The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-09-11
LET US HAVE RURAL POLICE !
AND FARM VILLAGES, \
BY Bishop Warren A. Gambler in i
Atlanta Journal. 4

's1s&s & 1t is OF the utmost Importance that
encourage her people to live
San the country and cultivate their
SaHfprms. When the drift cityward is
ssSssttrong all the interests of the State,
sSsffom highest to lowest, suffer.
SsSf S,S MI Material interests suffer, for when
S$the tides Of population set toward
IStkhe town the tendency is to draw
SSSSAway ~ from the farms the most intel
23ssllgent classes and leave in the rural
&SsNstricts the least capable people who
,sstay behind because they cannot get
S$Away. This damages the very soil
Nand dcteriorates agriculture
s But higher things than soils and
SSSrops suffer. The country school is
damaged. The number Of pupils be-
$$SSing reduced, the reward Of the
8teacher is proportionatcly diminish
SSsd, and the best teachers cannot
Sabe had.
MI The country church also suffers.
3And that means the ministry is de-
ISpleted; for city churches produce few
33$preachcrs, and when the churches of
8the rural districts are not prosper
Sous religion suffers in both town and
5Scountry. Whatever may or may not
s5be true Of other countries, it is q
&fact in the United States that the
Sgrural churches are the strongholds
@of Christianity
8i For these and other reasons it is
to encourage the people to
8llvc in the country, and it is II
4 good omen for the future that condi-
tions in the rural regions Of the
South have greatly improved during
the last ten years. While the move
mcnt cityward has not been wholly
arrested. it is not nearly so strong
as it was some years ago.
Rural schools have improved, and
arc still improving.
Rural free delivery Of mails has
also dono much for the Improvement
Of country life. Papers and books
arc circulated as never before. The
schools tend TO create il thirst for
reading, and rural free delivery does
much to satisfy that thirst. The
country people read more and know
more than ever before in the history
OF our Southern section. The politi-
clans will do well to note this fact.
Foolmg the people is mach more
difficult thing than formerly, and
every year il will become more diff
cult.
The long-distance telephone also is
penetrating the country. While T
was at camp-meeting some weeks
ago I heard an intelligent and pros
porous young farmer telephoning
from his tent to his county town.
That meant much Tie is in touch
with the great outside world without
having to live in it. He is in speak,
ing distance with it, and yet escapes
much Of its contaminating influence.
But there is one more thing needed
to make rural life in Georgia and the
South inviting. Rural police for the
safety OF the women and children is
needed. 1t would cost something to
provide such protection, but it would
be worth far more than it would cost.
If men felt that their families would
be absolutely safe while they were
away from their homes toiling in the
fields, many would engage in agricul-
ture who do not now seek that noble
vocation.
In both Cuba and Mexico rural
guards are scattered throughout the
rural districts, and, despite their
faults, they are great safeguard to
homes Of the country people.
Two OF three mounted officers in
each militia district would be an un-
speakable comfort to our country
people. The very fact that there
were such officers about would pre-
vent much disorder. They would
forestall far more crime than they
would be called on to punish. Wei
Gus tramps and brutal negroes would
be held in wholesome fear. Illicit sale
Of intoxicants would be rendered too
unsafe to be profitable, and that
hateful menace to the safety Of wo-
men and children in the country
would be cffcctually put away. Now
one Of the most diabolical results Of
liquor selling falls on the people in