The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-11-25

who attended the first annual Con-
ference for the Common Good. The
weather was ideal, the Central grad
ed school afforded a handsome and
coPfortable meeting place, and the
Audience of earnest men and women
gave close attention to the messages
brought by the men who are work
Ing so unselfishly in their several
spheres for exactly those things
which the conference is seeking to
bring about 1t was instructive to
hear what the county supervisor and
county superintendent of education
are doing for the common good as
we'll as what is being accomplished
by the county farm dmeonstrator.
We were indeed fortunate to have Sc
cured as speakers on this occasion
the three men who have given them
selves so sincerely, so cnthusiastical-
ly, othe work of uplifting the peo-
pie of this state, Col. Il. ]. Watson,
the South Carolina commissioner of
agriculture; Prof. w. X. Tate, the
rural school inspector of South Caro-
lima, and Hon. Il. w Dabbs, president
OF the State Farmers Union. There
were, three very interesting sessions
OF the conference, one beginning at
1890 in the morning, one in the af-
ternoon at 2:30 and one at 7:3O in
the evening. Rev. II. r. Murchison,
the president of the county confer
ence, who is also a member of the
executive committee of the State Con-
ference for the Common Good, pre-
sided, with Mr.. w. b. Twitty OF Heath
Springs, the county secretary, also
present.
The following is a summary of the
speeches made during the confer
ence:
MORNING SESSION
RThe conference opened with an
earnest prayer for divine guidance,
made by Rev. Il. II. Hodges Of the
First Methodist church
Mayor Ernest Moore welcomed
those who had come to aid us in seek
ing the best interests of our people
expressing his wish for the success
of the movement.
Mr.. Murchison, the president, ev
pressed his pleasure at the earnest
ness of the gathering, saying that it
was apparent that those were there
who wanted to be there, those who
realized that they have common pur-
poses and who wish to combine those
purposes for elevating and helping
each other. He paid n glowing trib-
ute to Messrs. Dabbs, Tate and Wat
son, whom he characterized most ap-
propriately as preachers of right
eousness," men who go up and down
our land preaching the gospel of bet
ter and higher living to our people.
''If our people but realized the
work these men are giving to South
Carolina" said the speaker. "they
would fill this hall today" Tho audi
ence though not large, Mr.. Murchi-
son explained, was representative.
He showed the need of a countrywide
spirit in the hearts of all our people,
which would enthuse the county rs
a unit to raise the standards of its
boys and girls.
The president directed the attcn-
ton OF the conference to an excellent
map Of the county, prepared by Prof
Russell Minter, principal of the Cen
trail graded school, which added much
to the interest of his audience, help
! Ing them to get more definite idea
of the geography of the county. The
map, eight feet by twelve, was most
comprehensive. 1t included not only
the townships and principal towns OF
the county, but the school districts
as well, the postoffices. the roads. the
churches and schools, the places OF
historic interest, including the birth
place OF Andrew Jackson, and the
railroads that go through the county.
Mr.. Murchison called attention to
n few of the statistics appearing
above the map. Within this county,
which includes BIB square miles OF
territory, we have a population OF
26,650 people, this number being al
most equally divided between the
white and negro races.
The president pointed out that
since the one horse farmer is I'm the
vast majority in our county and the
average production from his farm is
not at present enough to make him
and his children as happy as they
should be, the conference Is designed
particularly to help him, and in
cludes all men in need of help. We
must teach the small farmer how he
can overcome these conditions In
closing his remarks, Mr.. Murchison
told his hearers that he hoped we
would all be blessed and benefited by
this first Conference for the Common
Good.
MIR. V. A. LINGLE.
Mr.. v. A. Lingle, county superin-
tendent OF education, outlined the
school status in the county, showing
that I'm the So school districts there
were 81 white and 55 colored schools,
that In July of this year there had
been 1858 pupils enroned in these
schools, that number being an in
crease OF 64S over the number up to
July, 1912. The increase showed
that the white enrolment almost
twice the increase OF the black for