The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-25
that l am free from a failure along
Education.

On educational matters 1 am in
hearty accord with the well-defined
policy of the State. l believe in edu-
cation to the fullest extent Good
citizenship demands it, and must
have it. The State is absolutely de-
pendent upon the quality of it's cti-
zenship for good government; and
the quality required cannot be had
without education.
Especially am l in favor of per-
fecting the public school system, the
school where at least three fourths of
our children will get all they will
ever have of education.
And l am most heartily in accord
with the High School idea. Our Col.
leges are, to a great extent doing
High School work. They could short
en- the college term and do better
work If the students entered better
prepared. Especially are High Schools
needed in rural districts, for there
they would put High School education
in reach Of children of parents of
modern means-parents who cannot
afford to send to college.
Our young people must not only
be developed along mental and NOR
al lines, but along physical as well.
They must have sound bodies.
This idea has never received the at
tention that it should in our COM
mon school system.
Improperly constructed buildings,
want of proper attention to the laws
or sanitation and hygiene and the
failure to provide a system Of medi-
cal inspection have brought about a
condition Of affairs extremely detri-
mental to our young people along
physical lines. I arm most heartily
In favor of a system of medical in
spection in our common schools, to
the end that the above evil may, to
a large extent, be overcome. Our
people, and especially our young peo-
ple' need education along these lines.
The power of our Board Of Health
should be enlarged and our people
should receive the very best instruct
ion possible looking to the preserva-
ton and building-up of physical
health.
In connection with schools and es-
pecially the rural schools, the pres
ent tendency towards industrial train
ing should be encouraged and assist
ed. Good citizenship must in large
measures rest on the ability of the
people to utilize efficiently and econ
omically their natural resources. Our
principal resource being land and the
destiny Of the State being agricul-
tural, the farmer boy and girl should
be taught to make the most Of the
farm, so that it shall be a desirable
home and that farming shall be
irritable calling. Town schools as
we'll should have industrial training,
but I emphasize it as to the rural
schools because in thinly peopled
districts the stimulation Of school
growth is harder problem. Training
the hands Of the boys and girls to
do necessary things with skill in
parallel lines with their moral and
mental training, is the shortest and
easiest way to make good, happy and
Independent men and women.
Taxation.
The question Of taxation has ALWAYS
Deen a troublesome one for govern
ments to deal with. No system that
is dependent upon finite men for it's
enforcement can ever be perfect. or
perfectly enforced. The chief trouble
with all systems is the difficulty that
exists with reference to equalization.
So long as every citizen pays upon the
same basis Of valuation no injury is
done. But to secure this equalization
mas been the trouble ever since gov
ernment was organized. The man
who can solve this question will solve
the most difficult one connected with
governmental affairs.
There is one thing with reference
to taxation, however, upon which all
l.