Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-06-24
AT CEDAR SPRINGS
Governor Blease Makes Address at
Commencement.

Governor Blease Makes Address a
| Commencement.
| Il am not in favor of compulsor!
education and never have been," sait
| Governor Blcase last night when tolt
that some people had understood hin
to say in his speech yesterday at tn,
| commencement exercises of the State
| institute for the Deaf and Blind tha
| he favored compulsory education. "ant
| l never expect to be as long as condi-
tions remain as they now are in the
state. What | did say was that If al
| the taxpayers and voters of the state
had been there this morning and wit
messed what l witnessed, this great
problem would have been solved then
once for all. For / feel sure that II
| every father in the state had seer
| what I have today. the great things
that are being accomplished by edu'
cation with these children who are de-
privcd of many faculties that most
children are gifted with. not a single
one would ever allow his children tc
grow up in ignorance"
The reason the question was asked
Governor BleaSe, was that In his
speech yesterday he made certain
non -committal remarks which were
interpreted in two ways. Many peo-
pie understood that he now favored
compulsory education, which caused
them great surprise as it will be re-
member that the governor vetoed the
compulsory education bill which came
up before him some time ago.
In his speech yesterday the govern
or said that the institute at Cedar
Springs deserved more credit than any
other school in the state, proof of which
was the things that they had all wit
messed that day. He said that the
state had not done and never could dc
enough for the institute, and he only
hoped that at the next session of the
legislature, DR.. Walker would not be
niggardly in his requests for money
but would ask for all he needed and
he felt sure that it would be given
him.
Governor Blease lavished praise on
DR.. Walker for the great work which
he had done and was doing among
those who were in most need Of atten-
tion and education. He also said that
at the next meeting of the Legislature
he would try to get them to appropri-
ate a sufficient amount to build the
faithful and deserving DR.. Walker a
nice home on the campus and make
him president emeritus of the institu-
tion on an annuity for life. He said
that he recommended this, as the doc
tor was getting too old now to be bur-
dened with all the cares of the school
but ought to be allowed to rest after
his long and arduous labors. He rec
commended Mr.. Laurens Walker, who
is now principal of the school, as su-
perintendent when his father retires.
Col T. ]. Moore, chairman Of the
board of commissioners, also spoke
making a short talk in which he COM
mended the great work Of the school
and also, like Governor Blease. heaped
praise upon DR.. Walker and praised
to do all in his power at the meeting
of the board in August to carry out
the governors plan of providing for
DR.. Walker
State Superintendent of Education
Swearingen made a brief talk, in which
he commended the work of the school
About $500 people had assembled
within and without the school audito-
rum yesterday morning at II O'Clock
to see the commencement exercises oi
the graduation class and a programme
arranged to make an exhibition of the
work of the school carried out.
Songs. drills and rccitations by the
pupils. class room demonstrations and
literary efforts marked the exercises
and the special work accomplish
ed by the school was exhibited. The
first class to graduate under the new
graded system. and the first in two
years to qualify. was composed of the
following: Samuel Taylor Clarkson
Louis Judson Fant, Sarah Henderson
Hoy. John Sheppard, Leslie Shaw
Bertha Smoak and Arthur Willis.
Special attention was attracted tc
Dewey Cantrell and Ruby Miller, who
in addition To being deaf and dumb
are blind. The audience was held al.
most spell bound by the remarkable
accomplished.
The drill work Of the advanced class
| of deaf boys was especially noticeable
as was also all of the choral work
] The band music by the blind boy:
| was a feature Of the programme that
both surprised and delighted every
body. The essays that We're read, one
| by a blind boy. and another by n dea
| girl which she delivered in the sigT
| language. were not only delivered well
| but the composition showed a grea
deal of thought.
| The industrial exhibit in the gymna
stun attracted a great deal of atten'
ton and comment. There were al
| sorts of furniture made 10y the boys
| which showed remarkable handicraft
| and baskets of beads and hand-paint
ed china. the work of the deaf girls
proved IL source of interest and won
| der to all the Spartanhur!
| Herald, Friday.