Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-06-30
Miseellansuus 8saaina.
THE SCHOOL BOOK ADOPTION.
Governor BIease Makes Some More
Remarks on the Subject.

SONCFHOF oI6dS0 mdkcS SONn6 mOTO
Remarks on the Subject.
Governor Blease, says a dispatch
to the Greenville News, on Tuesday
afternoon gave out a statement on
the text book adoption matter as fol-
lows in reply to a statement from
the state superintendent of educa-
tion, Mr.. ]. f. Swearingen, publish
eh Monday:
II have seen Superintendent Swear
ingen's statement.
IL have no comment to make. He
Is entitled to his opinion, and have
the highest regard for him; and, II
he Is a candidate for reelection, he
has my best wishes for his success;
for / think he Is conscientious and
trying to do what he believes to be
right. However. after a most care
full and thorough investigation. I am
satisfied that the seven gentlemen
who represented the state by ap-
pointment on this board (and who
are appointed by my predecessor)
are equally as conscientious and as
honorable gentlemen, and did what
they believed was for the best inter-
est of the children of South Carroll
ma.
81 considered the changing Of this
board. Certain newspapers were
very loud in their denunciation Of me
In contemplation Of such action and
spoke in the very highest and laud-
able terms of these gentlemen and
1t appeared from their rawlings that
had I removed these gentlemen l
would have been subjected to the
most severe censure.
}"Now, that the adoption is over.
some of these same papers are criti-
cising these gentlemen. II they can
make their position consistent, after
publishing these contradictory state
ments, all right, for il will only be
in keeping with the easing Of their
conscience for their other falsehoods
and vituperation in which they have
engaged.
"On the morning Of the beginning
Of the book adoption, I was called
away from Columbia, and, therefore.
was not present at the adoption OF
the books on the morning Of the first
day. Neither was l present when the
vote was taken on the question rails
ed by Superintendent Swearingen,
that each man record his vote on
each book. II l had been present l
would have voted for Mr.. Swearin-
gems plan; and, If any one Is inter-
ested enough to know, i Will be de-
lighted to state how / voted on each
book that was adopted during my
presence. think my record in the
house Of representatives, and in the
state senate and In the governors Of
fee will justify me In saying that
have always been free and open In
every act that / have ever committed
and 1 have no apologies to make to
any man or set Of men. / recognize
no boss" but the people, and when
I go before them. to them alone Will
/ give an account.
'I refused on several occasions to
see book men. Notably In this class
were the agents Of the American
Book company. and I have been in
formed that Mr.. Fair, one of their
representatives, was rather severe In
his criticism Of my not allowing him
to see me and discuss his books with
him. When book men called, ] de-
clined to see them-stating to some
to see Mr.. Swearingen; that he was
state superintendent Of education,
and that the people had elected him
to perform that duty and not me. AS
to CHM & Co., guess Mr.. Walker
will hardly say that / had any favors
for them. The only agents with
whom l did have any conversation
of oat "a
book, except Prof. White.
"As have said before, my fight
was for southern books, and we
adopted Whit's. Thompson's, XII
nard's. Wallace's, Simms' and other
South Carolina authors. AS to the
Wheeler readers, while / was not
present when they were adopted,
they are by a Kentuckian and many
of the other books adopted were by
southern authors: and In my opinion
our people would rather pay a little
more and have their children taught
the truth in southern books than to
pay less and be taught books by
Yankee authors, and taught to be-
lieve that their grandfathers and
their great-grandfathers, were trail
tors to their state.
IT regret that Superintendent
does.
"As for my part Of it. ignorant as
I was as to the needs of the children,
I did the best l could. AS for the
balance refer the people to Pro-
fessor O'Driscoll. Mr.. Rice, Profess
sOr Daniels. Professor Rembert,
Professor Toms. Professor Thacks-
ton and Senator Glenn. II this Is
Please board. or II these gentlemen
were controlled by me. or If they are
corrupt then lay all the blame on my
shoulders. and 7 will gladly carry 1t
until the nennle of South Carolina