Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-03-04

Applications, DulldlnB appllcationS dn1
term extension applications now on
file in the office Of the state superin-
tendent Of education for the fiscal year
the end, amy additional fund at the
disposal of the state board"-gentle-
men, IL there Is q man in either OF
your branches who would take q slate
and pencil and add up the figures
stated in your bill, he would easily see
that there would not only not be any
additional funds, but there would be
a deficit If I did not have the bill
before me, I could not conceive OF
such a make-shift, and I cannot con-
ceive Of its purpose, unless 1t Is on be-
half of some astute politicians to keep
it from appearing that the present
governor has succeeded in doing
something for the free public schools,
and to deprive him Of the little credit
which he might have got IL he had
been able to carry through his recon-
mendation for one-mill levy for the
free public schools, In order to help
the little country children and the lit
tie factory children Of South Caro-
lima.
Gentlemen, read this bill; deliberate
over it; think about 1t, and, after you
have finished, II there Is q man In the
general assembly who calls himself a
statesman, who had any part what
ever in bringing about this abortion,
and still regards 1t as measure which
will be of benefit to the free public
schools and to the little country and
factory boys and girls, let him present
himself at my office, for I would like
to look upon him and would like to
reward him.
pleaded with you, gentlemen, ask
Ing for this one-mill tax-not for my
self. for I have no children, and II I
had, I would, thank God, be able to
educate them without depending on
a free public school or a state levy
but I did 1t for the mothers who are
praying, for the fathers who are hop
ing for the welfare Of their children.
and for the future Of the state. After
the Mitchell bill, as 1t was termed,
passed the house, had conference
with the state superintendent OF edu-
cation, and agreed upon compro-
mise, which felt would still carry out
what I was urging for the relief OF
the needy schools. This was onered
in the senate as an amendment-the
amendment which might be termed
the Appelt amendment, coming from
the finance committee, and felt sure
ly there would be no further trouble
in having the demands Of justice met,
But, gentlemen, you have turned a
deaf ear. But you have not turned q
deaf ear to your higher institutions OF
learning. For them you have made
extravagant appropriations, and for
them you have lavished money for
useless purposes.
If the game Of politics Is to be play
ed at the expense Of the education or
the little children Of this state, GOD
save the state. Yea, more. II to keep
them in ignorance in order to keep
from giving credit to one who Is try
ing to help them is the purpose OF
some would-be statesmen, then GOD
grant that the people may rise in their
might in their next election and smite
such statesmen hip and thigh, for IL
this be your idea Of helping the poor
little country children and the little
factory children to get an education,
then I would ask you, when you go
home, to call your own little children
around you, and in your prayers, as
you lay them in their little beds, to
ask God that other people may do py
your children as you here attempt to
do by the little ones Of ot her people,
who are not able to educate their lit
tie ones, and are looking to- their state
for help. And when you shall nave
done this, and lay your heads upon
your pillows I hope that your sleep
may not be disturbed by amy vision or
the dark cloud of Ignorance lowering
over your own little ones, as you are
permitting this cloud to remain and
darken over the little ones OF others
who are helpless. Gentlemen, l nave
done what I could. I could do NO
more.
Very respectfully,
Cole L. Blease,
Governor.
Columbia, S. c., March 1, 1913.
Message No. So.
Gentlemen of the General Assembly:
1 thought I had made clear my po"
sition in reference to the one mill tar
for the free public schools, but II
seems that have not, in the minds OF
some; therefore am forced to burden
you with another message. I favored
and now favor, levying a tax or one
mill upon all Of the taxable properly
Of this state, which tax, when collect
ed, to be paid into the state treasury.
and the state board Of education to
use that money at its discretion to AID
the weak schools throughout the state.
My purpose was to have the wealthy
counties assist the weaker counties IN
giving to their children longer school
terms, better school houses, and pay
ing to their teachers better salaries.
I did not think any one would oD1ect
to paying this one mill tax to help to
further the educational interests OF
the state, knowing, too, that IL was 10
be used strictly and only for weak
white schools. I could not faVor the
- III
ment of schools, because all the re-
ports will show you that the negro en-
rollment is very much heavier than
the white, and the negro enroll
ment is very often based upon one or
two days attendance, which runs II
greatly above what 1t really and actu-
ally is. Therefore, gentlemen, that
would be an inequality, or would force
your school trustees to do that which
is illegal in the distribution Of this
money, or force your state board Of
education to do that which Is illegal,
and I do not believe in forcing public
officials to perjure themselves in order
to do that what we want done; I be-
Iieve in giving them the power direct.
Now, gentlemen. I hope that Is
plain. I wanted the one mill tax levy
to 90 into the state treasury and to be
distributed among the weak schools.
That is, If you will pardon me, let the
lispensary counties, that now have
more school money than they know
what to do with, a great deal Of which
money they are getting from adjoin-
ng sister counties. pay a one-mill tax
% go to those adjoining sister coun-
les. or other counties, to help educate
heir children. Surely no man would
object to this.
But 1t seems to me, gentlemen, that
ny entire purpose has been misunder-
tood, or else deliberately and malic-
ously twisted for political purposes, or
he elf-advancement of somebody
Use. The bill which was sent to me
ast night did not contain the pro-
-isions which were represented to me
hat 1t did contain. I accuse no one OF
,ad faith, but the representations
nada To mo uaa that the Annelt