The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-06-22
desired to particularly emphasize.

First, the need of education in the
State. Insofar as the institutions
for higher education are concerned,
the State is now we'll equipped and
most excellent work is being done.
But the common schools are not we'll
equipped and are not meeting the needs
of the masses, who il educated at all
must be educated in our common
schools. The common schools reach
the masses and it is admitted that
shey are not so we'll equipped and or
ganized as they should be. The work
Of improvement cannot be all done by
the State Superintendent of Educa-
tion, nor by the County Superintend-
ents unassisted. The people them
selves must be interested and aroused,
the schools need to be improved and
the people should then see to it that
the children attend these schools.
Second, the crying evil Of homicide.
Scarcely day passes but that the
newspapers record that some South
Carolina man has taken the life of his
fellowman. It is shame to the State
and an evil that has grown so great
that it calls for an immediate remedy
if one can be found. The remedy lies
with the people themselves, not with
the laws. The remedy is healthy
public sentiment that will sternly
frown down this shedding of human
blood. When the people themselves
say that homicide raust cease in
South Carolina, then will the State
be freed from this reproach which has
given us an ill name not only in this
country, but among the nations Of
Europe as well.
He said that the dispensary law is
the only one which the Governor is
specifically required to enforce and
the only one that he has the
power to enforce. He cannot order a
sheriff to arrest any law breaker, but
he could and was required to order a
dispensary constable to raid any
premises upon which the dispensary
law is violated. lie had endeavored
to enforce the law as his duty required
ard the people should decide how he
had measured up to his responsible
ties. The financial condition Of the
State is not satisfactory; it is neces-
sary to borrow money to meet cur
rent expenses. It will be necessary
to borrow sl45, 600 more this year
than last. He is in favor of placing
the State on cash basis and this can
be done only by an equitable assess
ment of property which he favored.
The good roads question which was
talked of in the last campaign as an
issue, is just as much an issue now as
then and would so continue. He
stood now where he stood then as an
ardent advocate of good roads. He
favored, as he had always done, the
pension of Confederate veterans who
stand in need of aid.
Lieutenant Governor John I. Sloan
made a stirring speech on general
terms. One remark, "That be favored
very much," brought down
the house and the laughter was long
and loud, for this seemingly inadyer-
tert confession described the attitude
of all CT the candidates to a nicely.
State Treasurer r. H. Jennings
who is candidate for reelection for
third term after thanking the people
for their support ic former years and
his qualification that he is
without opposition although he comes
before the people with the unusual ie-
quest for a third term, briefly ex-
planned the financial condition Of the
State government and gave details
concerning the money borrowed ex-
planning why be had deemed it neces-
sary to borrow so much SO early in
the year and showing that by doing so
be bad really saved money by obtain
ing a lower rate of interest than
would have been possible later il the
year.
Secretary OF State, Jesse T. CAN'T,
the only State House officer who has
said that he asked for a
second term not as right, but be-
cause it was in accord with precedent
and because if second term was re-
fused him il would be the same as
pubic condemnation Of his admins
tration OF tie Office If reeiected he
would pledge himself to give faithful
aud efficient service, as lie had en-
deavorec to give in tbe past. Ia ref
erence TO the investigation CT his ofiice
by the regular legislative committee
be SAID that thorough examination
J