The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-08-08

cuss marketing problems.
Opening the conference, w. X
Tate said:
"At the beginning of this confer
ence it falls to my lot as president to
state briefly the purpose which has
brought us together. Last April per-
haps so men and women from South
Carolina attended the Conference for
Education in the South, which con-
vened at Richmond. Those who at
tended this conference enjoyed the
unusual experience of working with
other men and women from every
profession and every walk of life in
an effort 10 arrive at an underst nd
ing of the fundamental problems in
volved in the life of the South and
endeavoring to formulate a plan for
the solution of these problems. The
lawyer, the banker, the farmer, the
manufacturer, the editor, the teach
er, the merchant, and the states
man, each with an unselfish motive,
having only in mind a possible con-
trlbution 10 the welfare of his fellow
man, were all working together for
the common good. Perhaps each
visitor at this conference brought
home with him desire for a similar
convention South Carolina, in
which he could all forget the trifies
which have divided our state, pro-
ducing discord and confusion, and in
which we could consider calmly and
unselfeshly the great fundamental
principles and policies upon which
we can agree. Almost spontaneous
ly the call was made for the prelimi-
nary meeting on June 10, which has
resulted in the conference assembled
today. The purpose of this confer
ence is to give the best impulses and
the most mature thought of South
Carolinians an opportunity and a
medium of expression.
DISCORD AND HARMONY.
"a few years ago it was my pleas
ure to hear a great concert in the
hall in which we are now assembled.
l had arrived early and, having oc-
casion to go behind the scenes on the
stage, my ears were met by an intol-
cradle din. The musicians, each with
music stand before him and utterly
obvious of his neighbors, were re
hearshing difficult parts of the score
for the evening. The soprano in one
wing was practicing parts of a diff
cult solo. Although these musicians
were artists of high rank, the result
OF these individual rehearsals was
anything but music. A quartet of an
hour later, with the same instru-
ments, they were in their places on
the stage and, under the skilfull
leadership of the director, were pro-
ducing glorious harmony.
During the past three years it
has len my good fortune to become
acquainted with men and women of
every walk Of life in every section
OF South Carolina. l have talked
and worked with the lawyer, the
merchant, the farmer, the manufac-
turer, the cotton mill worker, and
with men and women representing
every profession and occupation.
This experience has convinced me
that, taken as a whole, the people
of South Carolina are sound at
heart. The average man gives forth
pure tone. We need only to har-
monize the instruments and play
gether in order that South Caro- A
may give forth a harmonious melody
rather than discordant noises.
NEED TO GET TOGETHER.
'The people in this state need op-
portunities for coming together and
discussing for themselves matters
relating to their common welfare.
We need in each community some
thing like the old-fashioned town
meeting which prevails in other sec
tions of the United States. Under
our present political organization
matters of public concern are usual
ly discussed only in connection with
campaigns for public office The very
nature Of a political campaign is
such that it tends to bring about
division rather than harmony. The
personal success of the candidate for
public office frequently depends on
his ability to accentuate differences
and to divide men into hostile camps
in which the personality OF the lead
er and the result Of the game obscure
the issues and cloud the Judgment.
In campaign OF this kind the sue
cessful playing OF the political game
frequently makes desirable the ag-
gravation OF the unpleasant symp-
toms rather than the healing of the
disease from which the body poll
tic is suffering. Doubtless all Of us
can call to mind many instances
within the last twenty years where
remedies have been studiously avoid
ed and the pains and sufferings of
the body polite have been carefully
treasured as a precious asset for the
next political campaign. 1t is grant
ed that political campgain is a
necessary accompaniment OF dem
ocray. 1t should serve the purpose
OF bringing to the point of action a
people who have all the time been
calmly thinking about their funda-
mental needs. 1t is, however, equal
ly necessary to healthy civic growth
that the people should have an oppor-
tunity to come together when no
mans personality or political for
tunes is concerned in an attempt to