Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-01-11
Governor Advises General AS
sembiy ON Matters of Interest
DISPENSARY SITUATION
DISCUSSED AT LENGTH
Matter of Tax Equalization Referred to---Sane,
Sensible SUGGESTIONS as to Lawiessness-:-ine ne
Importance of ImmiGration---Other Matters.

attention or the countries VI IuioPo
also. This has placed South Carolina
once more in the forefront as a pio-
neer leader in movements affecting the
welfare of the nation. The bold, but
carefully planned, operations Of this
department have brought about the
handing down Of a decision in Wash
ington that clearly defines the powers
of the state and puts us-and our
sister states-in a position to move
intelligently for that selected immi-
grafton that not only our own people
and the people of the south, but which
the people Of the entire country, have
been demanding in vain since the
hordes of undesirables pouring into
our great ports Of entry began to Gre
ate what we have all recognized as
problem.
In pursuing the policy, which has
been extremely difficult in execution.
of setting the pace for securing care
fully selected immigration and, at one
and the same time, bringing about
long dreamed-o development OF our
commerce, your department. before
moving, in addition to the many pre-
cautions taken to protect the good
name of the state from possible con-
fiicts with Federal and international
laws. also gave great care for the well
fare and protection of our native Ia
bor
It has been alleged that the depart
ment would be used by the financially
stronger class Of our citizens to the
injury of our weaker class. During the
year 1t became absolutely necessary,
in order to keep in operation many OF
our manufacturing plants, to secure
additional labor to operate idle ma
chinery. The condition was such that
unless some relief could be obtained,
the owners Of the properties would
suffer: and, in time, the operatives
would suffer also. Even facing these
conditions, no move was made to give
the needed aid until the assurance had
been filed that all efforts to secure the
necessary labor had been made with no
prospect of result. in this and adjoin-
ing states, or in other portions OF the
United States. No definite movel was
made then until the plants had volunv
tarily taken concerted action to reduce
the hours Of labor, gradually to sixty
hours a week, without decrease OF
wages, and until the pledge had also
been given that the employers would
not displace any native. employee In
favor Of any one who might be brought
to relieve the situation. When this
had been done, the department accept
ed, under the terms of law, assistance
from those so sorely in need Of help
assistance given without restriction or
stipulation-and 1t must be said that
this assistance enabled your depart
ment to accomplish results which have
attracted the attention of the econ
omic world.
Extreme conservatism in all matters
relating to this undertaking has mark
ed. and Is marking, the course Of your
department. Just as you are assem-
bling, the second ship Of the proposed
new trans Atlantic service Is prepar-
ing to sail, bringing additional new
citizens to US. We are now in the cru
cial period which determine whether
or not our success in this great under
taking is to be permanent, and wheth-
er we are to reap the commercial ben
efits for which we have longed, for a
century, to call our own.
The semblance of lack Of support
in this critical stage, when the de-
partment has the confidence Of the
best influences in Europe, would al
most certainly jeopardize the success
Of the undertaking and possibly lose
for us the opportunity now open. Once
allowed to pass, this opportunity will
be probably beyond our power to re-
gain in a half century.
This entire undertaking, the execu-
ton of which has occupied less than
six months has called for tremen-
dous amount of work, far beyond the
office force and the resources Of the
department The work Is developing
at so rapid a rate that, for period at
least. 1t will be absolutely necessary to
furnish some relief.
1t is scarcely necessary for me to
recapitulate the facts in reference to
the character of immigrants landed in
Charleston last November, upon whom
,,ob bjgb apoop,iuro uoS Drono1nced
by the Federal examining officers. Nor
is it necessary to repeat here the de-
tails of the selective methods employ
ed abroad-the selective methods l
have always advocated and insisted
upon. I do not consider 1t necessary
to repeat a statement Of the condi-
tions that render white immigration
so vital to the development Of our
state upon agricultural, commercial
and industrial lines. I do wish, how
ever. to direct your attention especial
" to the magnificent opportunity that
awaits us as an agricultural. cotton
producing and a manufacturing state.
in the successful establishment and
maintenance OF peIlldneHl tldHs-
Atlantic freight and passenger line
between the Pacific trans-shipping
port of Europe and our own leading
seaport at Charleston, with its har-
Dor unmatched for accessibility and
| it's distributive qualities by any port
! on the eastern shores Of the North
American continent.
In the maintenance of such a line,
we have already secured the active
personal support Of Director Won Pills.
II one of the greatest steamship Con
porations III the world, and l have
reason to know that he Is loyal
friend OF the south and of southern
commercial development. What the
establishment of this line means to us
is a little difficult yet for any OF us
to understand. When l tell you that
| nearly s94.OOO.OOO worth of southern
cotton alone goes into the foreign port