The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-08-21
Wieeins Fayors McMahan.

not SuLllutI HAS uldSSCNt diouS az q DIV"
pace and the season of harvest is close
on hand. The exciting days of cam
paigning will be over after awhile. The
choice of Governor will he beyond
speculation in due time. The people will
decide the matter of choice to the inter
est of their State. This will be so because
the issues have been we'll studied and the
men have shown their respective fitness
to govern a great people. There have
been thousand or more details that have
at least settled down to nucleus. The
manifested interest of the people has
not abated and the excitement of friends
has approached the feeling that a crisis
brings to expectations and longings. All
this is we'll. 1t shows the purpose OF
good citizenship and the protection the
Individual throws around those ideals
that approach nearest to his conception
of democracy All will end well.
As you glance down the ticket there
will appear the lesser lights. You will
find that in the waging of the battle you
forgot to study other men for whom you
must vote. AS professional. man, | am
interested in the election of the State
Superintendent of Education. Having
studied the questions confronting the
people and having tried them in the ca
pacity of teacher, l must beg that Bam-
berg county give this phase of the comm
primary very careful consideration. 1t
must be classed as high office, for it ap-
peals to those inner feelings of father
to give his child the very best that the
State can afford. 1t is not politics that
am discussing. 1t is not politics that will
give to you the efficient State Superinten-
dent. Seek that man who can guarantee
to YOU the continuance of the progress
that has been inaugurated in this State
for the past two years. Take up hur'
ried review and see for yourselves the
good that has been done and the advan-
tages that have been placed at the door
of your children. We have heretofore
pulled along without any special end in
view and one part of the State was not
at all cogniZant of the work that was
being done in another part. That day has
passed and the State is forging together
a system that will in due time, if protect
ed, give to the people the efficient school
and the efficient teacher. These con
ditions are due to the energy and agges'
siveness of the present Superintendent OF
Education. Therefore, am advocating
the reelection of Mr.. McMahan because
I realize that the common schools OF the
State have already and will continue to
receive his personal attention. The
Superintendent of the city schools in all
parts of the State have the utmost conf
dence in his ability and plans and have
pledged to aid him in helping the country
schools to catch pace with the town
schools. it cannot be said that Mr.. Nc
Mahan has been an idle office holder
The charges are that he mas acted, and
some believe that he has made mistake
and has worked hardships on the people
in the adoption oftexts books and thing>
connected Herewith. Below isa copy OF
an unsolicited letter sent by Gov. Nc
Sweeney to Mr.. McMahan which answers
the charges that are brought by his op'
ponent and friends. These letters were
made public at the Kingstree meeting
last Saturday. Governor McSweeney's
letter to members of State board reads as
follows:
I'm view of comments made in present
campaign in reference to adoption Of text
books deem it but justice that we sign
and send TO the Hon. John j. McMahan
the enclosed statement of facts, to be used
as he sees fit have signed one and
mailed it TO him. l hope you will take
the same view that | do and will sign
statement, and forward it to Mr.. Nc
Mahan. NJ. B. McSwEENEY,
"Governor and Chairman State Board
of Education"
The letter addressed to Superintendent
McMahap reads as follows:
"In view Of the unjust attcks made
upon you with reference to the adoption
of text books it is but justice that we, as
members of the State board, responsible
for the changes in the text books, come
forward and make following statement:
"Q.) You are in no sense responsible
for the appointment of the men who made
the adoption. The Governor exercised his
prerogative under the Constitution and
appointed the seven members without re-
gard to your preferences.
"H) You are not responsible for the
changes made in the books. You strongly
opposed the adoption of some. A board of
nine men selected the books by a majority
vote in such cases, and no one man could
control the result or can have praise or
blame for what was done. All acquiesced
Loyalty in the result and to you, as State
Superintendent of Education, is due the
credit that the uniformity oftext books
so much to be desired-has become fact
and is not dead letter.
"(3) The country schools were in con-
fusion from the great diversity of books
that had been permitted"
The best teaching could not be done
when the teacher had to use any and ev-
cry book that each pupil brought. There
fore any serious effort to improve the
county schools necessarily involved great
chan ges in text books. After such changes
have been made and the people have ac-
auiesced it is unfortunate for candidate
for the high Office of State Superintendent
of Education to come before the people
and try to make them dissatisfied with the
change that has already been made, that
cannot be undone, and that all intelligent
school men must know is for the better
ment of the work in the country schools
4. It is false to say there ''haye been
frequent changes" The changes were
ordered in 1900, to take place November
Is, 1901. The contract forbids any more
changes before July l, 1906, and there will
probably be little reason for many changes
then.
5. Although you were opposed to
some of the adoptions, you accepted the
racnlt in o0nd faith. and in the enforce