The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-01-11

cation now so apparent in our State is
due, in large measure, to the century
OF honored years which has marked the
life and worth of this institution.
sn1i not attempt to DO more than
10 briefly direct your attention to some
or the weighty reasons governing my
Recommendation In this matter AL
most every State in the union has n
State university, and this is true OF
every southern State except South
Carolina. We mus, provide such an
institution sooner or later. or allow
our educational system to remain IN
complete. 1t is fact that for the
| lack OF such an institution u number
oI young men now go to other States
FOR the instruction which should be
| furnished them at home. The demand
for university, facilities is further
| shown by the statement that a large
| number of-the students of the college
| are now outside Of the regular courses.
! and thus the faculty is forced by the
actual demands of the students to do
university work. A university organi-
cation would offer far greater facilities
Ior expansion and growth, to keep pace
with TIE rapid advance of education,
ana wltnt the growing demands Of the
people. Such change would give
! larger power for service with but small
additional COST
| It is also the purpose OF the board
or trustees, In changing the organiza-
| tton of the college to that Of a univer-
sity. to increase the facilities for IN
struction in the law department.: to
add commercial department. and to
make such other additions as may be
| required.
additional appropriation Of only S1O,-
600 Is asked for, and this is, believe,
a moderate amount when measured by
the results 1t viii accomplish. / urge
this appropriation, and under the cir
cumstances it should reasonably be
hoped that the united appeal Of the
alumni, the faculty and the trustees
VIII receive the favorable consideration
of your body. d. :
Compulsory Education.
! The people of-1this State have, for
some years past, shown an increasing
| disposition to tax themselves for the
| support of their educational institu-
| tions. Especially Is this true where our
| common schools are concerned Nv
tiiis Willingness is shown growing
realization OF the fact that q State
! can do nothing better for. the protec-
ton of It's highesf and truest interests
than by educating Its children Ignor-
ance has ever been. not only serious
| incubus to any people. but a MANAGE
to Its very civilization. This Is truer
today than 1t has ever been, and the
question forces itself upon our consid-
Grafton, whether or not we can afford
| TO grow up in ignorance. AS near as
can be- estimated from United States
census figures and from the reports Of
the superintendent OF education. there
IN south Carolina, between the ages of
and IL years who do not attend
school. though schools are easily
accessible to- most OF these children.
The question then, and q vital one it is,
presents itself to us: can we, for the
sake not only OF the State, but for the
sake. Of the children themselves longer
allow this depiorable condition to con-
tinue? 7 ...9 - =
More than 80 States have adopted
compulsory education, and we should
now seriously consider whetherwe can
longer afford to postpone taking such
step. Have our common school
facilities reached SUCH point as will
warrant this action? believe they
nave, provided that the proposed law
cal operation. BY this mean that
c,,idre1 should not be compelled TO
attend. schools SO far from theiN homes
that attendance would be>Fa hardship,
nor SHOULD the age limit for compul-
sory education be too drasticA This
wonld cause the law to become un-
popular, and thus fail to accomplish
the purpose for WHICH it was intended
nave given this matter much care
Lui thought, and am convinced that
af.conservattve beginning should be
made at once. Later on, as our school
ondittons-adVance and the law grows
IN popularity and it's necessity is more
iuiiy realized, needed improvements
can be adopted. :.
recommend that you adopt COM
pulsory education law, making It oblig-
atory for all children between the
ages OF 8 and IL years to attend school
TOT certain number Of months
during each year. The distance from
the school house tn which: this law
ysnoEid apply Is : matter Tor your
wise consideration. But, gentlemen.
school house should be within tie
reach Of every child In South Carolina.
Ine passage OF such q law as most
earnestiy urge upon your attention
would, feel sure. be OF material bene-
NJ from every standpoint. The duty
20 tram and educate our children, to
prepare them for lives OF influence and
usefuiness, should be as binding upon
the State as 1t is upon parents, and is.
beyond all question, an obligation we
can no longer afford to evade or post
Department. OF Agriculture, Commerce
re- and Imn,iErntion.
II IL with great, deal OF pleasure
that commend to your; careful con-
sideration the full! and admirable re.
port of the commissioner cf agri-
This report shows, beyond any aues.
tion, the urgent need for, s;:c.i de-
partment. Among many most inter-
esting statistics. the all-important
sLaeemeit :tnat, or the Is, ,30S, 800 acres
Of land included withiIi the area Of o,,I.
state, only 5,S75,741 acre: are under
cultivation-tlns one pregnant state.
ment should awaken your zeal and
stimulate you in sui porting this de-.
partment, which already shows
record of work and results.
In advocating the establishment Of
fhts department In my last annual
message, did SO after the most care
fui consideration, being prompted to
do so because OF the belief that our
State, with its great undeveloped9 re-
sources, was sorely I'm need OF an off,
ciai move In this direction.
South Carolina, by the est abIjsh-
ment of this department., has BECOME
the pioneer southern State insdevslnn-
IHg lts agricultural and commercial e.
spurceE by means OF Immigration from
other States;an from abroad, and this
TACT has already won for us widespread
recognition. Though this department
was only established atS your last ses.
sion. and our efficient commissioner
qualified Just nine months ago, the re-
port gG OF v ComfIii issioner6 Wa tson will
sti0W valuable and sfar-reachitig results
safeady accomplished 81 II is difficult to
BEGIN a work OF this nature; to 'offi.
.falty organize a State iitnmigration de.
iSj an arduouS task, Especially
SO len the State iB beyond the lines
along which the Immigration movement |
has been, ,srrOnreaejn n III s5SEe,Sl