The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1913-03-13

more 1OrD0nate members OI LulS
Senate. For, try as ! may,I am un-
able to persuade myself to believe
that their intellectual insight is right
and that my judgment is wrong upon
this pending question.
have exercised every power and
faculty of mind in analyzing, in
studying and in sitting this bill in
order to ascertain its true value, and
to arrive at a positive and conclusive
decision. 1t is my opinion that the
bill is the most important measure,
save one, which has been brought
before this session of the General
Assembly. l mean to say that the
provisions of this bill are fraught
with possibilities and probable con-
sequences of evil not dreamed of by
its author or suspected of by its adj
vocates. In fact, were we to strip
the bill of all its defects and leave
embodied in it all that is of value, it
would even then be but the shadow
of promise.
fear that this legislative body
has mistaken a sentiment of public
expression and is thoughtlessly en-
acting into law an instrument which
is directly and absolutely in discord
with the true principles of educa-
tional uplift and progress.
l shall not discuss the provisions
of the bill in detail, for those Of US
who have already caught the glimpse
of its disguise need only to be again
reminded of its dangers. The men,
bers of this Senate who have failed
to recognize its signal marks of dis
cord and who, on their part, have
turned from the responsibility of re-
search, should remember their duty
to their constituents and in casting
their votes should give the benefit of
any doubt to an unsuspecting peo-
pie. To this point and to others
shall direct your attention and pass
on.
In moments of silent thought |
have wondered if this bill is the re-
suit of study and deep deliberation
on the part of its author, or if it be
the result of an inspiration from his
burning soul in his earnest desire to
lift the shame of illiteracy from the
records of our State-or if, perhaps,
after all, it be but the echo of Su-
perintendents' convention or the
night-gown ghost of a summer school
resolution. have failed to trace the
responsibility of this incomplete and
immature measure to the doorstep
of the distinguished Senator from
Darlington, although the abortion
bears his proud name. l cannot help
but believe that in some way the
words introduced by request" have
been omitted. / teel absolutely sure
that the true power behind this
proposition is lodged in some retreat
of bachelordom, and that the meas
ure has gained its present proper
tons by the assistance of men whose
souls have not yet been touched and
softened by the strong, indestruct-
ible ties that bind children to their
parents. Ihave noticed, also, that
the advocates of this bill who have
talked longest and loudest in favor
of it's passage are men who are now
far beyond the reach of the dangers
of it's provisions. To these men /
now appeal. Let US not enact into
law this bill of discord. Though
muzzled with a democratic idea of
local option, it will, if passed, cause
more dissension and strife and be
greater menace to our people than
were we to multiply blind tigers"
and set them free in the land. Be
not deceived-the blanket of local
option in which the bill has been
tucked will gradually shrink until it
smothers, stiles and kills the splen-