The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1903-08-20
THE EDUCATIONAL. RALLY.

The interest shown by the te,plo of
Pickens county augurs well for the
educational outlook in this part IF IA
great commonwealth.
The interest taken in this occasion
by the people at large far exceeded
tho most sapguine expectations of the
promoters and the speakers them
selves. Gov. Hayward was very hap
pr in his allusion to tho sizo of the
crowd, when he said that he had
about concluded that Toxaway dam
had broken loose and washed down
big crowd of "Tar Heels"
EARLY in tho morning people began
to arrive from ovory section of the
county. A fair estimate of the crowd
may be placed at ,000-cortaiuly
tho largest crowd of people that ovec
assembled in Pickens county at
purely educational meeting.
Our efficient County Supt. of Elu-
cation, r. II. Halium, presided.
Rev. 0. NJ. Abney opened the OK
ercisos of the day with fervent
prayer.
Solicitor julius e. Boggs in his
characteristic, happy and original
manner delivered beautiful address
of welcome. Thon followed State
Supt. of Education, O. i. Martin,
who responded briefly to the address
OF Welcome. Said that he felt at
homo--that it was RA duty also to
welcome the distinguished speakers
to his native county. lie then took
up the subject of education, paying
particular attention to the rural
schools. He made a strong plen for
common school education, for better
teachers, better school houses and
better equipment.
lie strongly advocated the cstab-
lishmcnt Of libra les in every public
school He said, however, that the
term public school was olten-times
misustd-they might be better
termed cooperative schools. Mr..
Martin paid beautiful tribute to the
late W. w. f. Bright for the faithful
work he had done II the public
schools Of Pickcns county. Said that
this county is model in the number
and plan of the districts it contains,
as it is laid off in accordance with the
constitution and there can be no
more changes in tho size of the dis
tricts. Mr. Martins address was
one The strongest and most prac-
tical over delivered in this county.
Then followed Dr. Geo. b. Cromer,
the scholarly President Of New, ,erry
college. Though stranger here,
DR.. Cromer soon introduced himself
to Pickens county people in q way
that they will not soon forget. He
at onco won tho appreciation of his
hearers, and delivered one of the
most scholarly addresses ever heard
hero.
lie said that II per cent of the
whito voters OF this State could
neither road nor write-that Of 3,1SG
voters in Pickens county, $50 are
classed as illiterate. DR.. Cromer
slated that there was spent in the
United States last year the enormous
sum of S20O,0OO,OOO '"r education,
that S950,412 Of this amount was
spent in South Carolina.
lie stated that the average paid to
tho public school teachers in South
Carolina was $195; in Pickens county
Sl47. He said tho only hope for the
young man engaged in teaching was
to get married, for it was a sorry
woman that could not support one
maH.
Said that money put in education
was not spent but money invested.
Gov. Hayward was then introduced
and met with storm Of applause.
He was particularly happy in his in
PRODUCTION, referring to his love for
the mountains and his appreciation
of the citizenship of this part of our
great commonwealth. Gov. Howard
said that tho two most important
things for tho consider Grafton of South
today 's a. Education;
(2,) Highways. Gov. Heywerd well
merits tho appellation Of the "Edu-
cational Governor" because of the
deep interest he has constantly shown
in the educational development Of the
State. Ho warmly complimented
l'lckens county on the record being
made by her worthy son, O. B. Mar.
tin, rs State Superintendent.
Gov. Hayward said that he still
stood on his well known platform, a.
More school houses; (2,) Better school
honsos; (3,) Better teachers. He
made q strong DleD for the commoN