Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-01-12
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

Tuesday, easily comes up 10 the HlSl
standard that bis excellency has al
ready laid down for himself in previ
Gus state papers. 1t gives the situa'
ton of affairs in South Carolina fully
and intelligently, and contains some
very sensible suggestions upon which
valuable improvements may be based.
In the outset of his message, the gov.
ernor calls attention to the great pro-
gress that the world has made in the
past hundred years, and that South
Carolina has made during the past II
years. He is gratified with the signs Of
progress everywhere apparent, and re-
fers to an increase Of s4,245,69 in tax
able values during the past year, which
values, however, he correctly thinks
are not nearly as great as they would
have been had all the property that
should pay taxes been listed on the tax
books. He thinks there is need for re-
vision of our tax assessment laws.
The financial statement shows re-
ceipts and disbursements amounting to
So, ,76O,452. This includes the sum of
s625, 1886 on hand at the end Of the
year.
The governor strongly recommends
the refunding Of the 81 or 3S bonds that
were stolen from the old State bank by
Sherman's army. He calls attention to
the fact that the courts have decided
that the bonds belong to the bank. The
bonds have never been paid and the
statute of limitation will operate as
bar to their being presented by other
parties. There is no question in his
mind that the honor Of the state re-
quires that the amount Of the bonds be
paid to the receiver Of the bank.
In discussing the educational ques-
ton. Governor McSweeney calls espec-
ial attention to the fact that made
quate school facilities in the country is
causing a concentration Of population
from the country into the towns. He
thinks that something should be done
to check this tendency if possible, and
suggests as a remedy, local taxation
for the benefit of better common
schools.
THE question of child labor in our
cotton mills is one that has been at
tracing a great deal Of attention re-
Gently, and properly so. Conditions in
this state have changed very much in
the last few years. We are no longer
simply an agricultural people. With
the rapid growth in manufacturing en-
terprises we are already a large man
ufacturing state. The relation be-
tween the labor that is employed in
these enterprises and the employees is
not merely one of master and servant,
but there are rights, and privileges
and duties, obligations and opportuni-
ties, on both sides which should be
carefully guarded. There has been no
conflict between employer and laborer
in this state and nothing should be
done to disturb the amicable relations
which now exist. Government recog-
nizes the fact that it is the duty Of the
strong to care for and protect the weak.
1t Is certainly the right and privilege
Of government to provide for the in
spection of any and all enterprises or
corporations deriving their life from
the state and to see that they do not
impose upon the weak. Of course this
should be done with proper regard for
the property rights of corporations
There is no doubt the employment and
constant labor Of children of tender age
in our factories is injurious to them
and will result in untold injury in the
future. To interfere with the govern
ment Of the family by legislation Is
dangerous. And on the other hand un-
less something is done to protect the
tender children Of vampire parents who
spend their time in idleness and live
off the labor Of their little children who
are required to work in our mills from
year to year without the advantages OF
school, the situation for the future be-
comes alarming. To force these child
rem out Of the mill and make no provis-
ion for their attendance upon school
but to allow them to spend their time
in idleness on the streets presents al
most as alarming an aspect as to per-
NIT them to labor. In a great many OF
our mills the officers and managers
have provided schools and teachers and
libraries and churches at the expense
of the stockholders, and some OF them
will not employ children under II years
of age, and they require the parents OF
such children to send them to school
This is the tendency in all the mills In
this state. These children should be
protected, but it is not we'll that they
should be idle, and I doubt the wisdom
of q rigid law laid down by the legisla-
ture prohibiting absolutely their en-
ployment. It would be better rather
that all children between the ages of
and 13 years, whose parents or guard
ians work in textile manufactory
should be required to attend school
during the school term, If this can be
done under our constitution without
extending compulsory education to the
state. This would permit them during
the vacation to relieve older sisters OF
brothers and give them little rest and
not take the means Of support from
the family, and at the same time ac-
complish the end sought-the protec-
ton and education Of the children OF
the mill districts. But better to have
a prohibitory law as to child labor than
that nothing should be done for the
protection of these children. The mill
owners themselves, realize the danger
of child labor and are doing what they
can to force attendance upon schools
and to keep the children out Of the