The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-25

of our public schools to the highest
point of efficiency. / believe the time
has come when agriculture should be
taught in the high schools together
with industrial training. While the
boy is at home in touch with nature
is a good time to be taught at least
the elementary principles of the great
science Of agriculture, thus implant-
ing at an early age such love Of this
greatest of vocations which would
make him return after finishing
college, II so fortunate as to pursue
his course to the end, and hence
Time does not suffice now, but / pro-
pose later on to develop this idea to
greater extent, and / trust that l
may be able to offer to the people
some valuable suggestions along this
line.
Good Roads.
Another great educating influence
Is that Of good roads. The Roman
Empire showed it's wisdonm and fore
sight in building everywhere magnif-
cent highways which throughout a
lapse Of centuries have stood the
wear and tear Of time. In this day
of rapid transit the people are ready
to demand it. The labor saved. the
time saved, the increased pleasure in
travelling. and opportunity it offers
of bringing together in business and
social relations people who live at
distance, indeed makes good roads
not the least factors in the education
al as we'll as the material deevlop-
ment of a country.
Taxation.
Every recognized form of govern
ment must be supported by some
method of taxation. This tax should
never be burdensome / favor at all
times an economical administration
of public affairs. 1 do not see at this
time where any radical change in
our system of levying and collecting
taxes can be made. There is, how
ever. lack of equality. People own
ing sometimes the very same class
of land in the very same neighbor-
hood are assessed differently. Carry
ing this further, one county in the
State, according to assessment, does
not bear the same proportion of the
expense of government as another
county. This inequality should be re-
moved. The controlling principle Of
taxation is equality upon all the
people, and / am in favor Of equaliz-
ing the burden of taxes as herein
before suggested. The people who
now pay taxes in my opinion pay
enough. There is no use, and 1
have no desire to place additional
burdens upon them, but there are a
class of people who avoid taxes, COM
monty known as tax dodgers" These
should be brought into the fold and
made to bear their just part Of the
burden.
Liquor Question.
1t Is unfortunate that this question
seems still to be an issue. 1 do not
propose to go into a great extensive
argument about 1t. My own posi-
ton Is the result Of conscientious
views. 1 am in favor Of local option
"re Democratic right Of each county
to decide whether it shall have legal
lied sale Of liquor or whether 1t shall
have prohibition. believe the ex-
perience. not only Of this State, but
of others. justifes the statement that
prohibition can only be a success
where there Is sentiment behind it.
A sentiment which expresses itself at
the ballot box and must maintain
itself after liquor has been voted out.
Without this sentiment it will be a
failure. To abandon local option. un-
der which We are now working. and
go to Statewide prohibition. would