Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1907-10-24
KICKS AGAIN.
The State Superintendent of Ed
ucation Scores Gov. Ansel.
OBJECTS TO ALAWYER

| AChS hpPOihteu OH the bOaru OF
Education, and Writes Caustic
Letter to the Governor For Not
Consulting Him and Appointing a
Lawyer-Says He Will Not Stand
For Reelection Next Year.
The appointment by Gov. Ansel of
Hayne F. Rice OF Aiken as a member
OF the State board of education to
fill out the uneXpired term of ] f.
Boland. resigned from the second dis
trict, has caused Mr.. o. b. Martin.
the State superintendent of educa-
| ton, to write Gov. Ansel that the
selection is not satisfactory because
Mr. Rice is a lawyer and not an
educator. The letter also makes the
interesting statement that Mr.. Martin
will not be a candidate for the office
he now occupies again.
The situation in what is called the
cabinet" by the newspaper men is
rather strained Some time ago Gov.
Ansel announced that he had offered
the vacancy in the second district to
Hon. John C.. Sheppard. Superin-
tendent Martin wrote the governor
a very strong letter of protest and
in the controversy Mr.. Sheppard de-
clined to serve. The vacancy re-
manned until after the meeting of
the State board of education last
tl0 q
was announced Tuesday it was sup
posed that harmony once more pre-
vailed. The letter notifying Mr.. Mar
tin of the appointment was as fol-
fows:
Hon. o b. Martin, State Superin-
tendent of Education, Columb bia,
S. C.
Dear Sir: have appointed the
Hon. Hayne +. Rice, Aiken, S. c.. as
a member of the State board of edu-
cation to fill the unexpired term of
Prof. J. r. Boland, resigned Mr..
Rice has taken great interest in
school matters for years. and / feel
sure that he will make a very use
full member of the board of educa-
ton.
Yours Very Truly.
NJ. +. Ansel, Governor.
Mr.. Martin received this letter on
Wednesday morning and at once re-
piled with the letter published be-
low. In talking over the matter, he
| said that he did not wish to withdraw
from his educational work as he plan
ned it. He believed, however.
that when the terms of the
present board expired Gov. An
sci would appoint lawyers or men
who are not familiar with education
al work and thus interfere with the
work of the educational department.
The announcement by Mr.. Martin
| that he would not be a candidate for
reelection will probably cause a num-
ber of announcements to be issued
| shortly. He was regarded as the
strongest man in the coming cam
paign for the Office and therefore his
removal will change the lineup con-
siderably. So far only one man has
announced himself. f. C. Elmore of
Spartanburg, but several others are
spoken of for entrance.
Mr.. Martins letter to Gov. Ansel
was as follows:
Hon. NJ F.. Ansel, Governor. Colum-
| bis. S. c.
| Dear Sir: Your letter notifying me
of the appointment of Mr.. II. F.
Rice Of the Aiken bar as a member
of the State board of education was
promptly received. So you have sue
ceeded in appointing a lawyer and
also in not consulting the officer who
is responsible to the people for the
conduct of the educational affairs oi
the State. l wish that II were pos
sible for me to think of your actor
in this whole matter other than as
small-minded, offlcious and perni
cious. / prefer to think of the gov
ernor Of my State as liberal minded
potential and statesmanly.
/ note that you say that Mr.. Rice
has taken an interest in school mat
ters. Likewise many of our schoo
men have taken an interest in Law
but 1t does not follow that the!
should be put upon the suprem,
bench. They are hardly competent t.
examine applicants for admission Il
the bar and to discharge the numer
GUS complicated but technical duties o
the supreme court.
To take a charitable view of tn
situation I believe you utterly fai
to grasp the duties OF a memb ber o
the State board of education. Som
time ago when you made your secon,
appointment of a lawyer on thi
board, I characterized your actor
with such language as seemed at tha
; time appropriate, / applied the mus
! tard plaster which afterwards SCENE
rather pungent. The conclusion
now bearing down upon me that yo
are furnishing a concrete exemplif
cation of the Characterization abov
referred to. The appointee whom
shall designate as lawyer No. 2 haT
pened to be too broad-gauged a ma
to accept any appointment in a dt
partment whose head had been ignol
ed. Appointee lawyer No. 8. Prof.
4 l. II