The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-12-23
inns SAYS HE IS
FOR LOCAL OPTION
ELL Man, CANDIDATE FOR
s.SOYERNOR, MAKES STATEMENT
Says He is Opposed to Compulsory
Education-Speaks of Primary
Regulation.

Columbia, December 18.-Charles
Ca rol Simms, of Barnwell, a candi-
date for governor and close poll
ticai friend of Governor Cole.
L. BIease, favors local option and
opposes compulsory education, accord
ing to a statement which ne issued to-
day. Mr.. Simms has been in the city
on business and while here expressed
himself on several issues in response
to requests from newspaper men.
Mr.. Simms is generally regar ded as
the candidate Of the Blease faction for
governor and his views on primary
reform are of unusual interest. He
faYors letting every white man vote
and opposes educational or property
qualifications being required for the
primary. He favors regulation of the
primary along proper lines and op-
poses fraud, repeating or illegal vot-
ing.
Mr.. Simms's position on these mat
tiers is outlined in the following state
ment from him:
Mr. SimmSs Statement.
81 am sorry to notice in the papers
that an effort will be made by the
legislature to pass Statewide pro-
hfbition at its coming session, and that
the fight for compulsory education will
also be renewed.
'eI had hoped that the State would
.sbe free from the continual discussion
Sof these two questions. The liquor
question seems to be better settled by
each county under the local option
provisions of the present law and l
am of the opinion that the more a
county is permitted to exercise doml-
nion over it's own affairs, without in
reference on the part Of the State,
the welfare and happiness of the peo-
pie will be increased. There is too
muscn of a disposition on the part OF
the State to Capitalization and to ex-
ercise exclusive jurisdiction over the
rights and liberties of the people OF
: The several counties.
The same disposition exists in Ma
,xional government with reference to
the rights of the States, and however
much a man may feel towards the old
doctrine of State rights, it appears as
soon as he becomes congressman Or
limited States senator, or otherwise
becomes an integral part of the fed
eral government that he forgets prin-
ciples of States rights and gladly uses
his influence in favor Of grasp of
the federal government upon all State
matters. 1 am just as much opposed
to this Capitalization in the State gov
ernment as against the individual
rights of each county as 1 an in Ma
tional government in an aggression
upon the rights and sovereignty of the
States.
eft would be better, therefore, in my
opinion, to let each county be permit
ted to regulate the liquor traffic as
the majority of the people of the coun-
ty may see fit, and the present local
option law is the best solution now in
sight.
'I am opposed to compulsory educa-
ton. If the State can take charge of
the child for the child's good it can
also assume charge Of the child for the
ehild's evil, an0if the State is to su-
pervene between the parent and the
child, that the child might be
educated as the State might
determine, then some regulation
would be compelled to be had for the
support of the child whilst under the
control of the State. The responsible
ty between the parent and the child
is one cast upon the parent by the
Lord, and no parent should be per
mitted to cast off the responsibility
and place the same upon the State. If
the compulsory education law should
prevail, then under present education
al conditions the negroes would come
under the same provisions as the
whites, with the result of exceeding
ly high education, but an aggravation
of the labor problem and an end of
agricultural pursuits. If it is true
that the negro is being educated in
larger numbers than the whites under
the present law, it is hard to conceive
how the compulsory education would
relieve the situation. If it be admit
ted that both races would be equally
educated, a condition would arise in
South Carolina, of two races, abso-
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