The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-03-05


dustrial development. That doctrine
is false. Now that the world knows
in part the riches Of the south 8 ma
terial resources, now that it realizes
to some extent the vastness of it's coal
and iron supplies and its strategic re-
lation to the worlds industrial life,
whether this section were peopled
with savage cannibals or were with
out a single inhabitant, economic de-
velopment would force great popu-
lation and vast material upbuilding
southwark.
Did the deadly arrow or the rifle
OF the Indian stop the westward
march Of populations Did the SEEM
ingly impenetrable ice-reaches of
Alaska, with the fearful suffering
entailed, halt even for an hour the
tide of population when once the
prospect of gold became the alluring
vision4 We need not stop for a mom-
ent to think about whether the south
will draw population or not. That is
just as certain as the rising Of to-
morrow's sun. We should, however
very seriously consider what part the
people of the south themselves are to
play in the wonderful drama of de-
velopment upon which the curtain is
just beginning to rise.
Through false teaching, through
failure to fit the rising generation by
technical training to meet the new
conditions, through failure to devel-
| op rs never before-for never before
was it sn badly meeded-sturdiness Of
character, sclfreliance to meet every
emergency. and initiative to see and
grasp the opportunities of the day,
the south'S own people may in the
meantime have become the hewers of
wood and the drawers Of water for
others.
Day for the Technical Man.
If the men who are worse than
wasting their time in toadling to the
almsEivers and hdraldings as wisd
leaders for the south to follow people
who know absolutely nothing about
its real educational needs; if the
men who in mistaken zeal are forever
discussing the negro question and
thus malcimg real problem where
none of Importance exists but for this
agitation and discussion would oil
unite in one untiring effort to arouse
the south to fit its white boys and
girls for the mighty development
ahead, they would then be doing good
service to their country.
Some time ago I heard an Grafton
to the effect that the supreme need Of
the south is few great universities.
In diction and delivery it was well
nigh perfect, but ii was fundamental
ly false. This is not the day for great
universities in the south. Such as we
have, if properly handled, are well
enough in the their way. This is the
day for the technical man, for the
next quarter of century at least be-
longs TO the industrial leader During
that period the south is to see such
material progress as never fell to the
lot Of any country on earth. The pco-
pie who are to control the vast wealth
to be created are the technically
trained boys of today; if not the soil
thern boys then boys who are being
trained elsewhere and made ready for
such limitless opportunities. II is not
Il question of favoring or opposing
commcrcialism" so-called. The in
dustrial era is upon us. and we could
not stop ii if we would. 1t is simply
Il question of whether the south is %
ing to fit its own people to lead
right in the creation and control of
coming wealth. In this era upo9
which we have entered the university
man will be the employe of the tech
nically trained expert. Later on will
come the university mans opportun-
ity Controlling its industry and
dominating its wealth, these .tcchmi-
cally trained men will be the leaders
in state and church, and hence the
supreme need Of the south is to bend
every energy to fit its rising genera
tions for these vast opportunities and
! still vaster responsibilities, to train
its young people in selfreliancc and
to teach them that half loaf, whcth-
er of bread or educational opportun-
ity, won by hard and honest work. by
the sweat Of the brow, means more
for manhood than a thousand dain-
ties accepted as charity from those