Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-09-03
WELL SAID AND DESERVED.
Due Credit Accorded to an Efficient
Superintendent Of Education.


Superintendent Of Education.
The defeat Of Mr.. McMahan Is one OF
the most heartily deplored results of
the first primary. This can be said
without rejecting upon his successor.
During the two terms which he has
held the office of superintendent Of edu-
cation Mr.. McMahan has shown an ac-
curate appreciation Of the educational
needs of the state and an earnest, fear
less desire to supply the deficiencies.
Possessing ideas of his own he has
shown more sincerity than policy in his
endeavors to have those ideas carried
out. He has not had time to accom-
plish all that he desired-for 1t Is q
slow work and the discouragements
and hindrances are many-but Mr.. NC
Mahan has done a great deal toward
the establishment Of better standards
and the adoption of better methods In
our educational system. In doing this
he has run counter to strongly rooted
prejudices and come into opposition to
personal ambitions, all of which has not
increased his popularity among those
who have considered themselves ag-
grieved. In this way an element ac-
lively opposed to Mr.. McMahan has
been formed and there is no doubt
made itself felt against him in the re-
cent election. This was the basis up
on which Mr.. Martin builded with a
skill that would do credit to an older
and more experienced politician.
Over-confidence was the second fac
tor which operated against Mr.. McMa-
han. Relying too implicitly upon the
appreciation of the people. many OF
whom take little or no interest In an
office Of that sort, Mr.. McMahan was
neglectful of his own cause, while his
friends also failed to exert themselves
Opposed to him was candidate, q
teacher, aggressive and good stump
speaker, who left nothing undone and
whose connections and friends were ex-
ceedingly active, as the returns show.
The explanation is easy-now that II
Is over. But it is not the explanation
which Is most important. Mr.. McMa-
hans defeat we. with many others in
terested in the cause of education, re-
gret most sincerely not for his sake but
for that of South Carolina. MIR. Nc
Mahan has really lost nothing; ne
stands as high in the esteem OF all as
ever and has the satisfaction which
comes from a good record. The state
loses by his retirement-unless his sue
cessor will continue the work he VIII
lay down. We are led to hope that Mr.
Martin will do this. We are prepared
to believe that Mr.. Martin has the IN
terest of the schools, all the schools, al
heart and that he Is sincerely desirous
of making the educational system ol
his state better and more efficient. His
speeches during the campaign have moi
always been fair, but we trust he vii
Law aside his demagogism when ne
takes hold of this important work and
in his administration Of the office kno"
only duty, not popularity, as his pre-
decessor has done. He can be assured
that If his administration Is character
lied by the right sort Of progress ano
diligence he will have the most earnest
support of The State-and of Mr.. NC
Mahan, as we'll. we venture tosay.
Education-more education, better
education. more general education
that is what we all desire. 1t Is to oe
hoped that Mr.. Martin will become
leader in the movement to that end
now we'll under way. and that he vii
prove as efficient, capable and progress
siye as the retiring superintendent ha:
been.-Columbia State.