Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-01-11

it Is in our power to save many thou
sands of dollars to shippers and pro-
ducers of these articles by reason or
the proposed line-you may then rea-
lize what this undertaking means, not
alone to the people in general, but to
the cotton farmer direct. 1t Is within
our grasp, by rallying now, to save to
our producers, to the buyer and the
shipper, handsome sums paid to trans
portation companies whose real inter-
ests are not identified with us. What
it means to the southern manufacturer
and the southern manufacturers in
terests in South Carolina are now as
great or greater, than any other at
this time-may be judged when you
compare the method Of getting the
manufactured product to the Far East
now used-(which is by rail across
the continent)-witht the proposed new
method by direct shipment from our
own port to the port where. by one
transfer, it is placed on the same COM
pany's direct steamer to ports Of dis
tribution.
1t is a source Of pride to me that the
conservatism and care which has char
acterized the course Of the department
in this state has been such as to al
ready lead to concerted movements In
our sister states of the south for the
adoption. at once, Of the South Caro-
lima act.
In view of the recent decision OF
Secretary Strauss of the United States
department of commerce and labor,
it is vitality important that no material
change should be made in the act
creating our department There is but
one change 1 would suggest, and af-
ter careful thought, consideration and
investigation, 1 deem that very nee
essary one. Section IL Of the act pre-
vents the commissioner from taking
any steps to induce some OF the desir-
able people Of Europe-people best ad-
apted to our own conditions-most no
tably the north Italian and the Greek
farmer-two Of the most law-abiding
and thriftiest immigrants that come
to America. I cannot too strongly urge
the elimination Of this section from
the act, leaving the class OF people to
be brought to the Judgment OF the
commissioner No such official, with
proper conception Of his duty. would
dare, knowing the desires of the peo-
pie, bring into the state class OF
people such as would bring discredit
upon his state and upon himself
For the proper support Of this de-
partment, a minimum appropriation OF
not less than $25,000 will be absolutely
necessary. I need not add how sin
cerely I trust that this will be done.
The amount could not be better used,
and the splendid work of Commission
er Watson entities him to your most
distinguished consideration. have
seen the serious difficulties under
which he has labored; I am familiar
with the obstacles he overcame by
energy and hard work, and 1t Is q
pleasure to me to commend the faith
fulness and the painstaking care OF
this valued and competent official.
Our Educational Institutions.
In presenting to you brief synopsis
of our educational system and its pre-
sent conditions, I feel that we have
cause for congratulation. But while
much has been done, while progress
and betterment Is the rule in almost
every department, the work that has
been accomplished serves, too, to re-
veal how much-how very much-more
remains to be done. This work, with
all the expenditures of time. talents
and money that 1t involves. should be
considered more Of a privilege than a
duty, by every taxpayer in our state.
The future greatness of our common
wealth, the development Of the high
est type Of citizenship, the absolute life
OF our dearly-bought privileges OF
liberty and Of freedom, have their last
ing foundations, their surest hope.
The reports of our various state
higher institutions Of learning will be
promptly submitted to you by duly
authorized officials, and I sincerely
trust you will give them that earnest
consideration which the great import
ance Of this work so worthily merits.
Our Public Schools.
The comprehensive report Of our
state superintendent of education will,
when submitted, show many interest
ing details. 1t is extremely gratify-
ing to note that the number Of our
Public schools has increased consid-
erably in the past four years. and
there has also been a decided increase
in the number Of teachers employed.
OF course, this also means an in
creased enrolment of pupils. which is
most gratifying.
Compulsory Education.
Il has been a disappointment to me
that we have not yet passed law In
reference to compulsory education.
There is no reason why this should not
be done: there Is every reason why 1t
should be done and such a law will be
passed sooner or later by our general
assembly.
Dispensary.
In my last two messages l called the
attention of the general assembly to
the unsatisfactory condition of the
state dispensary, and in both Of these
messages I made such recommenda-
tions as thought were best calculated
to correct existing evils. These were
the first recommendations ever made
with the direct view Of purifying the
dispensary system. They were made
only after mature consideration Of the
subject. and a careful study Of its con-
ditions. I am still firmly convinced
that If the state is to remain In the
business of selling liquor, changes In
the law are absolutely necessary, and
have no occasion to modify or change
the views expressed in the message to
which I have referred. I am also con-
..oi.oa 90 haIiaya tbot had NV rerOm-