Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1907-01-23

this day assume, to discuss before
the people certain measures to which
1 now desire 70 call your attention.
EDUcATIoS.
Our State constitution requires
that we shall "provide liberal sys-
tenn of free public schools for all
children between the ages of six and
twenty-one." When we consider
the great power and Influence Of ap
educated people and that the strength
and prosperity of State depend
ultimately upon the intelligence of
the average citizen, we can realize
the mind of the trainers of this or.
ganic law. 1t, therefore, behooves
,us to enact such laws as will fully
carry out this wise provision of the
State constitution.
The State institutions of higher
learning are well equipped and are
doing g gree: work in the education
of many of our girls and boys, but
these fortunate ones are but mea-
gre 10 per cent of those within the
SCHOOL age; the other 90 per cent
are wholly dependent upon the COM
mon schools.
1t is true that many of the graded
schools are kept open for nine months
in the year by the help of the special
taxes voted upon themselves by the
taxpayers of the particular school
district, but many of the small schools
in the rural districts are in session
but for three or four months in the
year. Realizing that most of the
children who attend these schools are
receiving from them all the school
advantages that they will ever get,
are we doing our full duty by them
Are we thus fitting them for all of
the duties of an intelligent citizen
ship?
We are building for the future and
we should see to it that we build
strong and well. You have no more
important matter that will come be-
fore you, and / recommend that libe.
raj appropriations be made for the
common schools.
l also ask your special attention to
and consideration of the establish.
ment of high schools in connection
with and as part of the free school
system of our State. Many children
will be able to attend the high school
who cannot attend State college,
and many others will be better pre-.
pared for college after having at.
tended the high school. 1t is step
in the direction of giving to the boys
and girls better opportunities in their
school life and for making them bet.
ter citizens.
LIQUOR QUESTION.
One of the most important SUBJ
jeots that You have before you for
consideration, gentlemen of the Gene.
raj Assembly, is the liquor question.
The people of the State have
spoken in no uncertain sound, and
we cannot mistake their meaning,
that the State dispenssry system
must be abolished and that there
must be enacted in its stead law
providing for local county option, as
between county prohibition and
county dispensaries.
In making my campaign this pas,
summer, one of the principal issues
before the people was the question OF
State dispensary or local county
option as between county prohibition
and county dispensaries.
The plank in my platform upon
that question is as follows:
81 am opposed to the system of q
State disp ensary. am in favor OF
local county option, between county
prohibition and county dispensaries.
Let each county say for itself whether
it desires that liquor shall be sold in
that county or that it shall not be
sold therein. This system has been,
and is now, the law in several of the
States around and near US, and it is
regarded with satisfaction, as far as !