The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-02-17
Some Needed Reforms
Lobeita. N. C.. Feb. 10

much esteemed p esteemed on
account OF IT'S out-spoken hon
decided to contribute some opin-
ions on b present and pro
Epective laws o ( our state which you
can publish IL You see fit.
I am frank to admit that IN nv
Judgment the management Of ous
state affairs has not in all things been
for The best interests OF the people. un-
der our much boasted Democratic ad-
m~4nistTat.on.
North Carolina railroad with which
we all have lately been made ac-
Quainted, IS one instance.
Ais u much talked Of school sys-
tenn. which is by long odds the most
expensive and, 1 think I might Amos
say, he most unsatisfactory that
we have ever had We have a regular
army OF public school officers ana
teachers. lots OF new school houses
and school furniture, lots OF new
school books. lots of everything exoep-
education-all to be paid for directly
o. indirectly by the people. In man:
communities not more than half of
the children Of school age attend the
public schools, ard in many instances
those who do attend are deriving very
little benefit theTefron on Of
incompetent teachers. Especially is
this r in the country districts,
where The prices paid for teaching is
so low that good teachers ann af-
ford to teach for them, since they
can do much better in other pursuits
A E many OF the country schools.
ave so few scholars, and those OF
such low grade, thai the conditions
would mot eem to justify the en-
ptoyment of high priced teachers. Con-
sequently young girls and boys, with
out experience, and, in many cases.
without h necessary qualifications
of school teachers, are put in charge
of hos schools. and the inevitable re-
suit is time lost, money spent, and
nothing accomplished. 1t is no wonder
people are backward on patronizing
these schools
We sometimes hear people advocat-
ing compulsory school attendance. It
might be Well enough to compel peo-
pie to attend good schools, but to force
them to attend some of the socalled
public schools we see in the COUNT
would be little short of an outrage.
L see somebody is trying to get the
legislature to make it unlawful fo-'
children to work until they are four
teen ear old, for the reason, they
say, that the people who employ them
are not treating them right. If m
ployers do wrong it would be We'll
enough ito pass a law that would make
them do right, but certainly deprivinS
children of the opportunity of earning
a livelihood and at the same time
qualifying themselves for usefulness
in the future would NOT commend itself
as a remedy for existing evils.
In our state by far h larger portion
of the land in the eastern half is not
suited to the raising of cotton CT grain:
but perhaps there is mo land anywhere
moro adapted to fruit raising, especial
ly grapeS tina eastern NORTH Carolina.
This sand hill country, with p-Cpor
mana cement, could be made to produce
fruit, in almost unlimited quantity, blu
ON accourft of our stringent law, pro-
hibiting the manufacture or sale of IN
tOxicating beverages, and there being
no other way to- prOf1tably utilize the
greater portion Of a fruit crop. the bus
mess cannot be made to pay; conSe.
Quently, as fast as the forest
become exhausted the country is aban-
doned, and dhe area of un~productive
land in our state is rapidly growg1S
Arger as the years go by.
The reason assigned for this social
ed temperance legislation is that some
people sometimes drink too much fiquor
Go mischief. Would it mot be bet
ter to have q law that would punish
the people who do wrong, and allow
those who conduct themselves properly
ito lake advantage of their %opportuni-
ties, n especially since people get
drunk anyway, hWithshanddllg the
prohibition law.
We have another law ON the books
ought to be either enforced or re-
and that is the Jaw against ar
rying concealed weapons. All civilized
nations seem to be agreed that h best
preserver OF the peace is a Thorough
preparation for war. If the rule is
good, it ought to apply to individuals
as we'll as nations. Since there is lit
tie doubt, as your correspondent b
hat many of the advocates OF
the measure go armed to the teeth,
there is little hope of THE law be- 1g en-
forced. If it cannot be enforced it
be repealed. 1t hardly seems
fair hat the law abiding citizens of the
should be denied means of pro
tecticn againso that large element of
our population who Disregard this Jaw.
If an the people We're allowed to go
The 0ittle fellw who now goes
with a gun ON him would rot
so much like he iEad everything mis-
way.
The political party, by whatever
mama, thai will promise the repeal of
these burdenscme and unreasonable
prohIbltory laws how on our statute
books and a strict business manage
ment of our state financial az
fairs cannot too soon be given the OPP
TO make their promise good.
With good government, there is no
a why NORTH Carolina might not
be as satisfactory a state tt Tive in as
N the ur1ton, but while laws are
put on t1ae books wholly fer the graft
fcaLiCn of silly cranks, (and it is DIFF
fcult to see any other reason why ON
Of them are there,), that unreasonaoly
burden the people with taxation and
stife b development OF our natural
resources, contentment, peace and pros
cannot be the conditions under
which we may expect to live.
Respectfully,
j. H. SMITH
rTTN~ w A