The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-08-13
FOR NEEDED REFORMS
EDUCATION AND IT'S NECESSITY
WITH DEMOCRACY

John J. McMahan Stresses Need of
Compulsory Attendance, Expert
and Industrial Supervision.
Editor The Times and Democrat:
beginning May 1s I have published
IL articles in my serial discussion of
Needed Reforms in South Carolina" :"
One was Introductory and ten we're
on the primary need-the funda-
mental need-the reform of the Dem
ocratic primary election.
Much more could be said on that
subject. But I have said enough to
prove my conclusions as to the de-
tailed requirements proposed in my
last communication. I propose to
write, from time to time, other art!-
cles on aspects of the subject to show
the fallacy of certain objections, and
to show the progress made in the
fight begun some years ago to exclude
the "voter" from the primary unless
he is qualified to vote in the general
election. shall also have ii In view
to keep the matter in the public
mind: "The primary must pc reform
ed" The papers and the people ough'
to take 1t up and agitate it. Citizens
generally should think about it, and
write about it. We should get to-
eether to put through the necessary
reforms.
For the present I turn to the next
most important need-which is sup
Elementary to safeguarding the elec-
ton, if not prerequisite. The reader
at once understands what it is-unl-
yersal education, but which I mean
not merely Offering education to all,
but reaching all with education.
There are many needs, and each
| is, so interesting me-that l nnd
it hard to wait to discuss them in the
order of their importance and to dis
cuss one thoroughly before going to
another. Yet-even though it be-
come tiresome to some readers-the
discussion should be so full and so
elementary as to meet all objections
and reach the understanding of the
! most uniformed.
Democracy is the highest developed
and ultimate form of government
and apparently the highest form OF
human society-unless complete in
dividualism can follow (now hardly
thinkable!) every human being his
own judge of right ard duty and each
emulating the otkers in perfect liV-
ing.
Until recently it seemed that in
large communities Democracy could
be only approximated by purely rep
resentative government. But-incon-
ceivably previously-the evolution OF
democracy has taken new turn and
direct government without the meet
ing en- masse is found to be possible
through new methods now being
adopted and developed-the lnltla-
tive, the referendum, and the recall.
In early times and in backward
countries still, government involved
Suppression of the masses Of its peo-
ple, who were too vicious or ignorant,
or were so treated. The most ad-
vanced country still has with it some
of that class-some are disfranchised
for crime, some for illiteracy. With
the modern recognition that we are
our brothers keeper, it is hard to
fix a sure standard for just exclusion
of any from participation in govern
ment, and we incline to liberality and
to measures and improvement OF
those whose chief defects make their
temporary exclusion necessary.
The ideal of iberality in the suf-
frage invokes the duty to educate
and perfect the. people. Especially is
this true of a democracy, which of
all forms of government must edu-
cate. Intelligence is the condition OF
its life. All countries now educate.
Marvellous progress OF liberal ideas!
But by it's existence democracy is
pledged and (if it would continue to
EXIST is obliged to educate, and to
educate genrally.
But there is education and educa-
ton. How far shall we 60 in quality
and in quantity, and in persons
reached? We have never done what
we ought to have done. This means
there was not sufficiently enlight-
ened force of public opinion to de-
mand and compel it. Thenon-attend-
ance upon the schools provided is a
sight to sicken. Yet the education
offered, in the fitness of the teacher,
in the unnaturalness of the socalled
training" afforded, we see defects to
repel and sieken. Miserable results!
Children merely kept indoors, vast
ing their days! Sad evidences Of the
folly of ineficiency! We must have
sympathy for some people who pre-
fer to keep their children at home.
But it is not only the poor school
that is poorly attended. Equally do
children that most need education
tend to stay away from the good
school. True as may be the arguments
against the school, true nevertheless
are the arguments against keeping
the child from school. The improve
ment of the school and the fuller pat
ronage OF it by the community should
react on each other, but should not
be allowed to wait on each other. Wig
| orons attention to each result should