amateur Golden Glove boxers from the upstate go up to Boston for the boxing amateur nationals. All seven of the fighters lost in their first day of action in Boston. This was a major blow to the people ego of South Carolina. [] Rock Hill Herald

May 16, 1938 S.G Anderson died in Woodruff, South Carolina. He was a former cashier of the First National Bank of Woodruff and a long time deacon of the First Baptist Church in Woodruff. He died of a Heart Attack of the age of 78 while working in a garden. [] Herald Journal October 1, 1938 Mrs. O’Neil loses her school job as she is tardy to court. Her husband William O’Neil deserted her and relief workers in Washington said that he was in her hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. She went back to Greenville with intentions of settling her and her four kids that she had with Mr. O’Neil. But after sometime in Greenville she came to the conclusion that she needed to be in Washington so she could get more relief help to help her and her children. [] Herald Journal February 24, 1939 the sheriffs of Greenville and Anderson County opposed the South Carolina Police Plan. The plan was coming up with a new way to fund highway patrol. The local sheriffs are willing to find a new way to come up with the plan but without encroaching on local authorities. [] Herald Journal March 24, 1939 the city of Greenville announces that Fall for Greenville will take place October 14-15. The events will give people outside of Greenville a taste of our town. Visitors can sample 35 restaurants along Main Street. [] Times News March 30, 1939 radio stations heads to Spartanburg, South Carolina in 30 days. The business purposes of radio station came into question about their policies they would be carrying out. Spartanburg said they will support and continue supporting radio stations coming to the Spartanburg area. More and more radio companies are wanting to migrate to South Carolina. [] Herald Journal November 28, 1939 race riots are occurring in Greenville left and right as the Ku Klux Klan is making regular marches through Greenville. The colored citizens had purchased every one of the shotguns at a local store. Mayor of Anderson told the Klan that they will not be allowed to have parades in Anderson until after the next election and then they will be given the permit and be able to do so as they wish. [] The Afro American March 5, 1940 Rock Hill announces that new franchise firms will be coming to Rock Hill. Also bussing companies from New York want to be able to make stops in Greenville and the Blue Ridge Parkway Corporation wants to extend to Spartanburg. Spartanburg adds 11 freight trucks. [] Rock Hill Herald May 25, 1940 reports of lashings at prison farms are being reported as routine towards the prisoners. Guards forced Stephen Davis to drop his pants where they then gave him 50 lickings. Paul Nesbit of Greenville was beaten so bad that he and another inmate attempted to take their own lives. They said this occurred twice a day and most of the time people were given 200 lickings. [] The Afro American June 29, 1940 the latest census shows that Greenville and Spartanburg county has had a big jump in population size. A lot of business and publicity to the area boomed in and helped rebuild the economy. Due to the booming economy income has increased in state revenues. [] Herald Journal November 2, 1940 15 Ku Klux Klan members were arrested in Spartanburg. Eight admitted they were from Anderson, three from Greenville, and one was local. The Klansman said they have been saving the Southland for years even through persecution they stand strong. They believe these arrests will be taken to city council. [] The Afro American