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
At .lta Journal.

It is Of the utmost Importance that
Georgia encourage her people to live
in the country and cultivate their
farms. When the drift cityward is
strong all the interests Of the State,
from highest to lowest, suffer.
Material interests suffer, for when
the tides Of population set toward
the town the tendency is to draw
away from the farms the most intel
ligent classes and leave in the rural
districts the least capable people who
stay behind because they cannot get
away. This damages the very soil
and deteriorates agriculture.
But higher things than soils and
crops suffer. The country school is
damaged. The number Of pupils be-
ing reduced, the reward of the
teacher is proportionately diminish
ed, and the best teachers cannot
be had.
The country church also suffers.
And that means the ministry is de-
pleted; for city churches produce few
preachers, and when the churches of
the rural districts are not prosper
Gus religion suffers in both town and
country. Whatever may or may not
be true Of other countries, it is a
fact in the United States that the
rural churches are the strongholds
of Christianity.
For these and other reasons it is
important to encourage the people to
live in the country, and it is
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
ment cityward has not been wholly
arrested, it is not nearly so strong
as it was some years ago.
Rural schools have improved, and
are still improving.
Rural free delivery Of mails has
also done much for the Improvement
Of country life. Papers and books
are circulated as never before. The
schools tend to create 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 we'll to note this fact.
Fooling the people is much more
difficult thing than formerly, and
every year it will become more diff
cult.
The long-distance telephone also is
penetrating the country. While |
was at a camp-meeting some weeks
ago heard an intelligent and pros
porous young farmer telephoning
from his tent to his county town.
That meant much. He 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 it's eontaminating 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. It 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 a great safeguard to
homes Of the country people.
Two or 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. Vici-
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 efectually put away. Now
one of the most diabolical results OF