The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-07-26
he OPPOSES IT
Gov. Blease Not in Favor OF Con7eft,g
Righ School Boys lato
MILITARY COMPANIES

Are Better Off Without the Train.
ing They Should Get if Such g
Law Was Passed and Put in
Force.
Governor Blease does not by any
means agree with Adjutant General
Moore, in the latter's opinion that it
would be good thing for this State
to adopt the California plan of organ
izing high school students into mill
tary companies of 40 men each and
drilling them with Krag-JoTsenson RI
fies. Adjutant Central Moore told re-
porters the other day that he heart
iIy approved" the suggestion OF Mr.
Robert Shaw Oliver, acting assistant
secretary of war, that other States
adopt the California system.
In transmitting Mr.. divers letter,
Adjutant General Moore wrote to
Governor Blease in part as follows:
81 heartily concur in the suggestions
offered and also approve of most OF
the sections incorporated in this
California; act, but I feel satisfied
that in order to have a similar act
passed by the legislature of this State
It will be necessary for the war de-
partment to provide at least the arms
and equipment necessary without cost
to this State, together with the as
signment of an officer from the regu-
lar army or from the retired list
for instruction and supervision OF
such schools as may come under the
provisions of this act.
Governor Blease addressed to Mr.
Oliver Thursday a letter in which he
presents in plain terms his views,
which differ radically from those OF
Adiutant General Moore.
The governors letter follows:
Hon. Robert Shaw Oliver,
Acting Secretary of War and Pres
fdent Of Board for Promotion OF
Rifle Practice, Washington, D. c..
Sir:-Your letter Of July 18th,
transmitted to me July 18th, by Adj
Gen. W. W. Moore, received. In
reply I beg leave to say that can
not CONCUR with the adjutant general
OF my State in approving your bill.
In the first place I do not believe
this Country is in danger of any ser
ious war, now or hereafter, as I think
arbitration is more humane than
war and that by peace conference DIFF
terences between countries Will be
settled without bloodshed.
do not believe in educating eT-
cry boy that he has to shoot some
body. They have enough Of that in
them already. furthermore, OUT State
has not the money to make the ap,
prtation necessary to carry out this
bill.
However, my most serious obJec-
ton to your bill is that I am unal-
terably oppostd to arming negro
school children with rifles and anu
milton. Our state has trouble enough
with federal bayonets in the hands
OF negroes and their allies. 1t was
only a few years ago that our ad1u-
tant general disbanded all the negro
companies of the State militia, for
which he had my most hearty approx
al.
The white schools of our State,
under the provisions of your bill, re-
curing forty or more students, four
teen years Of age or over, would be
at a disadvantage. because in the
white schools there are sometimes
mot as many as forty students, and
they generally cease to go about the
age of ninetee n,while in the negro
schools there are nearly always forty
and they range in age from hve 70
thirty. Consequently, in my opinion
the bill you propose would be dis
advantageous to the people OF my
State. Therefore cannot recon-
mend the passage of such bill.
and if passed would be compelled
to veto it.
Very respectfully,