The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1907-10-23
sTIN WILL NOT
WALK ANSEL'S WAY
State Superintendent Again Protests the
Appointment of Member of the
Estate Board.

Noiuiiuiat .Oct, 10. Otate Super1n-
tendent of Education Martin. on receipt
of official notification that Gov. Ansel
had appointed Mr.. Hayne F. Rice, of
Aiken, as member of the board of edu-
cation from the Second district, today
wrote the governor a very caustic let
ter, ~resenting the appointment of the
Aiken lawyer, and incidentally announc-
ing that he would not stand for r~e-elec-
ton.
Gov. Ansel was out of the city today,
and if he were here it is not likely that
he would have anything to say concern
ing Mr.. Martins letter. The governor
did not consult Mr.. Martin about the
appointment, although after the state
ment given out by Mr.. Martin in refer
ence to the appointing t of Ex-Gov.
Sheppard the governor ~endeavored to
pacify the state superint. ndent of edu-
cation. Later the superintendent wrote
the governor a letter a. ologizing for
harsh expressions used, but not abandon
ing his position. This latest develop
ment, however, means a permanent
break between Governor Ansel and Mr..
Martin, and it can be safely assumed
that Mr.. Martin will fight the governor
as long as he can see him.
The letter from Mr.. Martin to the
governor is as follows:
Columbia, Oct. 16, 1907, Hon. M. F.
Ansel, Governor, Columbia, S. C.-Dear
Sir: Your letter notifying me of the
appointment of Mr.. H. F. Rice, of the
Aiken bar, as a member of the State
Board of Education, was promptly re-
ceived. So you have succeeded in ap-
pointing a lawyer, and also in not con-
sulting the officer who is responsible to
the people for the conduct of the edu-
cational office of the state. | wish that
it were possible for me to think of your
action in this whole matter other than
as small-minded, o~fficious and PERM
cious. | prefer to think of the COVER
nor of my state as liberal-minded and
statesmanly.
note that you say that Mr.. Rice has
taken an interest in school matters.
Likely many of our school men have ia
ken an interest in law, but it does not
follow that they should be put upon the
supreme bench. They are hardly COM
petent to examine applicants for admis-
sion to the bar and to discharge the nu
mcrous complicated but technical du-
ties of the supreme court.
TO take a charitable view of the stu
alton, / believe you utterly failed to
grasp the duties of a member of the
State Board of Education. Sometime
ago, when you made your second APP
pointment of a lawyer on this Board, l
characterized your action with such
language as seemed, at that time, ap-
propriate. l applied the mustard plas-
ter which afterwards seemed rather
pungent. The conclusion is now bear
ing down upon me that you are furnish
ing a concrete eXemplification of the
Characterization above referred to. The
appointee, whom l shall designate as
Lawyer No. 3, happened to be too
broad-gauged a man to accept an APP
pointment in a department whose head
had been ignored. Appointee Lawyer
No. 8, Professor Rice, of Aiken, may
be of similar caliber, but if l am to be-
licve the report given to the press con
corning his appointment, l should say
that he is at least ambiguous, amphib-
ious, a~mbidextrous,' ubiquitous and in
determinate.
These characteristics may appeal to
you.
AS you perhaps know, you have next
year the appointment Of the remaining
members of the State Board of Educa-
ton, with the exception of the secre-
tary, who holds the position eX-oficio
as State Superintendent of Education,
and have the supreme satisfaction of
knowing that | do not have to sit with
them nor to be bound by their actions.
| wish to give you the pleasure of know
ing here and now that | shall not be a
member of that Board any longer than
is Unnecessary for me to discharge my
duty and obligations to. the people Of
South Carolina.
For two terms | have been elected
State Superintendent of Education with
Wv oppooiGiOls l. nave ioCildlRSu lily
duties fearlessly and vigorously. l feel
the satisfaction of having done some
good for my people. / shall not ask for
reelection. | mention this in order
that you may indulge and cherish the
fond hope of getting a satellite of your
own ilk. | am somewhat in the posi-
ton of the old negro woman who went
into a dry goods store and asked for
three va !" of red ribbon. The clerk
was very byv'legged. He started
across the ste c and said:
walk this way"
The old woman said: "No, sir! I'll
do widout de ribbon before I'll walk dat
way"
And I'll do without my ribbon before
Ill walk your way.
Sincerely yours,
O.. B. MARTIN,