The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-03-04
The Strenuous Fight on
the One=ZNU School Tax
Governor Vetoed Measure Saying did not Give the Re-
lief for the Needy Schools for Which He had
Been Fighting-Veto Overrid-
den by Both Houses.

levy for the free public schools, in
order to help the little country chill
dren and the little factory children
of South Carolina.
Gentlemen, read this bill; delibe-
rate over it: think about it, and, af-
ter You have finished, if there is
man in the general assembly who
calls himself statesman, who had
any part whatever in bringing about
this abortion, and still regards it as
a measure which will be of benefit to
the free public schools and to the lit
tie country and factory boys and girls,
let him present himself at my Office,
for l would like to look upon him and
would like to reward him.
q pleaded with you, gentlemen,
asking for this one-mill tax-not for
myself, for l have no children, and il
had, would, thank God, be able to
educate them without depending on
free public school or State levy-but
| did it for the mothers, who are
praying, for the fathers who are hop
ing for the welfare of their children,
and for the future of the State After
the Mitchell bill, as it was termed,
passed the house, l had a conference
with the State superintendent of edu-
cation, and agreed upon a compro-
mise, which I felt would still carry
out what l was urging for the relief
of the needy schools This was Of
fered in the senate as an amendment
the amendment which might be
termed the Appelt amendment, COM
ing from the finance committee, and
| felt surely there would be no fur
ther trouble il having the demands Of
justice met. But, gentlemen, you have
turned deaf ear. But you have not
turned a deaf ear to your higher insti-
! tutions of learning. Fer them you
! have made extraVagant a approrria-
lions, and for them you have lavish
ed money for useless purposes.
III the game Of politics is to be
played at the expense of the educa-
tion of the little children of this State,
God save the State Yea more, if
70 keep them in ignorance in order
to keep from giving credit to one who
is trying to help them is theEpnrpose
of some would-be statesmen, then
God grant that the people may rise in
their might in their next election and
smite such statesmen hip and thigh;
for if this be your idea of helping
the pooor little country children and
the little factory children to get an
education, then | would ask you, when
You go home, TO call your own little
children around you, and In 'our pray
ers, as you lay them in their little
beds, to ask God that other people
may do by your children as you have
attempted to do by the little ones Of
other people, who are not able to eau-
cate ,.eir little ones, and are looking
to their State for help. And when
you shall have done this, and lay your
heads upon your pillows I hope that
your sleep may not be disturbed by
any vision of the dark cloud of ignor-
ance lowering over your own little
ones, as you are permitting this cloud
to remain and to darken over the little
ones of others who are helpless. Cen
tlemen, | have done what l could
could do no more.
Very respectfully,
Cole L. Blease,
Governor