The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-01-15

arlausa to commemorate the heroism
dispIayed by the Confederate soldier
from South Carolina on that battienelo
was unveiled with appropriate exeI-
cises on the 27th Of last May. Ine
monument is one of the most beautlfuI
and appropriate on the field. 1t IS made
Of South Carolina granite. and on the
one side is bronze life-size Confede-
rate infantryman, and on the olner
Confederate artille-yman. The top
Of the monument is a graceful bronze
Palmetto tree, the emblem OF the PaI-
metto State On one side is the IN
scrtption: "To her faithful sons at
Chickamauga South Carolina eTects
this monument to commemorate the
yalor they proved and the lives they
gave ON this battlefield" On the other
are the names of the regiments
which represented South Carolina IN
this battle, and to the members OF
which this monument was erected, To-
gether with the number OF killed ana
woanded from each.
The exercises at the unVelilng were
most appropriate and were largely at
tended by veterans and citizens from
South Carolina. For a detailed ue-
scription Of the monument and account
OF the exercises refer you to the pup
mshed report of the Commissioners
All true sons South Carolina re-
io.ce that she has at last done ner
duty to her sons who fought and fell
on this historic field.
REDIsTRICTING.
AT your last session you had before
YOU for consideration several bills Tor
,redistricting the State. None was pass
ed and the whole subject will come up
for consideration at this session. Tnere
no longer exists any reason tor tne
shee-string districts which we nave IN
this Sta.e and it is duty you owe the
people to redistrict the State into con-
gressional districts that Will be com
pact and contiguous in territory. This
should be done without regard 10 the
no]itical fortunes or interests of any
individual and solely with g view OF
serving the interests of the people OF
the several districts. At the last ses-
sion Of the Congress of the unlteo
States an Act was passed IN which the
following section occurs:
Section 8. That in each State en-
titled under this apportionment the
number to which such State may be
entitled in the Fifty-eighth and each
subsequent Congress shall be elected
by districts composed OF contiguous
and compact territory and containing
as nearly as practicable an equal num-
ber Of inhabitants"
You will note that Act OF Congress
provides that the districts shall De
composed of territory compact anu
contiguous" This may not be manda-
tory. but as there is no reason at pres
ent for the congressional district re-
naming as they are it seems to be the
part of wisdom and good judgment at
this session to pass an act making
them contiguous" and more com
pact"
CHILD LABOR.
In mis- last message the attention OF
the LEGISLATURE was directed by the
Governor. to this important question,
made more so by the eapid growth OF
manufacturing interests in the state.
Action can be taken without working
injustice upon the mill-owners, or re-
tarding the material growth and de-
velopment Of South Carolina. Keep
ing child confined at close labor IN
the mills from early dawn till after
dark is directly contrary to the laws
of nature, and will affect ouT clt!zen-
ship in the future. Many mill-oWners.
realizing this fact from a business
point Of view. have voluntarily pro-
hibited child-labor, and consequently
their villages are models Of everything
that goes to make an ideal community.
In some cases parents who work IN the
mills are required to sign a contract
to force the:r children between certain
ages to attend the public schools pro-
vided. The owners contribute largely
towards the building up of the schools,
paying part Of the school-tax, and en-
couraging education among their en-
,ployes' children, and the most pleasant
relations exist between mill-owners
and operatives. 1t is the part of wis
dom, as we'll as Of humanitarinism, to
prohibit child labor in the mills. AS
the South will soon be compelled to
meet strong competition from all sec
tions of the globe. its manufacturing IN
dustries must have skilled and lnteill-
gent labcr; and this can be secured
only by the mental and physical de-
YeIopment of the children OF the pres
ent age. If the parent does not fee!
sufficient interest in his own offspring
to look after its best interests. and pre-
pare it for the highest citizenship. then
the State must assert its authority By
caring for the health and happiness OF
these helpless little ones. No chill
under twelve years Of age should be
permitted to labor In the mills OF this
State. unless necessary fcr the support
CT a widowed mother; and such an ac-
ton is strongly recommended.
STATE GEOLOGIsT.
Mr.. Earl Sloan, the newly-appoiated
State Geologist. has Immediately en-
tered upon the discharge OF his duties,
great portion of his attention being
directed to securing creditable ex-
hiDition at the Charleston Exposition.
as there was not even q nucleus OF 2,
collection in the State. A thorough SUI.
>l1% 5oI-