The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-07-05
SATISFIED WITH BOARDS ACTION
Governor BlcaSC'S Statement on
Changes i'm school Books.

ment in connection with the text
book contract matter.
Governor Blease said:
Il have seen superintendent Swear
ingen's statement. l have no COM
ment To make. He is entitled to his
opinion. and | have the highest re-
gard for him, and, if he is a candi-
date for reelection, he has my best
wishes for his success, for | think he
is conscientious and trying to do
what nc believes is right. How
ever, after a most careful md
thorough investigation, | am satisfied
that the seven gentlemen who repre-
scnted the State ny appointment on
this board, (and who We're appointed
by my predecessor are equally as
conscientious and as honorable gen
tlemen, and did what they believed
was for the best interest Of the chill
dren Of South Carolina.
- 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, ard it
appeared from their rawlings that if l
removed + Sc gentlemen ! would
have been subjected to the most Sc
we're censure.
Now, that the adoption is over,
some of these same papers are criti-
cising these gentlemen, If they can
make their position consistent after
publishing these contradictory state
ments, all right, for 1t will only be in
keeping with the easing Of their con-
science for their other falsehoods and
vituperation in which they have en-
gagged.
"On the morning of the beginning
of the book adoption. was called
away from Columbia and, therefore,
books on the morning Of the first
day. Neither was I present when the
vote was taken on the question raised
by superintendent Swearingen-that
each man record his vote on each
book. If I had been present l would
have voted for Mr.. Swearingen's plan;
and. if any one is interested enough
to know, / will be delighted to state
how l voted on each book that was
adopted during my presence. l think
my record in the House of Represent
atives and in the State Senate and in
the Governors Office will justify me
in saying that / have always been
free and open in every act that | have
ever committed, and l have no apol-
ogies to make to any man or set OF
men. / recognize no boss but the
people, and, when l go before them to
them alone will I give an account.
Il refused on several occasions to
see book men. Notably in this class
were the agents of the American Book
Company, and l have been informed
that Mr.. Fair, one Of their representa-
tives, was rather severe in his criti-
cism of my not allowing him to see
me and discuss his books with him.
When book men called, l declined to
see them-stating to some to see Mr..
Swearingen, that he was state Super
intendent Of Education, and that tie
people had elected him to perform
that duty and not me. AS to CHM AMI
Co., l guess Mr.. Walker will hardly
say that l had any favors for them.
The only agents with whom | did
have any conversation Of consequence.
did not get even a book, except Prof.
White.
"As ! have said before, my fight
was for Southern books, and we ad-
opted Whites, Thompson's. Kinard's.
Wallace's, Sims, and other sonth
Carolina authors. AS to the Wheeler
reader. while | was not present when
they were adopted they are hv a
kentuckian and many Of the other
books adopted were by Southern gu.
thors; and in my opinion, our peoole
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 au-
thors, and taught to believe that their
grand fathers, and their great-grand-
fathers were traitors to their State.
regret that superintendent
Swearingen looks at the matter as he
does.
AS for my part of it, ignorant as
was as to the needs Of the chill
dren, | did the best | could. AS for