The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-01-30

q a sTl'RO y i ! II Z z D +.
contlna from, page afsg:.
The s Constitution OF our State, 4 Re. Re-
cogni2lng the fact that our entire
tionaf system Is founded upon
lthe commons schools, has undertaken to
provide q liberal system OF free public
schools for all children between the
ages of and 21." There Is no more
important consideration before the
people Of South Carolina than is con-
tained IN this clause Of the Constitu-
Uion. 1t has "a meaning all its oWn--a
meaning forawhich there can be no
substitute, and it commands and
should receive the hearty and indivi-
dual sanction Of us all. Let there be
the best common schools we can afford
in every community and district, with
well built schools houses, longer school
terms, competent and better paid
teachers, and In the work thus done
our State will reap :. rich reward. IS 4
The trainers Of our organic law,
rcalizing thnt wealthy and populous
communities could provide schools for
themselves, while poorer and more
thlnly settled districts were not SO
fortunate, made it the duty Of the
Assembly to supplement- the school
funds Of the latter, in order that all
the children of the State may have an
equal opportunity to acquire somewhat
more than the rudimcnts of an cduca-
tioH.
For years the State has fostered it's
higher Institutions OF learning, and my
influence shall always be eXerted to
sec that this is continued. The in
creased care and attention given to our
come, will prove of incalculable value
to all of our higher institutions Of
learning. In Wiothrop, Clemson,
South Carolina College and the Citn-
del Academy-n royal galaxy-South
Carolina has much cause for pride, for
these institutions in their equipment
and management are we'll worthy to
be locked upon with pride by the pcO-
pie of any State. Our comprehensive
system OF education is, also, am glad
to say, admirably assisted and made
more complete by the faithful work
accomplished In the various
dcnominational colleges OF our State.
TRUSTS MUST BE REGULATED.
While it is true that one of the
greatest difficulties we have had to
contend with in the development of
the State has been our lack Of capital
and while we should by legislation and
other means encourage outside capital
to come into the State and assist in
building up our industries and dcvel-
Oping our resources, and in coming
should make it feel assured that it will
receive every protection that it can
rightfully claim, still capital should he
made to understand that it is welcome
only when it comes for the purpose OF
earning its legitimate interest In u fail
and legitimate manner. We should
have it understood that it cannot seek
through great combinations and by
oEer-capital.atioH tO create monopo
lies by means Of which it can stifle
competition, paralyzc individual effort
reduce wages and control prices to ths
dctriment of the public.
1t is true that great industrial com
binatiOnS and powerful corporation!
are the order OF the day and have be
country capable Of welding an i'm
mcnsc power for good or for evil
Through skilled management, and pos
sessing he ability to open up wide
markets Tor the sale Of their products
tllcyarc capable Of doing much good
| nevertheless, the fact remains that
as usually conducted, their tcndenc
is decidedly harmful TO the best inter
cctS Of the country, and their prope
regulation and control through legis
latiOn is one OF the greatest problem
which to-day cOnfrontS our lawmaker
both State and Federal.
y large majority Of tho States llay
enact cd laws defining monopolics an,
seeking to prevent their formation
and Congress has likewise passed anti
trust legislation, yet the subject is S
complex and information upon which
to base action so difficult to obtain
none Of the laws providing sunicicntl
for the securing OF information--tha
the tendency towards Capitalization Q
wealth and combinations in trad
dangerous 10 the public are becoming
more and more marked each year.
ANTl-TRUST LEGISLATION.
In this State we have n constitu
! tional article giving to the Genera
Assembly the power to enact laws t
prevent trusts, combinations, etc, an,
to provide penalties "to the extent,
necessary for that purpose, Of forfcitlr
OF their franchises" and in 1897 an Ac
was passed carrying out the provision
Of this article. This Act being deem
cd defective and not farrcaching EN-
ough by the Attorney General, at tn
last session of the General Assembl,
another Act was passed, amendator,
in IL nature and going nearer to the
root OF the trouble. Power was ais,
given TO the a ttOrney General to Sccur,
testimony in relation to the violation
of these Acts, and it is to be hOpc(
that This legislation will he found sufll
cicnt TO protect the interests of til,
people from oppression by combined
capital. If not, it is the duty Of til,
General Assembly to amend our law
upon this subject from time to time a.
the necessities OF tile case may demand
with view always to give to capita
all OF its legal privileges and to restrict
IN no way Innocent aSSOcia tiOnS among
our citiz ms, and yet to see that cor
pOratiOnS. to which it has given life
and clothed with great powers, llst
those powers for the bettcrment an(
not TO the dctrimcnt OF the masses o.
the people, 10 protect whom is the
first dnty OF all governments.
CHILD LABOR LAW FAVORED
There has been considerable discus
sion throughout the State during The
past few years in regard to the en-
plOymcnt of children in our textile
manuiact0rics and upon several occa
sions bills forbdding thcii. employ
mcni have been introduced in tic
General Assembly, but have failed O