The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-01-14

say that you were taken by surprise.
As between the State colleges and the
country schools, if an issue of that
kiad is made, | propose to make the
fight for the country schools. If both
are taken care of, very we'll and good;
but if the colleges are taken care OF
and the country schools are not, then
| propose to bring the matter to test,
and see who are the friends of the
country schools in your general assem-
bly,, and let your constituents know
those Of you who are willing to give
their taxes for eXtrayagaEt buildings
for your State colleges, and not will
ling to give money for decent and res
pectable schoolhou5es for your coun-
try schools | hope the test VIII not
come; that ali will be pleasant, and
that the friends of the higher instl-
tutions and the friends Of the common
schools will be satisfied but if it does
come, let it be understood that stand
squarely with the country boys and
girls for better schoolhouses, better
salaries for their teachers, so that we
may have and keep the best, and more
teachers.
l, therefore, recommend that you
levy one-mill tax on all personal pro-
perty AID real estate, for the free pub
lie schools; said money to be used
and expended under the direction OF
the State Board Of Education for said
schools, in such manner as, in their
judgment, will be most beneficial to
the children of the State.
Give me this, gentlemen, and show
to the people that We want better
schools. You talk about compulsory
education-a child to go to school
eight weeks or four months, when you
have schools in your State that do
not run eight weeks. How are you
going to compel a child to go to school
when you do not give it a school to 60
tG? 1t is as if you would pass law
that everybody shall eat cake On Sun
day: what is the poor man that hasn't
ANY cake, and can't buy cake, going
to do? If you are going to force him
to eat it, then you must furnish it
If YOU are going to force child to &C
to school, then you must furnish the
school. And possibly it may not be
amiss for me to say right here that
will, with pleasure, veto any com
pulsory education law that you pass
for reasons which l have stated sc
often that | would feel l was impos-
] ing upon your good nature and tres
passing upon your time to incorpo
rate them in this message.
There is another matter to which
would call your attention in this con-
nection, and that is the greatly dis
proportionate salaries paid your pro
fe:sors in your higher institutions O.
learning and your teachers in YOU
common schools The professors II
your State colleges working .:gyl
your State colleges, working ten o.
twelve hours per week-some ever
less-are receiving large, and, in SOM
instances, extravagant salaries, II
addition to furnished houses, free
lights and other conveniences, while
the teachers in the country schools art
receiving mere niggardly pittances
working ten to twelve hours a day
walking to and from school in th'
rain and mud, and using pine knots
for a fire to keep warm in the winter
and to read and study by. Gentlemen
do you consider this fair to the coun
try schools? Some of these profes
sors in the State colleges, at least
are no better educated and no NOR
fitted for their positions than some o
these country school teachers woult
be for the same positions; and man!
of these country school teacher
would grace any chair in any of ou
colleges. The disproportion is to-
great; it is unfair and it is unjust.
Some Comparisons.
By reference to the twenty-thlr'
annual report Of the Board of Trus-
tees, you will see that Clemson Col
lege has spent $319,7O3.14 turing tn
past year; the South Carolina Univer
sity is asking this year for $21S,4S4,22
the Citadel is asking for $4,000; Win