The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1911-09-06
TRUSTEES ORGANIZE
Meeting I'm Court House
Monday Effected Larg-
est Organization I'm
the State.

The Lexington County Trustees as
sociation was formed on Monday,
when more than halt of the four hun
dred trustees of the 85 districts of the
county met in the court house. The
meeting was called to order by Prof.
G. E. Wessinger, who was the Chief
promoter in bringing the trustees to.
gether. Mr.. Wessinger expressed his
qualification at seeing so many of the
men who govern the educational sys.
tenn of the county present, and urged
greater cooperation, greater effort
and more enthusiasm.
The first speaker was County Super.
intendent of Education A. D. Martin.
Mr.. Martin briefly outlined the prog
ress that had been made IN the county
during the past year, and told Of the
needs of our educational system. MI.
Martin did not speak long, giving his
time to those who were to follow.
Prof. w. II. Hand, head of the high
school department Of the state, in an
able and concise address, showed just
what the people of the rural districts
as well as those in the towns and ci.
ties are doing toward advancing the
cause of education. he urged the .em.
ployment of better teachers, better
pay for teachers, more local taxation
for the lengthening Of the school term
and better pay for the county superin:
tendent of education. He Impressed
upon the trustees the Importance OF
their positions, and the arduous du,
ties they had to perform. Prof. Hand
made one of the strongest appeals ever
heard by Lexington audience. Prof,
Hand is man of pleasing and charm
ing personality, a fluent speaker, and
was mostly heartily applauded.
Prof. w. Z. Tate, supervisor OF ru-
raj schools, held the attention of the
audience for more than an hour. His
was a splendid effort, the suggestions
made to the trustees being well re-
ceived. He advocated q change in the
selection Of school tldsJees. He sug:
gested that, at the end of eacn schooi
year. the patrons Of the schools meet
and nominate q man for the position,
who shall be appointed by the county
bourd OF; education. This, he said,
would keep the trustee matter out OF
polities to large degree and, at the
sam3 time, would keep members OF
the old board in service. Trustees are
now appointed every two years.
Prof. Tate favored local option when
it comes to the matter of compulsory
education, although, he said, the time
was near when the adoption of a state
wide com pulsory law sh, uld be made.
At the conclusion Of Prof. Tate's ad-
dress, the election of fteml orary officers
Was entered into. R. G. Able, of Stee d.
man, was elected president and Prof.
D. A. .Quatt tlebaum, of Leesville, sec
retary.
Charlie B. Kneece, of Baxter, was
elected permanent president by acla-
nation upon motion of w. H. Sharpe; !;
l.. B. Frick, of the Fork, vice presi-
dent, and D. A Qdattlebaum, of Lees
vile, secretary.
According to Prof TATE, Lexington
now has the largest trustees organiza-
ton of any county in the state.
To Prot. 9. E. Wessinger the credit
is due for the success of the meeting;
and it is hoped that the organization
will prove strong power 10 the furth-
er development of our educational sys-
tenn.