The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-01-18
GOV. ANSEL'S ADDRESS.
Addressed the General Assembly Up
on Number of Ques-
tiOns.

anu MY Il CllOW S1t1hCllo'
In obedience to the will Of the peo-
pie of this state, as expressed at the
ballot box, I am here today to take
the solemn oath Sf office as governor
of South Carolina, and to assume the
duties of this high and responsible
position.
I am deeply grateful to the people
for this manifestation Of their con-
fidcncc, and, when survey the vast
responsibilities and duties connected
with the same, realize deeply my in
ability to fully meet them. Feeling,
however, that I shall have your full
cooperation and support, and relying
upon your help at all times, [ assume
these duties and responsibilities,
promising to give to them my best
Judgment and talents, and all the
powers with which the great God has
endowed me.
And, gentlemen of the general as
scmbly, while the responsibilities as
sumcd by me arc great, yet the same
will Of the people has called you to
the performance Of duties equally i'm
portant. TO my mind, there is no
greater honor that can be bestowed
upon a citizen than that Of being n
law maker.
1t has been wisely provided in our
constitution that the government shall
be divided into three departments:
legislative, executive and judicial. To
you is committed the sacred power Of
making the laws under which all the
people shall live and by which they
shall be governed. How great then
is your function and how careful
should you be in cnacting wise laws,
beneficial alike TO all our citizens.
Our industrial development has been
commensurate with the progress sof the
age and our educational interests have
not Jagged behind, yet there are great
things to be done and great response
bilities to be met in the various duties
that we owe to our state. Let us
all, therefore, with courage and con-
fidcnce, be true to our oaths of Of
flee and strive for all those things
that will elevate and educate our cit
izenship and give that peace and pros
pcrity to our people that they are
entitled TO at our hands.
The annual message Of Gov. Hey
ward, made to you at this session of
the legislature, gives you full infor-
nation Of the condition Of our public
affairs and | desire to congratulate
him and the state on the great meas
ure Of prosperity that has come to the
state durin" his wise administration.
! feel it my duty at this time and in
this presence /" call your attention
to certain legislation which | think
nccdtul to be enacted at the present
session Of the legislature.
IT was my privilege, during the past
summer, when maxim" The campaign
FOR the honorable office which | this
day assume. to discuss before the
people certain measures TO which |
now desire to call your attention.
Education.
Our state constitution requires that
we shall "provide a liberal system OF
free public schools for all children be-
tween the ages Of six and twenty
onc.' When we consider the great
power and Influence of an educated
people and that the strength and pros
pcrity Of state depend ultimately
upon the intelligence Of the average
citizen, We can realize the mind Of the
farmers of this organic law. 1t, there
fore, hrhoovcS MS to enact such laws
as will fully carry out this wise pro-
vision of the state constitution.
The state institutions Of higher
learning are we'll equipped and arc do
ING great work in the education of
many Of our girls and boys. but these
fortunate ones are but Il mcagrc 10
per cent. Of those within the school
age: The other 80 per cent. are wholly
dependent upon the common 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 arc
receiving from them all the school adj
vantages that they will ever get, arc